My mother-in-law, Helen, never missed a chance to compare me to Lisa, my husband’s ex-wife, but a sh.oc..ki.ng revelation at her birthday party turned everything upside down in a way I never saw coming. I couldn’t believe what I heard, and neither could Helen.
I sat on the couch, curled up with Tom, my husband of two years. The warmth of his arm around me made me feel safe and loved. We spent our evenings like this, chatting about our day and sharing our dreams for the future.
Tom’s laugh filled the room as he told a funny story from work. I couldn’t help but smile, watching his eyes sparkle with joy. Moments like these reminded me how lucky I was to have found him.
“I still can’t believe you did that,” I said, giggling. “You’re such a goofball.”
He chuckled, pulling me closer. “Only for you, Sophie. Only for you.”
Our living room, though small, felt like a castle because of the love we shared. The walls were covered with photos from our trips, and the shelves held books we planned to read together. It was our little haven, a place where nothing could touch our happiness.
As we sat there, the smell of dinner drifted in from the kitchen. I had made Tom’s favorite, cheesy pasta. Cooking for him was one of my biggest joys. Seeing his face light up with a grin made all the effort worth it.
Tom glanced at the clock. “Dinner should be ready soon. Want me to set the table?”
I shook my head. “No, you relax. I’ll take care of it.”
He smiled, giving me a quick kiss on the forehead. “You’re amazing, you know that?”
I blushed. “I try.”
We had each other, and that was all we needed. Tom had been through a lot with his divorce years ago, but together, we had built something beautiful.
A few days later, though, that peace was shaken by a visit from Helen, Tom’s mom. I stood in the kitchen, stirring a pot of soup.
Meanwhile, Helen sat at the table, watching my every move. Her eyes followed me, making me feel like I was always being judged.
“You know,” Helen started, “Lisa used to make this dish so well. She always added a pinch of parsley at the end. It made all the difference.”
I clenched my teeth, forcing a polite smile. “That’s nice, Helen. I’ll keep that in mind.”
Helen sighed loudly. “I don’t know why you never think about improving your recipes like Lisa did. She always knew how to make everything better!”
I felt the sting of her words. No matter how hard I tried, it was never enough for Helen. She seemed to forget that Lisa was no longer Tom’s wife. Instead, she treated her like some kitchen queen I could never match.
I kept cooking, focusing on the pot to keep from snapping. Tom walked into the kitchen, sensing the tension. He gave me a warm smile before turning to his mom.
“Mom, Sophie’s cooking is awesome. I love everything she makes,” he said firmly.
Helen huffed, waving a hand. “Of course, you’d say that, Tom. But you can’t deny Lisa had a special touch.”
I shot Tom a thankful look.
He always stood up for me, but it didn’t make Helen’s words hurt any less.
“I’m trying my best, Helen,” I said softly, hoping to end the conversation.
She shook her head. “Well, your best should be better.”
Honestly, Helen’s constant comparisons to Lisa were wearing me down. I loved Tom so much, but dealing with his mom was a challenge I hadn’t expected.
I knew I had Tom’s support. And that had to be enough. But that strength was tested during a family dinner at Helen’s house.
We all sat around the dining table, enjoying the meal. The conversation drifted to food again, and Helen jumped on it.
“By the way, try adding thyme to the pasta!” she said, her voice loud and excited. “Lisa used to do that, and it was amazing. Tom loved it!”
I felt my cheeks burn. The meal continued, but I could barely taste the food. After dinner, I took a deep breath and asked Helen if I could speak to her alone.
We moved to the living room, away from the others.
“Helen,” I began, keeping my voice calm, “I need to talk to you about something important.”
She crossed her arms and looked at me with a raised eyebrow. “What is it, Sophie?”
“I understand that you were close to Lisa, and I respect that,” I said. “But it hurts me when you keep comparing me to her. It’s affecting my marriage with Tom. I love him, and I’m trying my best. I need you to understand that.”
Helen’s expression tightened. “Don’t tell me what to do, Sophie!” she snapped. “I won’t let you guide my actions.”
Her words stung, but I stood my ground. “I’m not trying to be disrespectful, Helen. I just want you to see how your comments make me feel. I want us to have a good relationship, but it’s hard when I constantly feel like I’m being compared to Lisa.”
Helen’s eyes narrowed. “Lisa was like a daughter to me. You’ll never understand that.”
I felt tears welling up but blinked them away. “I’m not asking you to forget Lisa. I’m just asking for a little kindness and understanding!”
She turned away, clearly upset. “I’ll think about it,” she said sharply and walked away.
I was so hurt that day. All I wanted was some love and respect from her. Was it too much to ask?
A few days later, Helen hosted a big birthday party and invited all her relatives and friends. The house was filled with laughter and chatter, the kind of noise that usually made me feel welcome. But tonight was different.
As Tom and I arrived, I felt a knot in my stomach. The party was in full swing, and Helen was in her element, surrounded by people who adored her. I tried to shake off the nerves and focus on making it through the evening.
Just as we walked in, my eyes landed on someone I never expected to see. Lisa was standing there, chatting with a group of guests.
My heart sank. I turned to Tom, who looked just as s.h..oc.ked.
Helen noticed our reaction and walked over with a smug smile. “Oh, did I forget to mention? I invited Lisa. Thought it would be nice for her to catch up with everyone!”
I forced a smile. “That’s… thoughtful of you, Helen.”
Determined not to let this ruin my evening, I mingled with the guests and tried to enjoy myself. I focused on conversations and kept reminding myself that I was here for Tom and for Helen’s special day.
Dinner time rolled around, and we all gathered at the long, beautifully set table. To my dismay, Helen invited Lisa to sit with us. I swallowed my frustration and plastered on a polite smile.
Lisa took a seat right across from me, looking slightly awkward herself.
At one point, Lisa leaned over and said, “Sophie, I’ve heard a lot about you. It’s nice to finally meet.”
I nodded, keeping my tone neutral. “Nice to meet you too, Lisa.”
Then, as the evening drew to a close, George, Helen’s husband, stood up to make a toast. The room quieted down, everyone turning their attention to him. He raised his glass, and I braced myself for another round of pleasantries.
Instead, George’s voice took on a serious tone.
“I have something important to share,” he began, his gaze shifting nervously around the room. “For the past five years, I’ve had a lover. This might not be the right time for me to say this, but I can’t keep you in the dark, Helen. And that lover is my ex-wife, Clara.”
A stunned silence fell over the room.
I felt my jaw drop, my eyes darting to Helen. Her face turned pale, and her eyes wide with disbelief.
“I can’t keep living a lie,” George continued, facing the guests. “I want to be with Clara, and I’m leaving you.”
The room erupted into chaos. Helen broke down in tears. Guests whispered and gasped, and some rushed to comfort Helen.
At that moment, Helen’s harsh treatment of me flashed through my mind. I couldn’t help but think about how karma had a way of catching up with people. As much as I felt for her, I also felt a strange sense of justice.
Tom and I exchanged a glance. We didn’t need to say anything; we both knew it was time to go. We left the party early, holding hands tightly as we walked out the door.
“I’m sorry you had to go through all that,” he said softly.
I shook my head. “It’s not your fault. I’m just glad we have each other.”
When we got home, Tom pulled me into a tight embrace. “I love you, Sophie. Don’t ever doubt that.”
I hugged him back, feeling grateful for his love and support. “I love you too, Tom. And I know we’ll always be together.”
Despite everything, I knew we could face anything that came our way. And as long as we had each other, I knew we would be okay.
