Eliza is excited to meet her son's girlfriend. But her excitement turns to horror when she finally meets her.
Eliza stood before her late husband John's grave, a black umbrella shielding her from the hot sun. Her eyes were red and swollen, and her nails dug into her palms as she tried to hold back her tears.
"I promise to protect our son," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "Our young man will live a happy life, and who knows, I might even get to visit you with our grandchildren soon one day."
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As she turned to leave, she saw her only son, Adam, in a tight embrace with a woman with hair as gray as hers. Even though she couldn't see the woman's face, she knew she wasn't young.
"Adam needs all the comfort he can get," she thought, lowering her gaze back to the ground. Soon, it started raining, and a voice from behind distracted her.
"Mother," Adam said gently, "it's time to go home."
Eliza nodded, her heart heavy with grief. She knew she had to be strong for her son.
He led a busy life, and had traveled from far away when he heard of his father's death. After the funeral, she asked him to stay over for a couple of weeks, and he agreed.
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***
She was in the living room when Adam emerged from his room in a suit.
"You look nice. But…this looks too formal to be just going out with friends," she pointed out, her eyes twinkling with curiosity.
"Yes, mother," Adam admitted. "I'm going out with my girlfriend, Helen. I'm sure I've mentioned her before."
Eliza's excitement over the television show she had planned to watch vanished instantly.
"How long have you guys been dating? Does she not want to meet your mother?"
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Adam had an honors degree and a good job, and there was nothing he did that she wasn't proud of. But at one point, he'd been so engrossed in his studies and career that she had doubts about his sexual orientation.
Adam smiled nervously. "Mother, trust me, you'll meet her when the time is right."
"Right now couldn't be more right," Eliza insisted.
But no matter how much she pressured him, he stubbornly refused to tell her anything more about Helen.
"At least bring it up on your date," Eliza pressed. "Ask her what she thinks about meeting me."
If I tell him about my plans to spoil my future grandchildren, it would only make him hesitate even more.
"Trust me, meeting her won't affect your relationship. You can still move it at whatever pace you want," she assured him.
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"Fine, mother, you win. You'll get to meet her," Adam relented, his eyes darting between her and the wall clock. He was running late.
"But you'll meet her only when she's comfortable to meet you, yes?"
Eliza quickly agreed. However, her excitement surged as she realized the need to make a good impression on her son's girlfriend.
"What do young women of his age like?" She googled, exploring gifts like a $300 lipstick in shock.
"I should do a little shopping for food items. At most, she should agree to visit me this week," Eliza muttered, eager as she made a list.
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Adam returned late, and Eliza chose to wait until after he had eaten the following day to inquire, "So, what did she say?"
"You're not even going to ask me if the food I just ate is digesting properly?" Adam teased, earning a severe glare.
"She agreed and said Saturday is perfect for her," Adam informed her. "Mum, you might meet her and think that she isn't the conventional choice for—"
"Don't worry about it. If you love her, what reason could there possibly be why I wouldn't feel the same?" Eliza replied with excitement.
"I know, but as I said, she's not exactly—"
Before Adam could finish, Eliza hurried off, muttering ingredients for Saturday.
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Eliza spent two days grocery shopping and bought a big jewelry present for Helen.
At the supermarket, after buying the gift, she struck up a conversation with an older woman who had also bought a huge present.
"That looks like a very big and beautiful gift," Eliza complemented.
"Thank you. It's for someone special to someone special to me," the woman replied.
The woman was standing in the cashier's queue before Eliza and left before her.
Eliza wanted to have a friendly chat with her. But without dwelling on the missed opportunity, she headed home, eager to prepare for the much-awaited meeting with Adam's girlfriend and her future daughter-in-law.
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Friday whirred by in a blur of excitement as Eliza prepared for Helen's visit. The garden was meticulously groomed, with new flowers enhancing its beauty.
"You seem even more excited to have her over than I do," Adam commented.
"I have to make a good first impression on her. I hope you've been saying only good things about me," Eliza warned.
"Mother, we both know there's nothing bad to be said about you," Adam reassured, earning a hug from Eliza.
"Hurry off. There's still so much to do and so little time," Eliza said.
Saturday arrived, and Eliza, already dressed, eagerly awaited Helen's arrival. The doorbell rang, and she rushed over to answer, only for her brows to furrow in confusion.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: YouTube/DramatizeMe
"Is this Helen's mother?" Eliza wondered as she opened the door to find the older woman from the supermarket with Adam.
"Mum, meet Helen. This is my girlfriend," Adam announced.
Eliza's smile stiffened. Helen appeared twice Adam's age.
"Mother, aren't you going to invite us in?"