Maddie, pregnant and eager to reconcile with her mother-in-law before the baby comes, stumbles upon her son's mother, Meredith, performing a strange ritual in the middle of the bed. What is going on, and should Maddie be worried?
I unexpectedly returned home early one day, only to find my mother-in-law in the most unimaginable scene right in my new bedroom.
Recently, Theo, my husband, and I had just moved into a new house when Theo was suddenly called away for work. So, my mother-in-law, Meredith — who has never hidden her dislike for me — offered to help me set up things around our new home. Considering I was pregnant, I thought perhaps this was her way of extending an olive branch.
Piles of cardboard boxes | Source: Pexels
"Maybe it won't be so bad," Theo said before leaving for his trip. "Maybe this is how Mom will get to know you better."
But that wasn't quite what Meredith had in mind.
The relationship between her and Kelsey, Theo's ex-wife, was legendary. There was no bad blood between Kelsey and Theo; they simply ended their marriage because Kelsey decided she wanted to travel the world instead of settling down.
She also revealed she didn't want children, which was a deal-breaker for Theo.
But Meredith adored Kelsey. In her eyes, Kelsey was the perfect match for her son, a woman who carried the grace and dignity she believed was right for their family's legacy — all of which she told me during our lunch together one day.
Woman sitting on a suitcase at an airport | Source: Pexels
Meredith's disdain for me wasn't just rooted in personal dislike but in a deep-seated belief that I could never fill Kelsey's shoes.
On that fateful day, after being overcome with morning sickness, my boss told me to leave early and go home.
"Go and rest, Maddie," he said. "Work will always be here."
I walked into the house, kicking off my shoes as I went. The house was quiet, too quiet — Meredith was always one to have music playing softly whenever she was alone.
I explored each room, trying to find her. And as I neared our bedroom door, a sense of unease took over me, and I could hear a single voice with hurried whispers.
What the heck is going on? I thought to myself.
Red shoes on floor | Source: Pexels
I pushed the door open, only to reveal a sight that would haunt me:
Meredith, sitting cross-legged in the middle of our bed, surrounded by candles all over the room, with old photographs of my husband with Kelsey strewn around. She held a ring in one hand and Theo's baby blanket in the other, muttering something that seemed like a perfect blend of a prayer and a curse.
"What are you doing?" I exclaimed, shock taking over, causing the baby to kick away in my belly.
Meredith's reaction went from pure shock, quickly morphing into defensiveness.
"I'm fixing things, Maddie," she snapped.
"Fixing? By doing what?" I asked. "Some kind of ritual on my bed?"
"It's not a ritual," she said coldly. "It's a blessing. A cleansing. Theodore made a mistake in choosing you after Kelsey left. I'm trying to bring her back from her worldly travels. I need to fix the mistakes that both Kelsey and my son have made."
"Meredith," I said, feeling the familiar sensation of morning sickness rising.
"Get out of my house. Now!" I shouted, drawing strength from some untapped well inside me.
Candles and incense on windowsill | Source: Pexels
She hesitated but eventually started to collect her things. She blew out the candles, picked up the ring and blanket, and muttered about how ungrateful her daughters-in-law were.
"You'll regret this," she said, storming away from me.
I took photographs of the scene, eager to show Theo what his mother was up to.
I refused to sleep in the master bedroom after that. Knowing that Theo would be gone for a week, I made myself comfortable in the guest bedroom until he returned.
When he returned, I showed him the evidence — the photographs speaking louder than any words could. The hurt and confusion in his eyes were palpable.
"I knew she was struggling to accept you," he said. "But I had no idea that she was going to take it this far."
Person holding a smartphone | Source: Pexels
We decided, for the sake of our baby, that we needed to confront the situation head-on. The conversation with his mother was intense and emotional.
She broke down, admitting her inability to let go of the past.
"I loved Kelsey like a daughter," she said.
Theo asked his mother to seek counseling, telling her that it was the only way she would be allowed back into our lives.
"If you want to see the baby and be a part of his life, you will do this, Mom," he said.
It wasn't a quick fix — it took time and effort. And slowly, Meredith began to change. She made genuine efforts to be a part of our lives. She threw us a baby shower, inviting all our family and friends.
Favors at a baby shower | Source: Pexels
And when our son was born, other than Theo and I, she was the first person to hold him.
I think that despite everything, Theo knew that his mother was capable of changing — which helped me learn to forgive her.
I won't admit it to Theo, but I am very cautious when she has the baby with her. Although it seems that her dreams of a life with Kelsey around are over, I don't want to be too relaxed.
Not yet.
Person holding a baby | Source: Pexels
What would you have done in my shoes?
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