The Brazen Mother-in-Law
“You must give this money to my mother,” James raged, “she’s not a stranger to you! She’s your mother-in-law, your second mother! What do you plan to spend it on? Your youth? I won’t forgive you if something happens to Mum!”
At 29, James had been married three times, but happiness always eluded him.
Every wife he’d had was, to put it mildly, disrespectful to his mother, Beatrice Thompson.
James met his first wife, Rachel, at university. Initially, she made a good impression on the young man. After dating for a month, he popped the question.
Beatrice gave her approval after a small test for the potential daughter-in-law:
“She cooks well, cleans dishes properly. Remember, son, tell Rachel she needs to work after the wedding. Many do both work and study. I won’t have your wife living off you!”
James decided not to mention this to Rachel until after they were married:
“Rachel, you need to get a job,” he declared.
“But I study full-time! How can I work?”
“I don’t know, find something in the evening. I work too.”
“But what if we have a child?” she stammered.
“Not an issue,” James assured her, “you’ll have a short maternity leave, then return to your duties. Mum will watch the child!”
Rachel regretted accepting James’s proposal. The marriage ended in four months—she left James and Beatrice and returned to her parents.
Beatrice immediately called her counterpart:
“She won’t return,” Rachel’s mother stated, “did you think I raised my daughter for her to be bullied?”
File for divorce; Rachel doesn’t want to live with James anymore!
James ended the marriage and wasn’t the least bit upset – that type of wife wasn’t for him. His mother agreed:
“Good thing it ended now. Imagine if you’d had kids? Rachel would stay home, earning nothing. You’d carry all the burden!”
“Don’t worry; you’re only 23. You’ll find happiness yet!”
***
Happiness came for James a year after divorcing Rachel. He met Sally, a young lady who had moved to the city.
James was satisfied with Sally; the crucial factor was her job and decent salary.
This time, Beatrice didn’t test her. She was pleased Sally contributed equally to the family budget.
They married swiftly, and a week later, Sally revealed:
“Darling, I’ve been meaning to tell you, but was scared…”
“Tell me what? Scared of what?” James asked.
“I worried you’d leave… I have a child!”
James was disappointed: once again, not what he planned. Raising another’s child wasn’t on his agenda.
He quickly went to Beatrice for advice. She declared:
“No issue! The child lived somewhere all this time? Let him continue! Let Sally occasionally bring him over. Moving him in now is out of the question, your relationship isn’t proven. You might divorce like with Rachel.”
James relayed his mother’s thoughts to Sally. Although disappointed, she figured the issue would resolve eventually. She could always bring the child over and say her parents couldn’t care for him anymore.
So Sally did, bringing her seven-year-old son to Beatrice’s apartment about a month later.
The reception was chilly. James stated:
“Tell him not to call me Dad, nor my mum Grandma! We’re strangers to him. I don’t want to hear requests for things. Contribute your salary, and use what’s left for your son.”
Sally felt hurt, hoping James’s heart would warm to her son. Truthfully, she married James partly for the apartment, as rent consumed most of her earnings.
This marriage didn’t last long either. Tired of endless demands, Sally filed for divorce, took her son, and returned to her parents.
James found himself alone again, with Beatrice comforting him:
“Imagine, living with another’s child forever! Sally was no help, except her job. I did all the housework. She didn’t even thank me and started turning her nose up about our treatment of her child! Why should we be expected to? He’s not family!”
***
James met his third wife at an academic conference, attending as a professor’s assistant. Laura charmed James immediately—she was a savvy, successful businesswoman with an apartment, car, and societal status.
James had to court her for a while; Laura didn’t let new acquaintances get too close. When James described her to Beatrice in detail, she was delighted:
“Son, she’s what you need! You won’t go wrong with a woman like her, even if she is 12 years older! How much does she earn? Three times more than you? Say no more!”
Laura initially refused James’s proposal:
“Why do we need a marriage certificate? What changes? We can live happily without it.”
“But Laura, I can’t live in sin!” protested James, “Let’s make it official!”
Laura thought and agreed. Divorce is always an option if needed.
Laura refused to move in with James and Beatrice:
“Why live with someone when I have my own three-bedroom flat? If you want, move in with me. I won’t live with your mother!”
“But darling, I can’t leave Mum! How can she cope?”
“She’s under sixty, James, she’ll manage. These are my conditions. Move in or live separately. I’m fine either way.”
***
James moved in, displeasing Beatrice. She’d hoped to rent Laura’s flat for extra income.
Laura, experienced in romance, soon bent James to her will, skilfully reducing his visits to Beatrice.
“Son, you hardly visit now!” Beatrice complained, “Is your wife stopping you?”
“Mum, I’m just busy,” James lied, “Laura says I need to grow, maybe write a thesis! I’m working on that.”
After marrying Laura, James stopped giving his mother money. Annoyed, Beatrice initially hinted then directly said:
“Why don’t you give me money? How do I maintain this two-bedroom flat alone?”
“Mum, there’s none spare,” explained James, “Once there is, I’ll help. Please wait.”
Laura aimed to detach James from Beatrice, finding her husband attentive, flexible, and prone to compromise, enjoying this dynamic.
***
This marriage crumbled too. Having exhausted ways to extract money from James, Beatrice felt hopeless. Naturally, Laura became the culprit for James’s indifference.
Beatrice devised a plan to part him from his money:
“James, I need funds for treatment! Since you moved out, my health’s worsened!”
“What happened, Mum?”
“Long story. I need £2,000 for surgery.”
“Mum, I don’t have it! Laura might. Ask her; she’d help.”
“What if she refuses?”
“Threaten divorce! Say if she won’t assist, you’ll leave.”
James waited for Laura to return from work and asked for help.
Laura listened and declined:
“You know I spend heavily on maintaining my looks. I have £2,000, but it’s earmarked for cosmetic procedures.”
James was incensed:
“Procedures? Laura, Mum’s life’s at stake! Her health is so much more important than beauty treatments! I demand you help. You’re my wife. It’s your duty!”
“Who says?” Laura smirked, “I owe you nothing. Your mum’s unwell? You find her funds. Why involve me?”
“Then I’ll file for divorce,” blurted James, hoping it would shake Laura.
“Fine, go ahead. I’m tired of you. Pack and return to mummy. Living with you is impossible!”
James was frightened and pleaded for her to reconsider. Laura stood firm, packed his things, and sent him away.
Beatrice was pleased with the divorce; James returned home. But James was downcast, still hoping to go back to Laura.
