“We don’t need anything from you.”
“Son, think twice before it’s too late! That boy looks nothing like you! Your Kate had him with her ex and decided to pin him on you! I know it!”
“Mum, enough already! Tommy’s my son… Why do you always stir the pot? That’s it, I’m heading home.”
Angela Parker had raised her son all by herself. She and James developed a wonderful relationship: he never talked back, was polite, performed well in school, and grew up to be an engineer, just like she wanted. Now, it was time for her to find him a partner. She had chosen a perfect girl for him, Chloe, the daughter of her friend Wendy.
Under his mother’s influence, James and Chloe started seeing each other, but their romance never really took off. After some turbulent months, they broke up. Later, James met Helen. Their relationship progressed rapidly; he felt an instant connection with the charming young woman. They married just three months later, much to Angela’s displeasure. Six months down the line, Helen was pregnant. They had a son named Tommy. Everything seemed fine, except that Angela never warmed to her daughter-in-law. Every time they met, she would complain to her son, although it had been four years since the wedding:
“Look at how she’s changed you! You look so scruffy…”
“Mum, how am I scruffy? The shirt just got a bit crumpled in the car…”
“Sit down, have something to eat! Bet she’s not cooked anything for you. You’ll stay hungry.”
“Mum, I’ll have dinner at home. Helen cooks well.”
“I know her type… Probably shop-bought pies, or worse, microwave meals. Chloe’s taken a pastry course, though. Such a clever girl…”
James did his best to fend off his mother. He never let on to his wife about any of her criticisms, which were, of course, unfounded. Still, Angela Parker continued her cold war against her daughter-in-law. One day, her tactics paid off…
“Hi, son… Seems your Kate doesn’t like me much… You always come by yourself!”
“Mum, how can she come over when you nitpick at her over everything?”
“If I nitpick, there must be a reason. Believe me! While you’re here sipping tea, she’s probably out with her ex. I know who she was seeing before you. That good for nothing Jeremy! And their boy looks just like him. She got pregnant by him, and you’re being made the fool.”
That evening, James had a huge argument with his mum. He was fed up with her claims and endless conversations. He returned home in a foul mood.
“Dad, dad, you’re home!” little Tommy rushed to greet him.
“Hi, son. How’ve you been? What did you do today?”
“Mum and I went to the park. Uncle Jerry was there. He bought me chocolate. And juice!”
A nagging doubt crept into James’ mind—could his mother be right? That night he confronted Helen:
“Why did you meet your ex?”
“James, it was by accident. We were walking, and he happened to pass by, so we stopped to chat. Then he walked us home.”
“How come he’s escorting my wife and son? Maybe Tommy isn’t even mine!”
“James, how can you say that? Are you serious?”
The couple had a massive fight that night—their first since the wedding. From then on, quarrels became a regular thing. Eventually, Helen couldn’t take it anymore. She packed her things, took their little son, and moved back to her parents.
There was a divorce, and James was ordered to pay child support. He was convinced the child wasn’t his, but he didn’t contest it and decided to pay. The only person satisfied with the situation was Angela Parker. She campaigned for rekindling his relationship with Chloe, whom she called the “ideal daughter-in-law.”
She won. James married Chloe, but only then did her true nature emerge. She nagged him at every turn and wanted to live the high life.
“Look at Ellie — her Chris just bought her another coat! And the Johnsons got a new luxury car. Meanwhile, I look like a pauper in last year’s coat, driving that old car! What kind of man are you?”
Thus, fifteen years went by. James worked himself to the bone, juggling two jobs, while Chloe spent her days enjoying the good life. She didn’t want children—first, one should live for themselves, she argued… After that, Angela Parker, seeing this, wanted to impose her order, but the new daughter-in-law quickly put her in her place.
One day, James got a call from the hospital. Angela Parker had been admitted following a stroke. She was seriously ill and required care after her release. Chloe was blunt:
“I’m not going to waste my days and nights by the old woman’s bedside. Let’s get her into a care home.”
“Chloe, maybe I could quit my job…”
“Are you out of your mind? How will we live? We still have four years left on the car loan…”
In the end, Angela was sent to a nursing home. James went off to his next job, while Chloe stayed home. A month later, Angela passed away. James returned home, grieving, and forgot to inform his wife he was back. Opening the door with his own key, he stumbled upon a shocking scene—Chloe in the neighbor’s arms. He didn’t make a scene. He quietly packed his belongings and moved to his mother’s old home.
After Angela Parker’s funeral, James sat in her apartment, reminiscing with regret about her “valuable” advice. Why did he ever listen? Now, he was over forty. So much of life was behind him… No family, no kids, no friends… Not even a car of his own—everything they’d had was bought for Chloe. As he pondered his life, he remembered Helen and Tommy. He never found out if Tommy was his son or Helen’s ex’s. Not that it mattered now…
Tommy must be nineteen by now, all grown up… I wonder what he’s like? James whispered into the silence, but there was no reply.
The next morning, he took a train ticket to Helen’s home town. He found the house and the apartment easily. He rang the familiar doorbell, but no one answered. “Probably at work,” he thought and decided to wait nearby. Twenty minutes later, he turned his head and froze… Approaching the entrance was a young man, a spitting image of himself, only twenty years younger.
“Tommy… Tommy… Son…”
“You?… What are you doing here?” Tommy asked coldly.
“Son, I’m so sorry… Look at you… You look just like me, like two peas in a pod! Where’s your mum?”
“Mum’s gone. It’s been years. She died in a car accident ten years ago.”
“And you? Who do you live with? Can I help with anything? I’m ready to do anything! I’ve got money. Just say the word!”
“I live with Gran. We don’t need anything.”
“But son. I really wanted, I …”
James didn’t finish. Tommy stepped inside and closed the door firmly in his face.
“Son! Son, open up! How can you do this, son? I’m your father! Your father!”
He lingered before the closed door, sobbing, wiping away tears. Or maybe it was the rain? He returned several times, trying to reconnect with his son. He pleaded, begged, sought forgiveness. But Tommy completely refused to engage…
