Why wont you open the door?
I dont want to! And I wont. Guests should call ahead, not rifle through drawers, fridges, and wardrobes.
What do you mean, you wont? Thats my mum! She came to see me!
Fine, go greet her then! Just not in my house.
Victoria got on much better with my mother, you know.
Oh, brilliant. If I started listing all the ways my ex was better than you, wed both die of shame.
Though Im not sure about myself, interrupted Natalie nervously, scrubbing the kitchen table. If you two were so happy with Victoria, why did you break up?
Victor turned away, offended, and glared out the window.
You already know the story.
I do. So stop going on about your precious Vicky, Natalie snapped. Unless you want me to be your next ex.
She was seriousready to take drastic measures.
Shed met Victor nearly a year ago at a mutual friends gathering. She even knew Victoria, though not well. Victoria had brought Victor along, only to vanish from the scene months later.
One tipsy evening, Victor confessed hed caught Victoria cheating. Hed even shed a tear. At the time, Natalie found it sweeta man unafraid of emotion, valuing love. Something in her clicked, a maternal instinct, perhaps, not romance. But it was enough to start a relationship.
At first, it was lovely. He met her after work, drove her home, sent sweet texts daily, asked if shed dressed warmly. She felt cherished.
Her first red flag came when Victoria messaged her.
Hi. So, youre seeing Victor? Not my business, but be careful. He and his mum are a package deal.
Natalie noted it but dismissed it as trivial. Love overcame worse. If things went sour with one woman, it didnt mean they would with another.
Thanks for the warning, she replied, ending the chat. It felt disloyal to Victor.
But Victor showed no such consideration for her comfort.
When his mother, Margaret, first dropped by unannounced, Natalie stayed calm. Maybe they didnt realise how rude it was. Maybe Margaret just worried for her son and wanted to see who he lived with.
She sent Victor to greet his mother while she threw on clothes, tied her hair up, and stumbled out, bleary-eyed, to meet her potential mother-in-lawwho was already rummaging through the living room drawers.
Hmph, everythings a mess, Margaret said with a condescending smile. Youll lose socks at this rate. Natalie, after breakfast, Ill teach you to fold clothes properly.
No hello, just criticism. Natalie was stunned. A stranger rifling through her underwear, in her own home, felt like a violation. But snapping back seemed wrong, so she bit her tongue.
Goodness, those under-eye bags! Margaret tutted. You need cucumber masks. Or a kidney check. My friend
Natalie smiled and nodded, pretending interest in strangers ailments while longing to crawl back into bed. It was 8 a.m. on her day off. Shed stayed up late, hoping to sleep in.
The visit dragged until evening. Natalie endured a torrent of advice on flower-watering, bathroom-scrubbing, and spoon-polishingeven got to practise some. She felt squeezed dry. Not once did Victor intervene or hint they needed rest.
Your mum is she always this lively? Natalie asked carefully at bedtime.
She didnt mind close families but wanted some boundaries.
Yeah. Why? She just wants to bond, Victor shrugged. Victoria and I lived with herit was fun. Now shes lonely.
I hope we wont be a trio Natalie sighed.
Whats the problem? Youve got a thing against my mum? Victor tensed. Victoria got on with her.
Natalie stayed quiet. Victoria, eight years younger, had been a people-pleaser. Of course they got on. Shed probably memorised Margarets friends names, diagnoses, and ironed sheets perfectly.
But Natalie hadnt signed up for that. Experience taught her: the fewer meddlers in a relationship, the better. But Victor disagreed.
Mums sociable. Gets on with anyone.
Not everyone wants that, Natalie almost said but didnt.
It got worse. Margaret returned the next morning, inspecting the fridge.
Chicken eggs? I only cooked quail for Victorbetter for men, she declared. These shelves are filthy. You eat off them, Natalie.
I dont eat straight from the shelves, Natalie thought.
Ill clean them later, she lied. We were hoping to relax. Its our day off.
Victor, of course, was still asleep while she entertained his mother.
Day off? Perfect for cooking and cleaning! Margaret said. Fetch a sponge. Next weekend, Ill teach you Victors favourite meat pies.
Natalie froze, arms crossed. Running errands for this woman? Unlikely.
Margaret, maybe take my number? Call before visiting. I might have plans.
Call? Cant I visit my own son?
Of course. But he lives with me now. We should respect each others space.
Victoria never minded, Margaret sniffed.
Well, my exs mum never barged in at dawn, Natalie shot back. She brought cherry pies. Delicious. Want the recipe?
Margarets face darkened. Wrinkles deepened, eyes flashing.
Think carefully, dear. The nightingale wont outlast the lark in this nest.
She left, but the tension lingered. Victor ignored her feelings, his mother treated the place as her own, and Victorias ghost haunted them.
Victorias cabbage rolls were better. Her mum taught her, Victor would muse over dinner.
Get her to teach you, then.
She suspected Margaret would turn Victor against her but avoided the topic. She wanted it gone from her life.
A quiet month passed before it all repeated. Natalie woke to the doorbell and refused to answer.
Harsh? Maybe. But was barging in after clear hints any better?
Five minutes later, a groggy, irritated Victor appeared.
Why wont you open the door?
I dont want to! Guests should call ahead, not rummage through my things.
Thats my mum! She came for me!
Then greet heroutside.
The row was epic, probably heard by the neighbours. Victor accused her of rejecting him by rejecting his mother. Margaret shouted demands through the door, ringing non-stop.
Natalie gave an ultimatum.
Enough! Either you tell your mum what guest means and send her home, or were done.
Victor chose the latter.
She wasnt heartbroken. They hadnt even married. Maybe it was for the best. A man tethered to his ex and his mum? No thanks.
Months later, gossip reached her: Victor had a new girlfriend. A mutual friend shared the news.
She moved in with him and his mum but wants out. Asks to meet you.
Why?
Well, according to Margaret, youre perfectpretty, strong-willed, a great cook.
Were talking about the same Margaret, right?
Guess she only likes you once youre gone, the friend shrugged.
From then on, Natalie listened more carefully to red flagsespecially men obsessed with exes and their mothers.
Life with such macho types never worksMum always comes first. Maybe thats right, but in moderation. Agree?
Let me know your thoughts. Drop a like if you do.
