You wont believe what my sister-in-law, Sophie, has been putting us through. Shes decided that its solely our duty to spoil her kidsno one elses.
I married James nearly eight years ago. Hes a good man, always willing to help, with a heart of gold. But hes got one problemhis sister, Sophie. A woman with boundless imagination and an uncanny ability to turn every innocent remark into a not-so-subtle hint about an expensive gift.
She never says things outright. Her words always sound like harmless musings:
*The kids have been dreaming of seeing that new animated film, but tickets are so pricey these days* shed say with a sigh. And just like that, James would buy the tickets, take the kids to the cinema, and throw in popcorn combos for good measure.
*Lovely weather today,* shed continue, *but youre just sitting at home. Why not take them to the fair?* And guess who ended up going with her kids? Us, of course. And everythingon our dime.
I dont do subtle. Never have. I prefer honesty. If you need somethingjust ask. Say it outright. Dont dance around it pretending you dont want anything.
But James always jumped at her *suggestions.* He adores his niece and nephew, but the way he spoiled them was beyond excessive. Bikes, gadgets, days outit all became the norm. Sophie would just glance his way, and hed already be reaching for his wallet.
Recently, it was little Olivers birthdaySophies son. Wed already splashed out on a top-of-the-range bike, which cost us a pretty penny. I thought that was more than enough. But apparently, to Sophie, a *bike* was small change. In her eyes, the boy *had* to go to Paris. And not alonewith her, naturally. A little boy cant travel by himself!
In Sophies world, it sounded like this:
*Olivers been dreaming of Paris. His eyes light up every time he sees it on TV*
Instead of tickets, James brought him a cake and a cushion with his initials embroidered on it. I was working that day, so he went alone. And, as you can imagine, that went down like a lead balloon with his sister.
But Sophie didnt give up. Her demands grew every year. James, for some reason, never seemed to mind. We didnt have kids of our own, so he poured all his fatherly energy into his niece and nephew. Maybe because he had nowhere else to direct it.
Thenthe news wed been waiting for: I was pregnant. I told James, and he cried with happiness, kissed my belly, and was over the moon. Hed dreamed of this for years. But then Sophie showed up
And againwith a request. This time, a spring break trip to Amsterdam. Naturally, with the kids. For the first time, James said no. He told her everything now had to go toward *our* family. Thats when his sister lost it.
The next day, she called me. Screamed. Accused.
*How dare you?! Youve done this on purpose to take the only man who cared for my kids away from them!*
I hung up without a word.
Then came the next act. The kids waited outside Jamess office with handmade cards.
*Uncle, please dont leave us*
*Why do you need your own baby when you already have us?*
Clearly, someone had helped them write that. And that *someone* was obvious.
James came home, sat on the sofa, stared at those cards and something inside him just snapped.
*Ive been such an idiot,* he said. *How many years have I put up with this? The boilers broken, we cant afford new coats, their dad walked outUncle, help us. Shes always used the kids to manipulate me. And I fell for it. Every time.*
Then, out of nowhere, he pulled out a notebook. Started listing everything he could remember: bikes, phones, summer camps, holidays, jackets, theatre tickets. The total? A staggering sum.
And thenthe grand finale. In true Sophie style.
She turned up at our house. Stood in the hallway like she owned the place and said:
*Now that youre having your own child, how about one last good deed? Give us the car. Not for meIm not selfish. Just so I can take the kids*
James handed her the notebook without a word.
*Heres the total. For everything youve taken. Pay it back. Youve got six months. After thatcourt.*
She slammed the door so hard the coat rack toppled over.
What followed was a flood of messages. Sophies friends bombarded me on social media. They said Id *destroyed the sacred bond between uncle and niece/nephew,* that the kids were *abandoned and starving,* and that *their mother was in despair.*
But you know what? I didnt budge.
Sophie owns two flatsone from her ex-husband, the other because James gave up his inheritance for her. She gets child support; shes not living in poverty. Shes just used to everything being handed to her. And nowits not.
Were having a baby. And now, James has a real familyno manipulation, no drama, no theatrics. And honestly? I think this is just the beginning
