“We don’t need anything from you.”
“Son, reconsider before it’s too late! That boy looks nothing like you! Your Laura probably had him with her ex, and now she’s trying to pass him off as yours! I know it!”
“Mum, stop it already! Jimmy is my son… Why do you always stir up trouble? Alright, I’m heading home.”
Helen had raised Christopher on her own, nurturing a good relationship between them. He was well-mannered, never cheeky, and excelled in school. When he grew up, he became an engineer, just like his mother wanted. Now she believed it was time for him to settle down. She had even picked out a suitable girl for him, Lucy, the daughter of her friend Ann.
On Helen’s insistence, Christopher started dating Lucy, but there was no spark between them, and after a few months, they parted ways. Then Chris met Laura. Their relationship blossomed quickly; he instantly felt a connection with her. They married three months later, much to Helen’s dismay. Six months after the wedding, Laura became pregnant, and they had a son they named Jimmy. While everything seemed fine, Helen never warmed up to Laura, and with every visit, she would criticize her son, even though four years had passed since the wedding.
“Look what she’s turned you into. You’re all crumpled and untidy.”
“Mum, what do you mean ‘untidy’? It’s just that my shirt got a bit wrinkled in the wash…”
“Sit down and eat! I bet she didn’t cook anything, leaving you hungry.”
“Mum, I’ll eat at home. Laura cooks well.”
“Yeah, well, store-bought burgers or worse — frozen meals. And Lucy’s even taken up baking classes. What a clever girl, what a clever girl…”
Chris would fend off his mother’s comments as best he could. He tried not to listen to her complaints and definitely didn’t relay them to Laura, as they were unfounded. Yet, Helen maintained her cold war against her daughter-in-law. And eventually, her strategy bore results…
“Hi, son… Your Laura sure doesn’t seem to like me… You always visit alone!”
“Mum, how can she visit when you criticize her for every little thing?”
“If I criticize, there’s a reason. Trust me! While you’re here having tea, she might be out with her ex. I know who she was with before you — that good-for-nothing Carl! And the boy looks just like him. Maybe she had him, and you’re raising him.”
That evening, Christopher had a harsh argument with his mother. He was fed up with her accusations and gossip. He returned home in a foul mood.
“Dad, dad, hi!” Little Jimmy rushed to greet him.
“Hi, son. How are you? What did you do today?”
“Mum and I went to the playground. Uncle Carl was there. He bought me a chocolate bar and a juice!”
A doubt flashed in Chris’s mind—what if his mother was right? That night, he questioned Laura:
“Why did you meet with your ex?”
“Chris, it was by chance. We were out, and he happened to pass by, so we chatted. Then he walked us home.”
“Why is he walking my wife and son home? Maybe Jimmy isn’t even mine!”
“Chris, what are you saying? Are you serious?”
That night, they had their first big argument since their wedding. From then on, fights became frequent. Laura eventually packed her things, took little Jimmy, and moved back to her hometown with her parents.
A divorce followed, and Christopher was ordered to pay child support. He was convinced that Jimmy wasn’t his but decided against disputing it and chose to pay. Helen was thrilled with this outcome. She began orchestrating a restoration of the relationship between Christopher and Lucy, whom she deemed the “perfect daughter-in-law.”
And she succeeded. Chris married Lucy. Almost right after the wedding, Lucy revealed her true nature. She incessantly nagged him about everything, expecting a lavish lifestyle.
“Look at Vicky! Paul bought her a second fur coat! And the Smiths upgraded to a luxury car. And here I am feeling like an outcast, wearing last year’s coat and driving a second-hand car! What kind of husband are you!”
That’s how life went for fifteen long years. Christopher worked tirelessly, juggling two jobs while Lucy indulged herself, never wanting for anything. She didn’t want children, reasoning that they should enjoy life first, perhaps later… Helen wanted to intervene, but Lucy quickly put her in her place.
One day, Christopher received a call from the hospital. Helen had been taken there with a stroke. After being discharged, she required care. Lucy made her stance clear:
“I’m not going to spend days and nights next to an old woman. Let’s place her in a care home.”
“Lucy, maybe I should quit my job…”
“Are you crazy? How will we manage? We have a loan for my car to pay off for another four years…”
In the end, Helen went to a nursing home. Chris continued with his work, and Lucy stayed home. A month later, Helen passed away. Chris returned home for the funeral but forgot to inform his wife. Unlocking the door with his key, he found Lucy in the neighbor’s embrace. He didn’t cause a scene, merely packed his things, and moved back into his mother’s flat.
After Helen’s funeral, Chris stayed in her home, regretting following his mother’s “advice”. Why did he listen? Now he was in his forties, with most of his life behind him. No family, no children, no friends… not even a car—it was all for Lucy… Reflecting on his life, he remembered Laura and Jimmy. He never discovered whose son Jimmy was, nor did it matter anymore…
“Jimmy must be nineteen now… All grown up… I wonder what he’s like?” Chris mused aloud to an empty room, with no reply.
The next morning, he bought a train ticket and traveled to Laura’s hometown. He easily found their house and called at the familiar door, but no one answered. “They must be at work,” he reasoned, and waited outside. After twenty minutes, he turned and was stunned… Approaching the building was a young man—Chris’s mirror image from twenty years ago.
“Jimmy… Jimmy… Son…”
“You? What are you doing here?” Jimmy asked coldly.
“Son, I’ve wronged you… You’ve grown so much… And you look just like me! Where’s your mother?”
“Mum’s gone. Ten years now. She died in a car accident…”
“And you? Who do you live with? Maybe I can help you? I’m willing, with anything! I’ve got money. Just say the word!”
“I live with Grandma. We don’t need anything.”
“But son. I always wanted to, I…”
Chris trailed off. Jimmy had gone inside and closed the door.
“Son! Son, please open the door! How did it come to this, son? I’m your father! Your father!”
He lingered there, at the closed door, tears mingling with the rain as he wept silently. It may have been tears or just the rain. Christopher returned several times, trying to connect with his son. He pleaded, he begged, trying to explain. But Jimmy firmly refused all attempts at contact…
