Rebecca continued her rants: [My in-law has been a widow for so many years. Who knows if she’s lonely and wants to drive the RV out to meet up with some random guy? Is she not afraid of not being good at driving such a big car? She might crash into the car and die!]
The subsequent obscenities were simply unbearable to watch. But Rebecca didn’t know that my mother was also in the group chat.
Rebecca saw my face turn pale and her eyes evasive, but she remained unyielding. “I wasn’t wrong... Elise is already old and she’s still taking road trips like young people. Who knows if she’s keeping a gigolo…”
My mother was completely furious when she heard this and exclaimed, “Bullshit! My daughter earns her own money, so she can spend it however she wants! Who are you to tell her what she should do? You’re even cursing me to death! What are you up to? Why are you so keen on going back to your hometown? If you have the guts, leave now. If you don’t step out of this door today, I’ll drag you out myself!”
Rebecca, completely defeated by my mother’s scolding, sank back onto the sofa and started wailing again. “Oh, my life is so miserable! My son’s not home and my daughter-in-law and in-law team up to bully an old woman like me…”
My temples were throbbing. On one side was Rebecca, wailing pitifully and on the other was Elise, trembling with anger.
I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself. I was the younger one, so I had to calm down the argument first.
I walked over to Rebecca and tried to persuade her gently, “Mom, please don’t cry. If I’ve done something wrong, please tell me and I’ll be more careful in the future. There’s no need to ruin the family harmony over such a small matter.”
I continued, “Sebastian hasn’t returned from his business trip yet. If you go back to your hometown without saying anything, I won’t be able to explain to him. Can you please forgive me and wait until Sebastian comes back and then we can talk about it?”
Rebecca’s crying quieted down a bit after I said that and it seemed like she was trying to use my offer to save her temper.
Unexpectedly, my mother was so angry that she couldn’t stand it. “Hannah, why are you on her side? Yes, you give her 2,800 dollars every month, but you also opened a 14,000-dollar interim payment for her. She spends it all every month! There are already nannies at home. What does she do besides square dancing and rummy? What’s there to be sorry about? A son-in-law who was only married into the family? I don’t know how a person who did something horrible can have the nerve to cry like this…”
I wanted to quickly interrupt my mother, but it was too late. Rebecca’s defenses completely shattered when she heard the words “son-in-law.” She suddenly jumped up from the sofa, beating her chest and stamping her feet in tears like a child.
“I’m going to die! My son, Sebastian, only an unfilial son! What kind of wife did you marry to put your mother through such humiliation? They just look down on our Bailey Family…”
Looking at the chaotic scene before me, the fatigue and irritation accumulated from working overtime instantly washed over me.
I rubbed my temples, my last bit of patience gone. I pulled out my phone and called the driver, Bentley. “Bentley, come home and take my mother-in-law back to her hometown.”
The crying stopped abruptly. Rebecca looked at me in disbelief. “Hannah? Are you kicking me out?”
I sighed, feeling somewhat helpless and replied, “Didn’t you say you were going back home? It’s late and it’s unsafe to take a taxi. I’ll have the driver take you.”
She froze in her tracks and stared at me for a long moment, making sure I wasn’t joking. Her expression shifted from shock to shame and indignation. She suddenly grabbed her suitcase and stormed out.
“Okay! I’m leaving! Let’s see what you’ll say when Sebastian gets back!”
***
Two days later, Sebastian returned from his business trip. As soon as he entered the house, before he’d even put down his luggage, his phone rang.
From a distance, I could hear Rebecca’s wailing, accusations on the other end. “Sebastian, wahhh, help me!”
