Natalie’s mother, Portia, fixed me with a hard, accusing stare.
“Helen, how could you treat my daughter like this, even in front of everyone?” she demanded.
I stared back at Natalie, unblinking. "When did I ever say those things? When did I ever bully you?"
Furious, Natalie spat back, “When I walked in, I saw you slap Tommy. I told you twice to stop, and instead, you cursed at me. Then, when John came in, you took advantage of him being on your side and hit me twice.”
She turned to John, her tone shifting into wounded outrage. “Honey, you saw it, didn’t you? You saw her slap me.”
John hesitated, then answered carefully, his voice low and measured. “I didn’t go in to help Mom. I meant to stop her, but I didn’t expect she’d hit you. Don’t worry, babe. Even if she’s my mother, I won’t stand by and let her bully you or Tommy.”
He turned to his wife with a concerned expression and gave her a steady, apologetic look.
Usually, John always sided with Natalie, and I let it slide. But now, I never expected him to support her in making up such a false accusation against me.
I was the apple of my family's eye when I was young.
After I got married, I became my husband’s treasure, and as Dr. Suzette Newman, I earned the respect of everyone in the medical community. After retiring, several hospitals even asked me to return to work.
It was Natalie who didn’t trust the nanny to care for Tommy, so I stepped in to help.
After everything I’d done for them, this was how it turned out. The thought sank in slowly but painfully. Once my grandson started school and no longer needed me, they’d have no use for me either. I’d just become another burden they wanted to get rid of.
At that moment, I had had enough of being quiet. I wasn’t going to leave without speaking my mind.
I looked directly at John and said, “Say that again. I’ve been staying quiet and letting things go for the sake of your marriage, but I won’t accept being accused of something I didn’t do. You just married Natalie, and now you’ve already forgotten your own mother. If that’s true, then I guess I’m the unlucky one here. But be a man, John. Have some conscience.”
"Conscience? If you had any conscience, you’d admit your mistakes, Helen," Natalie interrupted sharply.
Then she turned to John and said, “Honey, what are you so afraid of? These days, everyone’s equal. Your mother doesn’t get to boss you around just because she’s older. There are plenty of elders here besides her. Just tell the truth.”
John turned to me, his expression hardening. "Mom, if you’ve done something wrong, you need to admit it."
I raised my hand and slapped him hard across the face.
The sound of the slap echoed through the room, and for several long moments, the atmosphere became tense and eerily silent.
Natalie completely lost it. “You all saw that, right? This is what she’s always like. The minute she gets upset, she hits someone. If things don’t go her way, she lashes out. John and I have been walking on eggshells in this house.”
She turned to John, her tone turning firm but coaxing. “Honey, don’t be scared. Everyone’s here, and no one’s going to judge you. Stand up for yourself and set an example for Tommy. When someone mistreats you, you should fight back.”
“Yes, fight back,” Portia said, eager to back Natalie. “If Helen does not care about you, I do. From now on, we will all live together as one big family.”
“Are you going to hit me?” I asked.
I moved closer, reducing the gap between my son and me.
Natalie’s uncle moved up behind John. “What are you afraid of? We will back you up.”
Joining the dissent, her younger sister called out from the side. “Yeah, John, hit her. She is disrespecting her elders and deserves to be punished.”
“Hit her,” Natalie’s aunt said, with her hands on her hips. “If she dares to fight back, your uncle will make sure she pays for it.”
I watched John, waiting for him to make a choice. Accusing me was one thing, but physically hitting me would be a different matter.
“If you won’t, I will,” Natalie’s uncle said with finality, raising his hand as he stepped forward.
And so, John moved faster.
He slapped me across the face. The look on his face shifted to one that was cold and alien after he struck me.
John then fixed his gaze on me, his voice cold. “Apologize to Tommy. If you apologize, you can stay in the house. If you don’t, get out.”
