My Mother-in-Law Left Me Stranded at the Airport! Then, She Called Me in a Panic!

I had to walk home I felt really upset about this especially because it's a long 3-hour walk even though I'm strong I was almost in tears but thankfully someone helped me out in the end it was my mother-in-law who felt sorry for what she did my name is Jenifer and I'm 30 years old I met my husband Walter when we were both in college we love mountain climbing Walter is 2 years younger than me and he's really good-looking and popular when he asked me out I couldn't believe it but but he says he likes how I tackle challenges without complaining Walter has a good job at a big company and earns a lot of money we've been happily married since college but there's something that bothers me during dinner Walter always gets calls from his mom and leaves to talk to her in his room Walter's mom calls him often about once every two days she really loves her son and Walter is very sweet to her which makes me wonder if he's too attached to his mom but since she raised him well I feel like I should respect her too however it seems like our feelings toward each other are different it started before we got married when we went to visit my husband's parents Walter's mom didn't seem happy when she found out I'm 2 years older than him and almost 30 she seemed unhappy throughout our visit but Walter's dad didn't mind he said age doesn't matter and that I seem like a reliable person who's perfect for Walter who has his weaker moments but that made Walter's mom even more upset Walter's mom didn't want to argue with his dad directly so she decided to make things difficult for me without him noticing sometimes she'd say things like oh dear I'm sorry Jennifer but the snacks I gave you are bad let me get you something else when she was being mean on purpose she'd widen her eyes snort and twist her lips I felt like I was studying her behavior like a scientist studying animals it's all right I can eat it I smiled and cut off the spoiled part of the dried fruit and ate the rest back from my mounting Club days I learned to meet you with whatever food was available Walter's dad and Walter himself chuckled saying that's just like Jennifer and we all laughed but then Walter's dad told his mom not to serve me something like that again and the mood stayed light but I wasn't paying enough attention I'm sorry I said still laughing but I caught her quick sharp glance and heard her tongue click disapprovingly there were other times like when she showed off souvenirs from Italy she gave Walter a nice tie but for me it was a cheap T-shirt with a fake logo come on try on the tie Jennifer you to try on the shirt she said with that same expression on her face I realized it was another jab at me um no thanks I Don't Wear Ties with casual clothes and I'm not feeling like trying on a shirt right now I said trying to keep the mood light with a smile but inside I was really frustrated after that I only use that t-shirt for things like gardening in the summer or as a funny prop and photos with my friends I couldn't stand even looking at it these little mean Acts were subtle so only I could really tell what was going on when I tried talking to Walter about it he just brush it off saying mom's a bit odd forgive her but the constant negativity was wearing me down we live about an hour's drive from my in-laws so it was always hanging over us that we could visit them whenever that thought made me feel down then out of the blue Walter told me Jennifer I've got some sudden news I'm being transferred it starts next month so get ready Walter was being moved for work he said sorry but secretly I felt relieved it gave us a reason to keep our distance from my in-laws okay don't worry I'll handle the preparations I'll even ask my family for help I happily went ahead with the moving preparations finally I thought I could escaped from my mother-in-law's constant teasing although I was nervous about starting a new life most of my excitement came from the thought of getting away from her once the move was done I hoped I could put some distance between us but then the Fone rang it was my mother-in-law asking where I'd been and hinting that I might be ignoring her son to spend time with my own parents I wanted to let out a big sigh but I stayed calm and explained that I was just busy at the store and wanted to make sure Walter had good meals in our new home her calls started coming more often every 2 days even though we were seeing each other less we were talking more but most of the time it was just her making little Digs at me she'd say things like my son is sensitive I wonder if someone as tough as Jennifer can understand him his high school girlfriend was so delicate but now his tastes have changed haven't they it was always stuff meant to make me feel uncomfortable it seems like Walter's mom doesn't have another way to deal with her stress and unfortunately I became the target for it it felt like I was just a Dumping Ground for her frust ations what hurt the most were her comments about having children she'd say things like Jennifer you're already 30 can you even have a normal child being older than my son it was shocking to hear such outdated and hurtful remarks especially since I'd been worrying about that myself lately I couldn't help but cry after hanging up the phone I wondered what she really thought of me did she believe that her words wouldn't hurt me as I kept giving neutral answers to avoid confrontation maybe she got bored of trying to bully me and the call started to decrease it was a huge relief for me then on New Year's Day the next year my husband and I went to visit my in-laws they were picking us up from the airport Walter's dad greeted us warmly which was a relief because I was really anxious about seeing his mom his friendliness made me feel better we exchanged New Year's greetings and despite my worries it seemed like things might be okay we exchanged New Year's greetings but my mother-in-law didn't even glance at me maybe she was upset about my distant response to her constant calls our relationship was strained and I was trying to figure out how to handle it were you tired from the trip how about we grab a coffee at the airport cafe Walter's dad suggested oblivious to the tension between his wife and me sounds good isn't there a cafe on the second floor Walter replied cheerfully and we made our way to a cafe inside the airport should I drive us home Walter offered no I'm still comfortable driving his mother replied curtly while the men chatted away my mother-in-law and I sat in silence excuse me I need to use the restroom I said after placing my order and I stood up from the table oh I think I'll go too my mother-in-law said getting up to follow me I had a sinking feeling about this as we approached the entrance to the women's restroom my mother-in-law walking behind me suddenly said since you can't ride in the car why don't you just walk back confused by her words I turned to look at her and there it was again that same expression on her face we're going back as a family of three you're a stranger here aren't you I couldn't believe what I was hearing walk back from here to my in-laws house how far was that and to call her son's wife a stranger I stood there Frozen in shock as my mother-in-law kept hurling words at me I've been kind enough to call you often but you always respond so coldly living near your parents house has made you a arrogant I don't even want to think of you as my daughter-in-law you're just a stranger a complete stranger her voice was getting louder I was stunned but I didn't want to make a scene in public so I replied quietly yes I understand feeling too embarrassed to go back to where Walter and his dad were I headed towards the airport exit feeling heavy-hearted even though she told me to walk back this was an airport surely there were taxes or buses I could take one as far as possible and then walk the rest of the way but more than that I was worried about how I would face my in-laws after this incident and how I would spend the next few days with them for now I searched for transportation to my in-laws house on my phone there was a bus leaving in just 10 minutes but it wouldn't take me directly there from where it dropped me off I'd have to walk it might take about 3 hours in total 3 hours I could manage that with my legs trained from mountain climbing but there's a big difference between walking for fun and being forced to walk because of harassment tears filled my eyes was it really my fault maybe if I had been nicer on the phone even after hearing those hurtful things none of this would have happened lost in these thoughts as I walked I suddenly felt a tap on my shoulder from behind Jennifer why are you walking here it was Walter's dad did my wife say something to you at the restroom I was on my way there too and I saw you and my wife talking and then you started to leave so I followed you looking at his kind face the tears I've been holding back finally spilled over running down my cheeks Jennifer what's going on he asked with concern I made up my mind to tell Walter's dad the truth so I shared with him exactly what his wife had said and he became angrier than I'd ever seen him oh my did she really say that to my son's wife then to my surprise he said something unexpected I'll walk with you Jennifer with that he stepped in front of me and began walking um father-in-law don't worry I used to enjoy mountain climbing and I went on many trips with Walter when he was little a three-hour walk one way is nothing sure enough Walter's dad walked with a steady stride not at all like someone in their 6s come on let's go um well I we didn't tell Walter we were leaving is that okay I suddenly remembered that I hadn't informed Walter about our departure Walter will be all right she'll probably convince him to wait I'll give him a call with that Walter's dad took out his phone he was sending a text to Walter's mom he let her know that he was walking back with me and that the car keys were in his bag while we waited for the bus Walter's dad's phone rang he answered and I could tell from his tone that he was trying to control his anger it must have been Walter's mom on the other end I heard what you said to Jennifer if you're going to talk like that then I won't ride in the cart either I could hear Walter's mom's panicked voice shouting from the other end that's not true she said she wanted to walk for exercise I was more bewildered than anything we'll discuss this when we get home Walter's dad said firmly as he hung up and pocketed his phone maybe because Walter's dad's phone was busy mind started ringing next it was definitely Walter's mom Walter's dad and I exchanged a glance what could she want now to tell us to get in the car I definitely wasn't going to pick up so I decided to ignore it too father-in-law and I quietly boarded the bus and continued our walk after getting off this way is a shortcut there's a slope here for a while but let's do our best he said occasionally offering advice as we walked it almost felt like we were climbing a mountain together but I hadn't planned on walking so much today and I was just wearing regular boots father-in-law had on leather shoes this is going to be tough on our feet I thought to myself but I only asked once I'm father-in-law are your feet okay won't walking for a long time in those shoes hurt them he glanced at my feet and squinted looks like we're in the same boat it's unbelievable that she would make a woman walk so far in those shoes we both thought about calling a taxi but neither of us said anything wanting to defy Walter's mom but Jennifer you're strong you're walking such a long distance without complaining I bet that's what attracted Walter to you he said making me feel a little better after a long walk we kept going stopping at a grocery store to buy drinks from vending machines to stay hydrated about 3 hours later as the sun started to set we finally reached my in-law's house their car was parked out front mother-in-law and Walter must be inside we're back father-in-law announced as he opened the front door and Walter rushed over Jennifer I was so worried what happened why did you suddenly decide to walk back for exercise then mom say something no that's not it mom told Jennifer to walk back father-in-law explained looking understandably exhausted as he took a seat near the entrance mother-in-law who had just come out of the living room looked shocked and pale no that's not true it's not what happened it seems there's been a misunderstanding what misunderstanding I couldn't stay silent any longer you said since we can't ride in the car why don't you walk back didn't you I stated plainly I just spies lying and this situation reminded me of my mountain climbing Club days a 3-hour walk one way was good exercise Walter glanced at his mother he knows I'm not the type to lie I added the eyes of Walter his father and I were all fixed on mother-in-law what you believe this woman over me you're choosing her over your family she's just a stranger isn't she mother-in-law screamed so I wasn't allowed in the car because I'm a stranger I said quietly mom I can't believe you would say something like that Jennifer is an important part of my family I wanted you to feel the same way Walter said his fist clenched his hand trembling with anger if you're going to treat Jennifer like this I'm done with you Mom I won't answer your calls anymore don't contact Jennifer either Walter declared taking my hand firmly letun go Walter wait but Walter slammed the door shut and without a backward glance he took my hand and we started walking a year later hey Jennifer Walter come check out this view it's amazing up here Walter his father and I were out mountain climbing together 6 months after the New Year incident Walter got a transfer and we moved back to our old neighborhood after what happened at the New Year's celebration Walter's Dad decided to get a divorce and move closer to our house climbing together on weekends has become a regular thing for us shall we have lunch here at the summit we eagerly began preparing our meal as we worked father-in-law started talking mom went on a spending spree after the divorce even though the property was divided fairly it seems she's already having financial troubles maybe she was feeling lonely the divorce was tough with lots of crying and screaming maybe it's best for both of us to have some distance now she needs to expand her world too otherwise she's the type to take out her stress on those close to her I listened quietly to their conversation I'll focus on my own world so I don't have to unload my stress unto others looking out at the view from the mountain with my dear family I made that promise to myself

Channel: Reddit Imagination Forge

Views: 5,844

Keywords: reddit, reddit stories, reddit real voice, Text story, revenge, Revenge story, AppleText, Relationships, aita, redditstories, Apple, texting, texting story

Id: OjHKXtE4M4I

Length: 15min 9sec (909 seconds)

Published: Tue May 14 2024