Mia and Bob’s anniversary trip was meant to be a happy time, but her mother-in-law showed up and ruined it. They had a sweet moment, but Linda booked a room next to theirs and said mean things to Mia. Lina didn’t know that Mia was about to teach her a very important lesson.
Bob and I needed this trip.
Taking care of kids, working, and living with his mother Linda after our house burned down caused us a lot of stress for months. Finally, we got our first real break in years. It was even better because it was our seventh wedding anniversary.
No kids. Not having any duties. Only us.
There was nothing but happiness for the first three days.
There were the nicest hotel sheets I can think of, so we slept in. As we ate our breakfast slowly and quietly on our deck, we watched the waves hit the shore. We sat on the beach in the afternoons, drank cocktails, and touched each other like we were married again.
I had my husband all to myself for the first time in a long time.
Until she got there.
As if the main character in a scary movie were understanding that the monster was right behind them, I slowly turned my head.
She was right there.
Kathy.
My spouse’s mom.
“Mia!” Bobby!”
I had been trying to get away from that high-pitched, sing-song voice for three months.
She stood there with a smug little smile on her face, wearing a bright flower dress and sunglasses that were too big for her face.
“I thought you two would get bored without me!” She chirped. “All right, here I am!”
I wasn’t moving. I was short of breath.
Bob, on the other hand, almost choked on his drink.
“Mom?” How the hell did you get here? “Are you sure?”
She walked over to us, dug her heels into the sand, and smiled.
“I bought a ticket at the last minute!” I thought you two lovebirds might want to hang out with someone. I needed some warmth too, to be honest. “This is also mine.”
My throat became dry.
I choked on “Linda.” “Where are the kids?” Are they all right? Is something wrong? “Why are you here?”
As if to say no, she waved her hand.
“Oh, sweetheart, don’t worry. My best friend Irene has the kids. She really missed them and was so happy to have them back! This is great for her because her grandchildren live all over the country.
I had a tight chin.
The same woman who begged us to go on this trip so we could have some alone time… had just left our three kids to follow us across the Pacific?!
I looked at my husband. Bob’s face was hollow, and his eyes were tired and sunken in. He looked like he was on death row.
We were so excited and full of life just now.
“What do you think about this?” I put my drink down and asked him.
Bob let out a sigh. “Mia, she’s already here…” We can’t just send her back. I’m really sorry, honey. We’ll just have to deal with it, I guess.
Deep down, something broke in me.
Did he really let his mom join our romantic trip?
Was he really putting her ahead of me again?
Did he really believe this was okay?
Bob got up. He said as he walked toward the beach bar, “I’ll get Mom a drink.”
Oh. Oh my god. It had already started.
Then Linda put her hand on mine.
“Mia, do you really believe that you are now the most important woman in my son’s life?” she asked in a low voice. “Don’t fool yourself.” I’m still here.
It looked like the ocean itself stopped talking.
I couldn’t say anything.
The next room Linda booked was right next to ours, and she messed up the whole trip.
On the first night, Bob and I were going to have a romantic meal on the beach with some other couples. We already placed our order through the hotel’s room service menu. We just needed to get the basket and go to the shore.
What do you think happened?
Linda went to her room, took the whole basket, and helped herself.
That wasn’t all, though.
The cruise with a romantic sunset?
Linda got dizzy out of the blue and needed Bob to help her get back to her room.
The dinner by yourself on the beach?
Oh, Linda “accidentally” changed the ticket to fit three people at a table.
The spa night for two?
This made her “couldn’t sleep alone” and she begged Bob to “come to her room for just a second.”
I was very hot.
But when she knocked on our door for the fourth time on the third night, I lost it.
I said in a whisper, “Bob, don’t open it.” “Please.” Do not do it at all.
“But what if she needs something?”
I clenched my teeth and said, “DO NOT open that door.”
I was done. Done and done. I was very angry. I was worn out. It felt like a nightmare on my date.
So I called the next morning.
“An endless adventure in Hawaii.” A person asked, “How can we help?”
“Hi,” I said in a low voice as I went into the bathroom to avoid waking Bob up. “I need your top-notch experience.” I’m not going. My wife’s mom is, though. This will make her happy.
“No trouble, ma’am.” We’ll soon send you a full schedule to your room. Just give her the information she needs, including any health issues.
Linda had a full day planned when she woke up.
6:00 AM: Hike to see the sunrise (10 miles, with a break).
9:00 AM: Volcano tour (very little shade, very hot weather).
12:00 PM: Traditional Hawaiian dance class (long, exhausting, and inevitable).
3:00 PM: Three hours of chopping, stirring, and sweating follow a cultural cooking lesson that comes with the package.
6:00 PM: Private nighttime tour (for the sleep-deprived!).
At 7:00 AM, Linda knocked on our door. She looked sweaty and lost.
She waved her phone and asked, “Did you guys sign me up for something?” “I keep getting these alerts, but I believe I missed a hike.”
I let out a gasp and grabbed my chest like it was my life.
“No way, Linda! Did they mistakenly put you in an exercise program? You might have agreed to something when you checked in. “That’s really strange.”
I looked at my sweet, unaware husband Bob and blinked.
He asked, “Do you… want to cancel?”
She wasn’t sure.
She was very proud of herself, you see. She was never going to say she wasn’t able to keep up. She would never say she was having a hard time.
She would lose if she said yes.
She stood up straight and forced a smile instead.
“No, I’m going to leave.” I don’t want to throw away the chance.
Okay.
She was too tired to text by Day 3.
On Day 4, she called me.
Her voice wasn’t strong. Needed badly.
“Mia, please help me.” Stop it right now. I want to go home.
Linda, I see. The mission was completed.
I made plans for her to fly that afternoon.
I spoke softly as Bob helped her get out of the car.
I told Linda in a whisper, “Maybe I’m not Bob’s number one.” “But now you know—I’m smarter than you.”
Linda never did something like that again.