Maddie, who was expecting a baby, hoped to mend things with her mother-in-law before the new arrival. But what she discovered one day when returning home was beyond anything she could have imagined.

Returning home unexpectedly one afternoon, I came face-to-face with my mother-in-law, Meredith, engaging in something unimaginable right in our bedroom.

Recently, my husband Theo and I moved to a new house, and shortly after, Theo was called away on business. Meredith, who had never been shy about disliking me, surprisingly offered to help me organize our new home. Given my pregnant state, I thought maybe this was her way of extending an olive branch.

Piles of cardboard boxes | Source: Pexels

“It might be a good thing,” Theo mentioned before leaving. “Maybe this is Mom’s way of getting to know you better.”

However, Meredith had different plans in mind.

Meredith’s close relationship with Kelsey, Theo’s ex-wife, was well-known. Kelsey and Theo parted on good terms, driven by Kelsey’s wish to explore the world instead of settling down.

Kelsey’s disinterest in having children was a deal-breaker for Theo.

Woman sitting on a suitcase at an airport | Source: Pexels

Meredith adored Kelsey, seeing her as the perfect partner for Theo, embodying a grace and dignity she deemed fitting for their family’s legacy — a point she made clear over lunch once.

Her distaste for me stemmed not only from personal dislike but from a belief that I could never replace Kelsey.

That evening due to severe morning sickness, my boss asked me to head home early — “Rest, Maddie,” he advised.

Upon entering the quiet house, an odd sense of dread washed over me as I heard soft chanting from our bedroom.

Opening the door, I was met with an unnerving sight:

Meredith, cross-legged on the bed, surrounded by candles, old photos of Theo and Kelsey scattered around her. She clutched a ring and Theo’s baby blanket while chanting something between a prayer and a curse.

“What are you doing!?” I burst out, the shock stirring the baby inside me.

Meredith seemed shocked, but her demeanor quickly turned defensive.

“I’m fixing things, Maddie,” she replied sharply.

“Fixing? By performing some sort of ritual on my bed?” I retorted.

“It’s a blessing,” she insisted coldly. “A cleansing. Theo chose wrongly after Kelsey left. I need to bring her back. I must correct their mistakes.”

“Meredith,” I felt the nausea rising again.

“Leave my house. Now!” I commanded, channeling an unfamiliar strength.

She paused but then began gathering her items, extinguishing candles and muttering about ungrateful daughters-in-law.

“You’ll regret this,” she snapped while leaving.

I took pictures of the setup, determined to show Theo what had transpired.

With Theo away for a week, I refused to sleep in the master bedroom, opting for the guest room instead.

When Theo returned, I shared the photos — their starkness revealing more than words could.

“I knew she struggled to accept you,” he commented wistfully. “But I never thought it would go this far.”

We realized we needed to address this for our baby’s sake. Confronting Meredith was emotional and intense.

She confessed to clinging to the past, saying, “I loved Kelsey like a daughter.”

Theo urged her to seek counseling, asserting it was the path to reconciliation and involvement in our child’s life.

“To be a part of our lives, to see your grandchild, this is necessary, Mom,” he insisted.

While change wasn’t immediate, Meredith eventually made genuine efforts, even hosting a baby shower for us.

When our son was born, besides Theo and me, she was the first to hold him.

Despite everything, Theo believed in her potential for change, which helped me find forgiveness too.

Person holding a baby | Source: Pexels

Still, I remain cautious whenever she has the baby, reluctant to completely let my guard down until I’m truly confident.