Helen snorted. “I do. You stay here, and we’ll teach that moron a lifelong lesson.”
I blinked.
Want to help me? Raising an eyebrow. Yes, I do.
Despite being my son, he cannot treat us this way. His own medicine will be administered.”
I was stunned. I finally felt like Helen and I were on the same team after years.
“Thank you,” I muttered. “Don’t thank me yet,” she added, smirking. “Wait until you see my plan.”
Her words made me shiver.
I knew Rick wouldn’t know what hit him, whatever Helen planned. When Helen took up her phone, her eyes sparkled with mischief. “Now, let’s see how good an actor I am,” she grinned at me.
The nerves in my gut twisted as I nodded. “He’ll agree. Always falls for a crisis.”
She called Rick with the weakest voice I’d ever heard.
She said, “Rick…it’s Mom,” with a faltering tone. I heard his worried voice over the phone. “Mom?
What’s wrong? Though hidden, Helen grabbed her chest violently. I dunno, Rick.
My arm is numb and my chest is constricted. Something’s wrong.”
“What?!” Rick’s voice broke. Are you serious?
Did you dial 911? “No,” she muttered. I didn’t want to cause anyone concern… She looked at me.
“She did something to me…”
Hang up and call an ambulance, mom! A barking Rick. “On my way.
No telling—” His voice mumbled. “Don’t tell her.”
I battled to hold back laughter. Helen croaked, “Hurry, Rick,” rolling her eyes.
Please.” After hanging up, she laughed triumphantly. He’s coming, she murmured, shaking her head. “Can you believe he still thinks he’s smartest in the family?”
Tire squealing soon filled the tranquil neighborhood.
Helen was reclining dramatically on the couch, blanket pulled up to her chin. I sat in the armchair with a tea mug, attempting to relax. Smashing, the front door opened.
“Mom!” Rick came into the room, his face blanched with dread, his speech hysterical. Are you okay, mom? A frail hand waved at him as Helen groaned.
“I believe… Im dying.”
Rick kneeled beside her and took her hand. “Don’t worry—I’m calling police. You did what to her?
He turned to me, furious. Pulling up, she glared at him. “She showed me…
Rick froze.
“What…?”
Helen sat awake, eyes burning, throwing off the blanket. “Your wife showed me everything. The text.
That affair. Your nasty lie included me, your mother. I’m dying.
Of disappointment.”
Rick flushed. His lips opened and closed like a fish out of water as he glanced at me. Wait, this… not what it looks like!”
“Oh, it’s exactly what it looks like,” I responded quietly, sipping tea.
I checked my phone for messages. “Explain these?” I gave him the phone. Shaking hands, Rick scanned the screen.
“This…it’s not what you think,” he stumbled. “I was just trying—”
“To what?” Helen interrupted, raising her voice. Humiliate your wife?
Make this family embarrassed? Or were you too sluggish to find an explanation other than your mother’s health? Rick seems to want to be swallowed by the floor.
I’m sorry, mom. I didn’t mean—”
Never apologize to me! Helen snapped.
Please apologize to your wife. If you can give her any respect.”
He looked at me, crying. I was dumb.
My error. I’ll finish. Any request, I’ll do.
Do not leave me. Consider the kids.”
Arms folded. My thoughts are with the kids.
Perhaps kids would be better off without a lying and cheating father.”
Rick fell silent, head bowed. I sent Rick to sleep on Helen’s spare room pull-out couch that night. Helen and I drank tea in the kitchen.
“I don’t know what I would’ve done without you,” I whispered. Helen raised her cup. “You’ll never have to.
Got your back.”
I felt supported for the first time in years. I dealt with the other woman the next day. I found her number by scrolling my phone.
Rick stored it under a bogus name, but I figured it out soon. “Hello?” she said, beaming. “Hi,” I said.
I’m Rick’s wife.”
The silence was long. “Oh,” she said finally. “I didn’t know he was married.”
“Really?
Because he texted about me,” I replied coldly. “I—” She paused. I’m sorry.
I was unaware.”
I said, “Well, now you do,” and hung up. While the kids and I went home, Rick stayed at Helen’s house for the week, ashamed to show his face. Despite my uncertainty about the future, I knew I was no longer the woman who cried in the kitchen that night.
I’d never let Rick or anybody else disrespect me like that again due to Helen.
