Chapter 1: The Space Between Us
My son asked me to stop visiting because his wife "needed space" — then my granddaughter called me crying.
My daughter-in-law and I had never been particularly close, but for years, I visited my son's family almost every weekend.
Mostly because of my granddaughter, Chloe.
So when Eric called me one afternoon and asked me to stop coming over for a while, I was surprised.
"Is something wrong?"
"No.
Megan just needs some space right now."
"Space from me?"
He sighed.
"Mom, please don't make this a big thing.
She's going through something.
Just give us a couple of weeks."
I won't pretend it didn't hurt.
Megan had never exactly loved having me around, so I figured I'd done something to annoy her.
Then, a few days later, my granddaughter called me crying.
She was so upset I could barely understand her.
"Grandma, can you come get me?"
I immediately sat up.
"Chloe?
What's wrong?"
"Mom's gone."
My heart dropped.
"What do you mean, gone?"
"She hasn't been home for two nights.
Dad says she's staying with Aunt Jessica."
For a moment, I was relieved.
At least Megan was with her sister.
But Chloe kept crying.
"Sweetheart, if she's with Aunt Jessica, I'm sure she's okay."
There was a pause.
Then Chloe whispered:
"But I called Aunt Jessica.
Mom isn't there."
Twenty minutes later, I was driving to their house.
Eric looked shocked when he opened the door.
"Mom?
What are you doing here?"
"Chloe called me."
His expression immediately changed.
"I told you not to come over."
"And your daughter just called me crying because she doesn't know where her mother is."
"Megan's fine.
Chloe misunderstood."
"Then where is she?"
Eric rubbed his forehead.
"Mom, please.
Stay out of this."
I ignored him and went inside.
Chloe came running to me, and once she'd calmed down a little, she grabbed my hand.
"Grandma, come upstairs."
She led me into her parents' bedroom.
I stopped in the doorway.
Half of Megan's things were gone.
Her clothes.
Some shoes.
The suitcase that usually sat on top of the wardrobe.
I looked at Chloe.
"Did your mom pack all this?"
She shook her head.
"No.
Dad did."
I turned around.
Eric was standing behind us.
"Chloe, go to your room."
She didn't move.
"NOW."
Once she was gone, I looked at my son.
"Why are YOU packing your wife's things?"
"Mom, this is between Megan and me."
"Where is she?"
"She's fine."
"That's not what I asked.
Where is she?"
Eric's face hardened.
"Mom, just let me handle this."
That was when I knew something was seriously wrong.
Megan didn't answer my calls that day.
Or the next.
I kept calling and texting until she finally called me back.
"Megan?"
There was a long silence.
Then she said:
"I'm sorry.
I didn't think you'd want to hear from me."
"What are you talking about?
I've been trying to reach you."
Another pause.
"Eric told me you didn't want to be involved."
I frowned.
"Involved in what?"
"Our marriage."
I didn't even know what to say.
"Megan, Eric told me YOU needed space.
That's why I stopped coming over."
"What?"
"He specifically asked me not to visit because you didn't want me there."
She went quiet.
"I never said that."
I didn't say anything for a moment.
Then Megan added:
"He told me YOU were the one who didn't want to come anymore."
My stomach tightened.
"Why would he tell us both that?"
Megan gave a bitter little laugh.
"Probably for the same reason he tells me half the things you supposedly say about me."
I froze.
"What things?"
"He told me you thought I was a bad mother."
"WHAT?"
"And that you said Eric deserved a wife who actually took care of him."
"Megan, I never said that."
"I know that now."
For the first time in years, Megan and I actually talked.
"Megan...
does Eric know you called me?"
"No."
I went quiet.
Then something occurred to me.
"Good.
Don't tell him."
"Why?"
I smiled.
"Because I think I know how WE can teach him a lesson."
---
What lesson does Eric's mom have in mind — and will he finally face the truth?
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