My Husband Gave Me A Train Ticket For Our Honeymoon While He Flew, But When He Reached The Airport..

Meeting Shirley

The next weekend, I found myself standing outside a small two-story house, my palms sweating. Ryan squeezed my hand to calm me as he rang the doorbell. When the door opened, a small woman with gray hair and kind eyes smiled at us.

“You must be Emily,” she said, pulling me into an unexpected hug. “I’m Shirley. Come on in.”

As we settled into the living room, I couldn’t help but notice how Shirley’s eyes never left Ryan. She fussed over him, asking if he wanted a drink or a snack while barely acknowledging me. I watched them, feeling like I was on the outside looking in.

Shirley dominated the conversation, constantly bringing up stories from Ryan’s childhood and worrying about his health. By the time we left, I felt exhausted, but Ryan seemed completely unaware of how awkward the whole visit had been.

“So, what did you think?” he asked eagerly as we drove away.

I hesitated, carefully picking my words. “Your mom really loves you, Ryan.”

He grinned. “She’s great, isn’t she? I knew you’d like her.”

I forced a smile, not wanting to ruin Ryan’s happiness. But as we drove back to my place, I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more going on than just a loving mother relationship.

Wedding Bell Blues

Five months passed in a blur, and before I knew it, Ryan was down on one knee holding a sparkling ring. Despite my concerns about his relationship with Shirley, I said yes. I loved him, and I believed we could work through anything together.

We decided to move in together into my apartment. But as we started planning the wedding, I quickly realized this wasn’t going to be the fun, exciting experience I had imagined. Shirley was involved in every decision, every little detail.

It wasn’t just the wedding, either. Shirley called all the time, always with some problem that needed Ryan’s immediate attention. One evening, as we were discussing flower arrangements, Ryan’s phone rang. He answered right away, his face filled with concern.

“What’s wrong, Mom?” He listened for a moment. “The sink’s leaking? I’ll be right there.”

He hung up and turned to me, looking sorry. “I have to go help Mom. Her sink’s leaking, and you know how she is with plumbers.”

This kind of thing happened almost every day. If it wasn’t a leaking sink, it was a stubbed toe or a bad mood that only Ryan could fix. And if he hesitated, Shirley would say, “After all I’ve done for you, I just need a little help. Is that too much to ask?”

A Request for Boundaries

I couldn’t take it anymore. One night, after Ryan came back from yet another emergency at Shirley’s, I decided to bring it up.

“Ryan,” I said softly. “I think we should see a couple’s therapist. Maybe they can help us handle the situation with your mom. I feel like her demands are a bit too much.”

Ryan’s voice got louder. “Too much? She raised me alone, Emily. She saved my life more than once. How can you call that too much?”

I quickly tried to calm him down. “I’m not saying she doesn’t love you. I’m just worried about how this is affecting our relationship.”

Ryan’s expression softened a little. “Okay, maybe you’re right. But can we do it after the wedding? We’re so busy right now, and I don’t want to add more stress.”

I knew I should have pushed harder and insisted on dealing with this before we got married, but I was so tired of fighting this invisible battle with Shirley. So, against my better judgment, I agreed.

The Hospital Drama

The weeks flew by, filled with cake tastings, dress fittings, and endless phone calls with Shirley. Before I knew it, the wedding was just a few days away. Even though it had been stressful, I was excited. My friends had planned a bachelorette party, and I couldn’t wait for a fun night without wedding talk or Shirley drama.

We hit our favorite bar, laughing and dancing, and for the first time in months, I felt free. I felt so free, finally able to relax without Shirley constantly watching over the wedding plans. But then my phone rang, and I saw Ryan’s name on the screen. His voice was tight with panic.

“Emily, Mom’s in the hospital. Her blood pressure spiked. I’m heading there now.”

I quickly explained to my friends what was happening and called a taxi. The ride to the hospital felt like it took forever; my mind kept jumping to the worst possible outcomes. When I finally arrived, the moment Shirley saw me, her face crumpled, and she let out a dramatic moan.

“Oh, it’s you,” she said, covering her face with her hands. “My blood pressure… it’s her fault. All this wedding stress.”

I stood there frozen, completely shocked by her accusation. “Shirley, I…” I started.

But she peeked through her fingers, glaring at me. “I can’t handle this right now. My poor heart.”

Ryan looked at me, his face apologetic but serious. “Emily, could you wait outside for a bit?” he asked gently.

Stunned, I nodded and walked out, collapsing into a chair in the hallway. I sat there for what felt like hours, watching nurses and doctors rushing by.