When Jim and I became engaged, his mother, Beth, immediately began to intrude. She quickly overwhelmed us with her ideas.
“I have so many plans for your wedding, Tina,” Beth exclaimed. “I’ve been dreaming of Jim’s wedding for ages!”
“But this isn’t just my wedding, Mom,” Jim tried to remind her.
She brushed off his comments and rambled on about floral designs.
It was clear I needed to step in if I wanted any control over my own wedding.
“Will your mom back off, right?” I asked Jim during a walk. “This isn’t going to cause a fight? I don’t actually have to confront her, do I?”
Jim laughed lightly and squeezed my hand.
“My mother is intense,” he acknowledged. “But she’s sensible. She’ll get the hint.”
However, Beth didn’t get the hint.
She insisted on meeting me at a café to discuss venues, flowers, and even the cake.
“Vanilla is the classic choice,” she insisted, taking a sip of coffee. “Don’t go for chocolate, or, heaven forbid, peanut butter. And avoid naked cakes. They’re just not appealing.”
“Look, Beth,” I finally said. “I appreciate your enthusiasm, but I’ve already planned everything with Jim.”
Despite this, she showed me a picture of a purple dress she intended to wear, seeking my approval.
Little did I realize, this was merely the start.
On our wedding day, as I was finalizing my makeup, Beth arrived in a long, white silk dress.
“Beth? What are you wearing?” I gasped. “A white dress? Where’s the purple one you showed me?”
She slowly turned towards me and touched up her lipstick in the mirror of my dressing room.
“Come on, Tina,” my sister urged from the doorway. “It’s time!”
Beth smirked and winked as she walked out ahead of me.
I was moments away from marrying the love of my life, but Beth’s choice overshadowed my excitement.
The ceremony itself was flawless, but the disrespect from Beth weighed heavily on my heart.
“I understand this is tough for you,” Jim comforted me. “But let’s make the most of tonight. What my mom did is inexcusable, and I’ll talk to her later. Let’s just focus on enjoying our day.”
Jim tried his best to lift my spirits, and I knew I owed it to him to try to overlook his mother’s antics.
But Beth wasn’t finished.
During the reception, she commandeered the microphone from the DJ and announced her engagement to her long-time boyfriend.
Just before Jim and I were about to have our first dance, she came up to me.
“You thought you’d be the center of attention today, didn’t you?” she taunted with a smug smile.
“I’m so sorry about my mom, honey,” Jim said as we danced. “She just doesn’t know when to stop. She needs to learn some tact.”
“It’s okay, Jim,” I lied. “Let’s focus on our dance.”
I was seething inside and decided right then to plot my revenge.
A year later, it was Beth’s wedding day to George, her fiancé. During this time, Jim had worked to mend relations between Beth and me, not knowing I was biding my time.
“Are you ready for Mom’s wedding tomorrow?” Jim asked as I styled my hair the evening before.
“I am,” I replied. “They wanted something simple, so it should go just as planned.”
By that, I meant my plan, not Beth’s.
When Beth arrived at her wedding and saw a sea of guests dressed in white, her confusion quickly turned to anger.
“Why is everyone wearing white?” she demanded, her gaze settling on my white dress.
“Oh, didn’t you read your own wedding invitation?” I answered sweetly. “We thought a unified white theme would be perfect for your special day, Beth.”
Beth inhaled sharply.
“You did this on purpose!” she accused, glaring at me.
“I don’t know what you mean,” I responded. “I just wanted to make your day perfect, Beth.”
The ceremony proceeded, but Beth was visibly upset, struggling to keep her composure.
At the reception, it was our turn to speak. Jim and I took the microphone.
“Beth, your wedding is truly lovely, and you look beautiful!” I started, unable to hide my grin. “Jim and I would like to use this moment to share some wonderful news with everyone.”
Jim beamed and held my hand.
“We’re expecting a baby!” he announced.
The crowd cheered and offered their congratulations. Beth’s face flushed with a mix of shock, anger, and the dawning realization that we had overshadowed her.
It was a moment of poetic justice.
Later, as the guests mingled, Beth confronted me, furious.
“Did you plan this? The white dress code and the announcement?”
“Beth, I just wanted everyone to match perfectly for your big day. You love things to be coordinated. And as for the baby news, we just couldn’t wait to share it with the family,” I replied.
“You know exactly what you did,” she hissed.
“Just like you knew what you were doing at our wedding?” I retorted, my smile pleasant but my eyes steely.
Beth had no comeback and stormed off, leaving me feeling triumphant.
The rest of the evening was a celebration with our supportive family and friends. Jim, now fully aware of his mother’s manipulative ways, began setting firmer boundaries, making our lives much simpler.
“When the baby arrives,” Jim stated, “my mother will clearly understand her place.”
The next day, as we enjoyed pancakes, Beth called. Jim and I exchanged looks, deciding who would answer.
Surprisingly, Jim took a mouthful of food, and I answered the call. Instead of the tirade I expected, Beth simply said, “Congratulations on the baby. I hope we can move forward from here.”
I smiled at Jim, who nodded back at me.
“Thank you, Beth,” I replied. “We hope so too.”
Ultimately, it wasn’t just about revenge with Beth. It was about establishing that our lives wouldn’t be dictated by her whims. It was a win-win situation, and I couldn’t have been more pleased.
Now, we await our baby’s arrival, hoping Beth will respect the boundaries we’ve set.
