A Woman Complained at the Hospital That Her Son Needed 'a Wife Who Actually Spends Time with Him' – But What the DIL Did Next Made Her Scream, 'You Had No Right to Do That!'

My MIL brought sexy lingerie to the hospital while my mother was seriously ill. She said my husband needed me more. I let her finish, made one phone call, and waited. Ten minutes later, she came storming back, screaming, “You had no right!”

My mom had been in the hospital for nine days. Severe heart failure.

The doctors had been honest with us: she might not come home.

I spent every evening beside her bed. My husband, Andrew, covered everything else.

That night she finally fell asleep, and I stepped out into the hallway.

My mother-in-law, Elaine, stood by the elevators. I hadn't expected her.

Severe heart failure.

She was holding a pink bag with tissue paper sticking out of the top.

I assumed clean clothes. I’d been wearing the same sweater for three days.

“Thank you, Elaine. You didn’t have to.”

“Go on. Open it.”

I reached in and pulled out a see-through lace nightgown.

I hadn't expected her.

I reached in and pulled out a see-through lace nightgown.

I held it up by one strap. There was almost nothing to it.

“What the hell is this?”

“Surprise him.”

“Men like that.”

“What the hell is this?”

“Elaine, this is a hospital.”

“I’m aware.”

“I know, sweetheart. I’m not heartless.”

“You drove here with lingerie.”

“It’s from a very nice store.”

“You drove here with lingerie.”

“Oh, well, that changes everything.”

“Don’t take that tone with me.”

“I’m standing in a hospital hallway holding a see-through nightgown. I’ll take whatever tone I want.”

“Keep your voice down.”

“You’re making a scene.”

“Keep your voice down.”

“You want me to put this on. For your son. While my mother is lying down the hall.”

“I want you to remember he exists.”

“Andrew?” she said, as if I’d asked. “The poor thing has been alone every night for nine days.”

“He’s not alone. He’s at home with his daughter. He’s cooking dinner.”

“I want you to remember he exists.”

“That’s not the same thing.”

“You came to a hospital to talk about your son’s bedroom?”

I don't recognize this woman.

“Don’t be crude. I’m talking about your marriage.”

She raised her eyebrows, like a 17-year-old girl on a date.

I don't recognize this woman.

“My marriage is fine.”

“Nine years, Lauren. You don’t let nine years go cold.”

“Andrew cooks. He does the laundry. He’s practically raising Sophie alone.”

“Sophie is at home doing homework. Yesterday she drew my mom a card.”

“That’s not the point.”

“My marriage is fine.”

“He offered to take all of it on. It was his idea.”

“Of course it was. He’s too kind to complain.”

“A mother knows.”

“He sent me a picture of Sophie’s science project an hour ago. He sounded happy.”

“That’s what men say when they’re lonely.”

“A mother knows.”

I was out of patience, and she wasn’t done.

“Mom was in the ICU.”

“We could have eaten at four.”

I laughed. It wasn’t a nice laugh.

“I gave up many years for that boy,” she said. “I’d think he could have one night.”

“Mom was in the ICU.”

“He can have every night, once we know what’s happening with my mom.”

I glanced at my mother’s door. It was ten feet away.

Elaine sighed.

“She’s not going to make it anyway. My son needs a wife who actually spends time with him.”

I couldn’t believe she’d said it here. Just feet from my mother’s bed.

“She’s not going to make it anyway."

“You came here to hand me lingerie and tell me to give up on her?”

“Your husband has been gone five years, Elaine. You know what it costs to lose someone.”

“That’s exactly why I’m saying it.”

“Your mother has nurses. Doctors. People paid to be there.”

“I’m her daughter.”

I couldn’t believe she’d said it here.

“And Andrew is your husband. Somebody always comes second.”

“Funny. Nobody ever says that about you.”

“Midnight calls. Groceries. Every weekend we try to get away. When do you come second, Elaine?”

“That’s different. I’m alone.”

“So is my mom. If I leave.”

“That’s different."

She pressed her lips together and changed the subject.

"I told Andrew you'd be home by six. You can put that little gift to good use."

I started to correct her.

This morning Andrew had asked if I wanted dinner brought to the hospital.

"He says things like that to be polite."

"You can put that little gift to good use."

"He wasn't being polite. He wanted me to stay."

"He wanted you to feel better about staying."

"Is there a difference?"

"Did he tell you that?"

"A mother doesn't need to be told."

"He wanted you to feel better about staying."

"So you decided for him."

"Someone has to."

Then I stopped. She wasn't interested in what Andrew wanted.

"Well?" she said. "Are you coming home tonight or not?"

Someone had to show her that her double standards were simply awful...

"I'm staying with my mother."

"A mother doesn't need to be told."

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

She walked off toward the elevators without looking back.

I watched the doors close on her.

I set the bag beside Mom's door and pulled out my phone.

Elaine had just given me an idea.

And I knew exactly how to make her regret it.

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Andrew answered on the second ring.

“Hey, babe. Everything okay?”

“Six? No. I’m bringing you dinner at six. At the hospital. Why?”

“Your mother just left.”

“She came to the hospital?”

“Your mother just left.”

“She brought me a present.”

“That’s nice of her.”

“Say that again.”

“A see-through nightgown. In a pink bag. For you.”

“Please tell me you’re kidding.”

“Say that again.”

“I wish.”

“Why would she...”

“Because you’ve been alone for nine days. And you have needs.”

“I told her I’m staying with my mom.”

“Good. How did she take it?”

"And you have needs.”

“She said, ‘Don’t say I didn’t warn you.’”

“Warn you about what?”

“No idea. It sounded like a threat.”

“She said that? Those words?”

“Those exact words.”

‘Don’t say I didn’t warn you.’

“Okay. I’m calling her right now.”

“Lauren.”

“Remember the winter your dad died? She called me at midnight because she couldn’t be alone.”

“I remember. You drove over.”

“I sat on her couch until four. You and Sophie were asleep. I never once told her my husband needed me home.”

And I knew exactly how to make her regret it.

“I know.”

“So why don’t you ever tell her no?”

He took a second.

“Because she says she gave up twenty years for me.”

“Every single time.”

“So why don’t you ever tell her no?”

“My mom gave up thirty years for me. Nobody keeps a tally of those.”

“You never have to choose between her and me. You know that, right?”

“I’m not choosing. I’m going to make your mother hear herself.”

“I’m signing her up for something.”

“Signing her up for what?”

“I’m signing her up for something.”

“You’ll see. Just back me up when she blows.”

“When. Not if.”

“And Andrew?”

“Yeah?”

“Whatever she says, don’t apologize first.”

Elaine had just given me an idea.

“Okay,” he said. “Six o’clock. I’ll be there.”

I hung up and typed one search into my phone. The number came up first.

I pressed Call.

“Good afternoon. How can I help you?”

“Of course. Has she expressed any interest herself?”

I pressed Call.

“Not exactly. But I think it's time she considered her options.”

“I understand. Would you like to come with her?”

“Her son and I will be there.”

“Next Thursday at two?”

“Would you like us to send her the details?”

"I’m going to make your mother hear herself.”

“Yes. Directly to her, please.”

I gave the woman Elaine’s name and email address.

“Wonderful. I can't wait to hear what she thinks.”

She’s going to go berserk. But I had no other choice.

I hung up and returned to Mom’s room.

She’s going to go berserk.

Mom’s eyes were open.

“Was that Elaine I heard?”

“Hard not to. These doors are thin.”

“Mom...”

“Don’t be angry with her.”

“Don’t be angry with her.”

“She said you’re not going to make it.”

“I heard that part too.”

“She’s frightened, honey. She lost her husband. Now she holds on to Andrew with both hands.”

“That’s not an excuse.”

“No. But it’s a reason.”

“That’s not an excuse.”

I looked at her. The wires, the thin arms, the plastic bracelet. Defending a woman who had just written her off.

“You’re too nice.”

“One of us should be.”

“Constantly. I just save my energy for things that matter.”

She smiled, and I smiled back.

“You’re too nice.”

It made me angrier. Mom was forgiving her for something Elaine hadn’t even apologized for.

Then my phone lit up.

Elaine.

I let it ring. A text came right after.

CALL ME. NOW.

I typed back.

CALL ME. NOW.

Andrew will be here at six. We can talk then.

“Mom, I’m getting some water.”

“I’m always nice.”

I was halfway down the hall when I heard fast footsteps behind me.

It had been ten minutes since Elaine walked away. She came toward me looking angrier than I’d ever seen her.

“I’m always nice.”

“You had no right to do that!”

“Right to do what, Elaine?”

She shoved her phone at my face.

“Do you have any idea what it felt like to open this?”

I looked at the screen.

“You had no right to do that!”

“Actually, Elaine,” I said, “I think I do.”

“I read it three times,” she said. “I thought it was spam.”

“I sat in the lobby shaking. Is that what you wanted?”

“I wanted you to feel it. What it’s like when someone decides you’re in the way.”

“I never said you were in the way!”

“I thought it was spam.”

“You said it in a hallway. Thirty feet from my mother.”

“I’m not. You said Andrew and I need more time together.”

“That is not what I meant.”

“What did you mean?”

“I meant...”

“What did you mean?”

“Mom?”

Andrew was coming down the hall with a paper bag of food.

She rushed him.

“Andrew, your wife is a monster. Do you know what she did?”

“She’s trying to get rid of me!”

“Andrew, your wife is a monster."

“Mom, it was a decision we made together.”

“What?”

“You said Lauren’s place is at home. So we figured you’d want the same rule for yourself.”

“Whoever needs help, the family drops everything. Right? That’s what you always say.”

“Andrew!”

“She’s trying to get rid of me!”

“We’re following your advice, Mom.”

She turned to me. Her voice shook.

But I didn’t expect how this situation would affect her actions as early as tomorrow.

“It’s a tour,” I said. “Next Thursday. Assisted living. Andrew and I will come with you.”

“A tour? Why would I need a tour?”

“We’re following your advice, Mom.”

“Because someday you’ll be eighty. Somebody will have to sit by your bed every night.”

“That’s different!”

“Because I’m his mother!”

“And she’s mine.”

“You think you’re better than me.”

“That’s different!”

“No. I think I’m tired of being treated worse. So who sits with you, Elaine? Andrew works. I’d be at home, putting on lace.”

“Don’t you dare.”

“It’s a real question.”

“Tell them. Then tell them what you said about my mom.”

“Don’t you dare.”

Elaine looked at Andrew.

“You told Lauren Margaret won’t make it anyway.”

“I said it for you!”

“Did I ask you to?”

“I said it for you!”

“It’s Margaret in that bed, Mom. Not me.”

“Mom. Lauren sat on your couch until four in the morning, and you’ve never once said thank you.”

“I was grieving.”

“I know,” I said. “That’s why I went.”

She had nothing for that.

"It’s my job to look out for you.”

“Your voice carries, Elaine. My mom heard every word you said in that hallway.”

“And she told me not to be angry with you.”

“I don’t know what to say,” Elaine whispered.

“Then don’t say anything,” I said. “Not tonight.”

I went into the room and came back with the pink bag.

“And she told me not to be angry with you.”

“You forgot this.”

She took it. She didn’t look inside.

She walked toward the elevators, holding it against her chest like it was heavy.

I thought she'd left for good, but the next day, there she was in Mom's hospital room, holding a pillow.

Andrew put his arm around me.

“You okay?”

“Then don’t say anything.”

“Not really.”

“Do you want to eat?”

“Give me the sandwich.”

“Extra pickles.”

“My mother says so all the time.”

The next day, I went to my mother’s as usual and barely held back a scream.

“My mother says so all the time.”

Elaine was in Mom's hospital room, holding a pillow.

She turned around.

"Your mother was uncomfortable. I'm fixing her pillow."

Mom smiled from the bed.

"She's been taking good care of me, honey."

"I'm fixing her pillow."

I looked at Elaine, then at the pillow she'd just tucked behind Mom's back.

"Since about twenty minutes ago," Mom said.

Elaine picked up a vase of white roses from the windowsill.

"I brought these for Margaret."

There was a small card attached.

"Since about twenty minutes ago."

Thinking of you, Margaret. Wishing you strength and comfort. —Elaine

"That's very thoughtful," Mom said.

Elaine looked at me.

I didn't answer.

Mom glanced between us.

Mom smiled from the bed.

"Well, I hope you're both planning to behave yourselves."

Elaine gave a small smile.

She left a few minutes later, but not before asking Mom whether she'd like her to visit again.

"Of course," Mom said. "But next time, bring some gossip. I'm tired of talking about my heart."

Two days later, Elaine returned with two coffees. She handed me one. Black, no sugar, exactly how I take it.

When Mom fell asleep, Elaine followed me into the hallway.

"Not yet."

"I'm tired of talking about my heart."

"Why don't you go? Take a shower. Change your clothes."

"I'm fine."

"I can stay with Margaret while you go home."

"If you'll let me."

"Why?"

"I can stay with Margaret while you go home."

"Because I know what it's like to need someone beside you. And I forgot that your mother needs you just as much as I needed you after my husband died."

I didn't know whether Elaine had truly changed or was simply afraid of losing us.

But for the first time in nine days, I'd gone home without worrying that Mom was alone.