Not Happy
After Cheryl had convinced her daughter Sheri and son-in-law, Camden, that she should move in with them, things in the Pearce household were not going as Sheri had hoped.
Although Cheryl was helping them with household chores and buying groceries, there were other things that they were not happy about. Starting with what she was feeding their daughter.
Couldn’t Afford Her Rent
Cheryl moved in with her daughter Sheri when she could no longer afford her rent payments. She didn’t have anywhere to go and couldn’t afford any other places to stay.
Sheri, who didn’t want to see her mom go homeless, offered her a place in their cottage in their back garden. It was the perfect solution, or so they thought.
Every Day
As soon as Cheryl moved in, she basically overtook the Pearce household. Even though she lived in the garden cottage, she was in their house every single day.
She cleaned their house and helped get her beloved 11-year-old granddaughter, Cailyn, ready for school every morning. Sheri, of course, saw this as a godsend, but her husband, Camden, wasn’t so sure.
Too Much
Sooner or later, Cheryl would be moving all her belongings into their house, he thought. She was already making herself at home.
He didn’t mind her being there, but she was now coming over every single day, even though she had her own cottage in the back garden. She did their laundry and even cooked their meals sometimes.
He Loved Her, But
He loved his mother-in-law, she did a lot for them and their daughter, but sometimes he felt like she was invading their privacy.
But telling this to his wife, Sheri, would surely cause World War Three, so he kept his concerns to himself. After all, he just wanted a peaceful household. But his concerns about Cheryl would all make sense in the end.
Everything Cailyn
Cheryl immersed herself in everything in their household. She knew that Sheri and Camden were hard workers, so she wanted to help them out by doing everything she could to make things a bit easier for both of them.
And that’s when she personally offered to take care of all things Cailyn related. She wanted to be the best grandmother ever.
Making Everything So Much Easier
She drove Cailyn to school in the mornings and then picked her up every afternoon as well. Nothing made her happier than to be there for her granddaughter. She was also saving Sheri and Camden so much time.
They didn’t have to make that detour to drop Cailyn off in the mornings. And Sheri didn’t have to use her lunch break to pick her up from school.
Started To Go Awry
Everything was working out, and Sheri couldn’t have been more pleased with the decision to have her mother stay with them.
But then things started to go awry. It all started when Cheryl insisted on making all of Cailyn’s lunches for school. It was a simple request, but it would soon result in a huge argument.
Cailyn’s Lunches
Making Cailyn’s lunches was what Camden loved to do every evening. And Cailyn loved the funny shapes he cut out for her in her fruit pieces. In her own words, he made “the best lunches.”
But now, Cheryl had wormed her way in and took it upon herself to make the lunches. Sheri could foresee some heated exchanges that would soon take place.
Avoiding Conflict
To avoid any conflict, Camden just let it go and resolved to do something else for his daughter. He could see that his daughter was happy that her grandmother was there with them, and he didn’t want to steal her joy.
But it was something that Cheryl began doing that made Camden rethink letting his concerns go.
A Surprise?
One afternoon, as Cheryl was preparing Cailyn’s lunch, Camden happened to pass by the kitchen. He caught a glimpse of his mother-in-law sneaking something into the lunchbox.
His curiosity piqued, and he approached the counter and asked Cheryl what she was adding to the meal. “Oh, just a little surprise for Cailyn,” Cheryl replied with a sly smile. “I thought she might enjoy it.”
Wasn’t Sure
But Camden wasn’t so sure. He let this one go as a first-time treat from Cailyn’s grandmother. He didn’t want to cause any trouble.
But he would be keeping an eye on Cheryl and what she was giving to his daughter. He didn’t want Cailyn to pick up any bad habits. She was doing so well in her sporting activities.
Sneaky Saturdays
He noticed that Cheryl had been taking Cailyn to the mall almost every Saturday as well. As much as he welcomed some alone time with his wife for them to do whatever they wanted, he wondered what Cheryl was buying them for snacks and lunches.
It bothered Camden to no end, and he wanted to get to the bottom of it.
Disregarding The Rules
The Monday morning, he noticed Cheryl sneak something into Cailyn’s lunchbox again. This time, he was not going to let it slide.
This was one too many times now, and Cheryl had been taking too many liberties in their household. They still had rules for Cailyn to follow, and Cheryl was disregarding all of them.
Gut Instinct
Camden’s gut instinct told him that something wasn’t right. He had always been cautious about what his daughter ate, ensuring she had a balanced and healthy diet. Seeing Cheryl’s secretive behavior raised red flags in his mind.
Trying to maintain his composure, Camden calmly asked, “What exactly did you add to her lunch?” Cheryl froze.
Concerned
Cheryl hesitated for a moment, then replied, “Oh, it’s just a special dessert. A sweet treat to brighten her day.”
Camden’s concern grew, and he decided to press further. “I appreciate your efforts, Cheryl, but I’d like to know exactly what you added to her lunch. It’s important to me that she eats healthy and nutritious food.”
Sweet Treats
Cheryl’s smile faltered slightly, and she hesitated once again. After a moment of silence, she finally confessed, “Well, it’s a cupcake. I thought it would make her happy.”
Camden’s heart sank. He knew Cailyn enjoyed the occasional treat, but he also believed in teaching her the importance of making healthy choices. He had always made sure her lunches contained fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
Cailyn Loves It
Feeling frustrated and betrayed, Camden confronted Cheryl. “I appreciate your intentions, but I’ve been taking care of Cailyn’s lunches for a reason.
I want to ensure she has a balanced meal that supports her growth and well-being. Adding cake to her lunch is not something I find acceptable.”
Cheryl’s face turned defensive, and her voice grew stern. “I’m just trying to be a good grandmother, Camden. Cailyn loves it when I prepare her lunches.”
A Big Problem
Camden took a deep breath, trying to keep his emotions in check. “I understand that, Cheryl, but as her father, it’s my responsibility to make sure she’s getting the right nutrition. We can find other ways for you to bond with Cailyn without compromising her health.”
Cheryl then turned and walked away. Camden knew he had a big problem on his hands.
Basketball Mystery
But that wasn’t even the half of it. Camden received a very concerning call from Cailyn’s school. Cailyn’s basketball coach called him and told him that Cailyn hadn’t been to practice in over two weeks.
But how could that be when Cheryl had been taking her basketball practice every Thursday as scheduled? Where had Cheryl been taking Cailyn?
More Problems
Over the next few days, Camden had been thinking about how he was going to confront his mother-in-law about her deceptions.
But little did he know they had other problems to worry about first. Cailyn had suddenly begun complaining about feeling ill.
At first, Sheri and Camden didn’t think anything of it until one night, they heard a scream coming from Cailyn’s bedroom.
A Mother’s Panic
Sheri rushed into Cailyn’s room to find her daughter writhing in pain, clutching her stomach. Fear gripped Sheri’s heart as she knelt beside Cailyn, trying to soothe her. She called Camden, panic lacing her voice, and he immediately dialed emergency services.
Paramedics arrived swiftly, their faces masked with concern. They carefully examined Cailyn and quickly determined that she needed to be taken to the hospital for further evaluation.
Worried
Camden and Sheri exchanged worried glances, their minds racing with possibilities of what could be causing their daughter’s sudden illness.
But Camden had a hunch as to what was causing Cailyn’s sudden illness. It just needed to be confirmed. Ever since Cheryl began staying at their house, everything went downhill. But would Cailyn be okay?
Food Poisoning
Finally, after waiting for over an hour, the doctor emerged, his face grave. He informed them that Cailyn’s illness was likely a result of food poisoning.
Camden and Sheri couldn’t believe what they were hearing. What had caused this? Cailyn only ate food from the house, and as far as they knew, everything was fresh. How had she gotten so sick?
Only Eats Nutritious Foods
Sheri and her mother had only cooked nutritious meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, so Sheri was very surprised to learn she had food poisoning.
“Are you absolutely sure, Dr. Perkins? Cailyn eats all her meals at home, and we feed her fresh fruits and vegetables as well. I don’t understand what would cause the poisoning?”
What Did She Eat?
“Yes, Mrs. Pearce. Her symptoms are consistent with food poisoning. She has thrown up and has a high fever and stomach cramps. It was definitely something she ate. Do you have any idea what it could have been?”
At this point, Sheri burst into tears. She felt like she had failed her little girl. Would they be able to find out what Cailyn consumed?
Getting To The Bottom Of It
All Camden could do was console his wife. But he wanted to get to the bottom of what has made his baby girl so sick. It was just then that they were allowed to go in and see Cailyn.
She lay on the hospital bed with tubes coming out of her arms. Camden just shook his head. He couldn’t help but wonder if his daughter would make it out of this unscathed.
Broken
The moment Sheri saw their daughter in that bed, she broke down. Her tears became hysterical sobs, and Camden would feel the strength draining from her body.
He tried to stay strong and escort his wife to the side of the bed. But deep down, he could feel himself crashing as well. This site was the worst thing any parent could see. But what would they do about it?
What To Do?
Camden’s mind was running wild. All he wanted to do at that point in time was find a solution. He wanted to help his wife get back on her feet. And he wanted to get his daughter healthy again.
But what could he do? How could he, as a man, help his wife and daughter get out of the positions that they were in?
Promises To Keep
Camden was a man of his word. He kept every promise he had ever made to his family. But this time, he couldn’t promise anything.
He couldn’t tell his wife that their child would be okay. He couldn’t even assure his daughter that she would be okay. Or could he? Was there a way for him to fix all this?
Could He?
If Camden promised his wife that their daughter would be okay, would he be able to make sure his promise was kept?
If he promised his daughter that she would never end up in such a tragic position again, would he be able to make that happen? He simply wasn’t sure, so he decided to keep his mouth shut.
Consoling Her
Camden did the only thing he could. He wrapped a comforting arm around his wife and tried to calm her down to the best of his abilities.
That was all he could do at that point in time. But this was nowhere near the end. He would get to the bottom of this if it was the last thing he did.
Very Weak
As soon as she woke up, Camden and Sheri were by her side. “Hey, sweetie, how are you feeling? Cailyn looked very weak but managed to say a few words.
“I feel a bit better than earlier when my tummy was sore.” Sheri and Camden breathed a sigh of relief. Their baby would be okay. But they still needed to know what she ate.
Hiding Something?
Camden then tried to get her to talk. “Princess, Dr. Perkins says that the reason why you had such a bad tummy ache was because of something you ate. Do you remember what you ate earlier today?”
As soon as Cailyn heard that, she clammed up and looked down. That’s when Camden knew that she was hiding something from them. But what could it be?
They Needed To Know
Camden understood that his daughter was under a lot of pressure and that she might’ve been afraid to speak up. But he couldn’t just let this go.
She was the only one that could provide him with the information, and he wasn’t going to let this opportunity slip through his fingers. One way or another, he’d find out who was responsible for this.
Trying A Little Harder
Camden tried his best to hide the urgency in his voice when he spoke to his daughter. Sure, he was trying to push her a little harder. But he didn’t want her to feel like she was in trouble because she wasn’t.
None of this was her fault. But if she didn’t speak up, there was no way he could prevent this from happening again.
Such Fear
The harder Camden pushed, the more he could see fear emanating from his daughter’s eyes. She knew exactly how she ended up in the hospital, but she was afraid of telling the truth.
Why was that? What was she hiding? What he should’ve asked was who it was that she was trying to protect. Who was it that scared her so much?
What Was She Hiding?
It was clear that Cailyn was hiding something. But what was it? Why wasn’t she trying to protect herself by telling her parents what really happened to her?
Did she think they wouldn’t find out? Did she think she would be in trouble for telling the truth? Or was there more to it? Was she actually afraid of the person who caused all this trouble?
Begging
Seeing that he had no other way to find the truth Camden begged his daughter for answers. He told her that he couldn’t help her if he didn’t know what was happening, and she seemed to understand where he was coming from.
But she needed an extra nudge. She needed to know that she would be protected once she spoke up.
Unexpected Revelations
“Please, honey, Daddy and I need to know if there is any bad food in the house that made you sick. We need to throw it out before it makes everyone else sick. We don’t want that, do we honey?”
Then Cailyn said something unexpected. “I didn’t eat anything at home, Mommy.” Sheri and Camden looked at each other in confusion.
All Was Revealed
They could see that Cailyn was trying to keep something under wraps. But she eventually spoke up. “After school, Granny took me to have a hamburger and fries and a milkshake.
It was delicious, but the hamburger wasn’t cooked. It was pink inside, and I didn’t finish it.” Camden could feel the blood boiling in his veins. He should’ve known that it was Cheryl causing all this trouble.
Furious
Camden just stood there, fists clenched, as he tried to understand what it was that his daughter was saying.
He had been suspecting his mother-in-law for a while now, but he never thought the woman would go this far. Did she do this on purpose? Did she harm her own grandchild for her own selfish gain?
Blaming Himself
Even though Camden was furious with his mother-in-law, he couldn’t help but feel partially responsible for what had happened.
He had seen things before. He had questioned his mother-in-law regarding her actions. But he never put an end to them because he never expected something like this to happen. Did that mean that he was to blame?
It Needed To End
Camden knew that playing the blame game wouldn’t help anyone at that point. Everyone knew who was responsible for the hospitalization now. And since they had the answers, they could put an end to this madness.
If his wife didn’t get the point by now, she never would. But he was determined to put an end to this.
Fed Up
Camden was fed up with the madness that had blanketed his family since his mother-in-law moved in. And he would not be tolerating it anymore.
He could deal with her pushing her way through in certain things. And he was willing to bend to her will every now and then. But this was something he would not be tolerating.
Too Far
This time she had gone too far, and it could’ve cost his daughter her life. She would be happy if she ever got to go near his family again.
Her stubbornness had gone too far. And if his was the only say in this matter, she would be leaving on the spot, and she would never be allowed back. But could he really do that to his wife?
The Culprit
“Thank you for telling us sweetie. I think that hamburger made you sick.” While Sheri sat by Cailyn’s bedside, Camden dialed Cheryl’s number. She had some explaining to do.
But she didn’t answer. Camden knew that he had to talk to her face to face. He couldn’t wait to get home. But what would Cheryl have to say in her defense?
A Mother’s Anguish
Sheri’s heart shattered into a million pieces upon hearing Cailyn’s version of events. Anguish filled her voice as she whispered, “How did this happen? How could Mom do this against our wishes?”
Camden’s jaw clenched, his anger simmering beneath the surface. He vowed to confront Cheryl and hold her accountable for her actions, no matter the consequences.
A Confrontation
As soon as they returned home from the hospital, Camden stormed into the garden cottage, his frustration and concern bubbling over. Cheryl, taken aback by his intensity, tried to feign innocence.
But Camden was no longer willing to overlook her behavior. He accused her of intentionally feeding Cailyn unhealthy food, disregarding their rules, and sabotaging their efforts to provide a healthy environment for their daughter.
A Grandmother’s Regret
Cheryl’s tears fell freely as she realized the magnitude of her mistake. “I didn’t mean to harm Cailyn. I only wanted her to be happy, to feel loved.”
Camden’s anger softened slightly as he saw the remorse in Cheryl’s eyes. “Love means protecting her, not putting her health in danger,” he replied sternly. But there was one more thing that Camden wanted to talk to Cheryl about.
Confrontation
As soon as Cheryl had dried her tears and composed herself, Camden prepared himself for what he was going to talk to her about next.
It wasn’t easy for him. After all, it was his wife’s mother, but he had to know what was going on. His daughter’s life now depended on it.
And he needed to put an end to Cheryl’s reckless behavior. He decided it was time to confront her about the situation.
I Don’t Know
“Cheryl, we need to talk,” he said, trying to maintain a calm tone despite his growing anger. “I just spoke with Cailyn’s basketball coach, and he informed me that she hasn’t been attending practice. Care to explain why?”
Cheryl’s eyes widened in surprise, and she stuttered, “I… I’ve been taking her to practice every Thursday. I don’t understand how she could’ve missed it.”
Frustrated
Camden’s suspicions were confirmed, and he couldn’t hold back his frustration any longer. “Cheryl, this is not the first time I’ve noticed something off about Cailyn’s routines,” he said, his voice tinged with accusation.
“I’ve seen you sneaking things into her lunch, taking her to the mall, and who knows what else you’ve been doing behind our backs. And now she’s in hospital. What’s going on?”
Crossing The Line
Cheryl’s face turned pale, and she tried to defend herself through tears. “I just wanted to spoil Cailyn a little. She works so hard at school and then has to do sports as well. It’s too much for the poor girl. I didn’t think it would cause any harm,” she pleaded, her voice cracking.
Camden shook his head in disbelief. “Cheryl, you may have had good intentions, but you crossed a line.”
Undermining Us
“We trusted you to take care of our daughter, not undermine our parenting decisions and deceive us. Cailyn’s basketball practice is important to her, and you took that away from her without our knowledge or consent.”
Sheri, who had overheard the conversation, joined them with a worried expression. “What’s going on?” she asked, her voice filled with concern.
A Broken Trust
Camden turned to Sheri, trying to keep his voice steady. “Your mother has been manipulating Cailyn’s routines, making decisions without our knowledge. She hasn’t been attending basketball practice, and who knows what else she’s been doing behind our backs.”
Sheri’s eyes widened in shock as she processed the information. She looked at her mother, her voice filled with disappointment and hurt.
The Audacity
“Mom, why would you do this? We trusted you to take care of Cailyn, not to undermine us.” But Cheryl just shrugged and told them to relax and give her and Cailyn a break.
Camden couldn’t believe the audacity of Cheryl. He had enough of her meddling in their lives. First, the unhealthy lunches and now keeping Cailyn from basketball. It was unacceptable.
Tears
Cheryl’s tears flowed freely now as she realized the gravity of her actions. “I just wanted to be involved, to help out and make things easier for everyone,” she sobbed. “I never meant to cause any harm or betray your trust.”
Camden sighed heavily, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. “Cheryl, we appreciate your help, but it has to be within the boundaries we set as parents.
Tension
In the following days, the Pearce household was filled with tension and strained relationships. Camden and Sheri had decided that Cheryl needed to understand the consequences of her actions.
They had asked her to give them some space and move back to her cottage temporarily until they could figure out a way to rebuild trust.
A Lesson Learned?
Cheryl felt immense guilt and regret for her behavior. She realized that she had let her desire to be involved cloud her judgment and had crossed boundaries that should never have been crossed. She spent those days reflecting on her actions and contemplating how she could make amends.
She realized that her desire to be helpful had spiraled into controlling behavior and a breach of trust. She felt a deep sense of remorse and knew that she needed to make amends.
Disclaimer: In order to protect the privacy of those depicted, some names, locations, and identifying characteristics have been changed and are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblances to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, are entirely coincidental.