“Our Son Didn’t Visit Because His Wife Said No: She Claims We Always Want Something. If He Takes Time Off, He Should Spend It with His Family. And She Doesn’t Like Our Home”
Linda sat on the porch, staring at the empty driveway. The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the yard. She had been looking forward to her son Michael’s visit for weeks. But now, it seemed like it wasn’t going to happen.
“It looks like he won’t be coming after all,” she sighed, turning to her husband, Tom, who was sitting beside her. “We’ve gotten used to it, so we don’t even get upset anymore.”
Tom nodded silently, his eyes fixed on the horizon. He knew how much Linda had been looking forward to seeing Michael. They hadn’t seen him in months, and every time they planned a visit, something always came up.
“What happened this time?” Tom asked, breaking the silence. “Maybe his wife didn’t let him come? If I remember correctly, you two never really got along.”
Linda shook her head. “Maybe so, but Michael never tells us anything. He just says he’s busy or that something came up.”
The truth was, Linda had never gotten along with Michael’s wife, Sarah. From the moment they met, there had been tension between them. Sarah was always polite but distant, and Linda couldn’t shake the feeling that she didn’t like her.
“She claims we always want something,” Linda said bitterly. “If he takes time off, he should spend it with his family. And she doesn’t like our home.”
Tom sighed. “It’s not fair. We just want to see our son.”
Linda nodded, tears welling up in her eyes. “I know. But what can we do? He’s a grown man now. He has his own family.”
The phone rang inside the house, breaking the silence. Linda got up and went inside to answer it. It was Michael.
“Hi Mom,” he said, his voice sounding tired. “I’m sorry, but we won’t be able to make it this weekend.”
Linda’s heart sank. “Why not?” she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
“Sarah’s not feeling well,” Michael said. “And we have a lot going on right now.”
Linda bit her lip, trying to hold back her tears. “I understand,” she said softly. “I hope she feels better soon.”
“Thanks, Mom,” Michael said. “I’ll call you later.”
Linda hung up the phone and went back outside. Tom looked at her questioningly.
“They’re not coming,” she said quietly.
Tom nodded, his face expressionless. “I figured as much.”
Linda sat down beside him, feeling a deep sense of sadness and disappointment. She knew that Michael loved them, but it felt like he was slipping away from them more and more each day.
As the sun set and the sky turned dark, Linda and Tom sat in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. They knew that they couldn’t force Michael to visit them, but it didn’t make the pain any less.
In the end, they were left with nothing but memories of happier times and the hope that one day, things would be different.