Andy and Sarah had given up their guest bedroom five years ago to use as a storage area for her parents’ possessions. However, the pair asked the older couple to take their belongings away after learning they were expecting, which led to needless conflict and a surprising gift.
My in-laws merely wanted to reduce the size of their home five years ago. They therefore started their search for the ideal small home for the two of them.
“We own too many items and too much space,” my father-in-law Greg, remarked.
Naturally, they requested if they may temporarily keep some of their belongings in our home.
Greg said to my wife Sarah, “It’s just the things that we want to keep, darling.”
It didn’t bother either of us, and we didn’t use the guest room.
“Yes, Dad,” my spouse said. “The guest room is all yours temporarily.”
Here, “temporarily” is crucial.
But hey, what do you know? They never did return their belongings. Rather, they simply continued to bring more.
Sarah and I used to make jokes for a while about how the guest room had become our own personal storage facility. The room was crammed with boxes and antique furniture, and the bed had been moved to stand in the corner.
“Where should we store the vacuum?” One day, as we were purchasing a new vacuum cleaner, Sarah asked me.
“Throw it in the storage unit,” was my response, which made my wife burst into chuckles.
However, we later made an unexpected discovery.
“I’m pregnant, Andy!” Running into our bedroom with a pregnancy test in hand, Sarah said.
Even though we had discussed having children for a while, we still had a lot of things we wanted to do and see more of the world. This was a little blessing that came as a surprise.
It dawned on Sarah and me as we sat and talked about everything from nursery colors to baby names.
Sitting up straight in bed, my wife declared, “The storage unit has to go.” “The baby needs that room.” Andy, we have to tell them. I refuse to allow us to attempt a life makeover simply because my parents are hoarders.”
Calmly, I answered, “Okay, I agree.”
Already, Sarah was becoming a frustrated mess.
“We’re having breakfast with them on Sunday. “Then, we can inform them about the baby and their belongings,” I uttered.
My spouse grinned, nodded, and returned to her comfortable state.
“I just need us to make sure that we’re the priority here,” she continued.
Sarah sat down with her laptop the following morning and meticulously prepared the nursery.
“I know it’s too early, Andy,” she teased, apologetically. “But I’m excited, and I need to do something with my excitement.”
Next was Sunday brunch. Since Sarah’s parents appeared happy enough to leave their belongings at our house, I wasn’t entirely sure how they would react to the news.
“We’re having a baby!” When we sat down at the coffee shop, Sarah made an announcement.
My in-laws jumped up and started congratulating us by giving us hugs and kisses. I finally felt it was time to bring up the topic after their initial excitement subsided a little.
I addressed them as they had always wished to be addressed, “Mom, Dad,” and I started. “We need you to move your stuff out of the guest room as soon as possible because we plan on turning it into a nursery for the baby.”
“Oh, sure,” my mother-in-law Janet waved dismissively. “We’ll get to it soon.”
Afterwards, she started perusing the menu, disregarding their earlier discussion about their possessions.
Weeks went by, and “soon” remained a vague idea in their imaginations.
The only tangible thing Sarah and I could do, besides waiting for our baby, was to organize the nursery, which made us both more anxious.
However, her parents were only interfering with that.
I finally had to stand my ground.
“Go for it,” my spouse urged. “Just get them to sort things out.”
I went to my in-laws’ house the next day to inform them I had had enough and to pick up some soup for Sarah.
I informed them sternly, “We need it cleared out by the end of this month.” “Before the baby comes, we have a lot on our plates. Furthermore, I don’t want this to stress Sarah out. Not an exception.”
Slowly, my mother-in-law nodded.
“All OK, Andy,” she replied. “We’ll sort it out.”
At last Janet arrived and began sorting through her old belongings. She shrieked as she started to dig through the mounds.
“Oh my God! She exclaimed, “Look at this!” as she removed a fur coat from one of the boxes that had been ruined by moths.
“Are you serious? Andy! Sarah! There’s nothing I can trust you with! My favorite vintage item was ruined by you and your filthy dwelling!”
I was in disbelief at what was occurring. Not only did she not express gratitude to us for storing her possessions in my home, but I was now being held accountable for the harm.
“Are you serious?” I lost my temper. “You left this here for five years, and now you’re blaming me for it?”
She exclaimed, “Yes, I am!” “This coat is irreplaceable!”
I made an effort to maintain my composure.
“I think you’re overreacting, Janet,” I responded. “And anyway, if it was such a precious coat, you should have taken better care of it instead of letting it sit in a box for all these years.”
As the debate grew more heated, she angrily walked out of the house. Sarah waited patiently, her eyes wide, obviously stuck between her mother and me.
After that, everything simply grew messier.
I got a notification about a $695 bill the next day.
“What? For that sum, what in the world could you have purchased?” Sarah enquired.
“It’s not me, my love,” I answered. It’s your mom. This invoice is for a brand-new fur coat.
“Andy, it’s the middle of summer,” she remarked. “She’s ridiculous.”
“If she wants to play it this way, then fine,” I said. “Two can play this game.”
Sitting at my laptop, I checked up the cost of a guest room-sized storage unit in our city of residence.
The monthly cost was $150. Thus, nine thousand dollars was the total cost of storage for five years.
I then made Janet a bill in her name. There was going to be a lesson for her.
This is the invoice for our home’s five years of storage. I appreciate your quick payment. The funds will go toward the nursery for your youngster.
– Your spouse.
After a week, no one had responded.
Then one evening the doorbell rang when Sarah and I were having dinner. It was Greg, my father-in-law.
He looked straight away away from the camera and stated, “I’m here for the rest of the things.”
By the end of the evening, he and Sarah had packed up the last of the boxes and furnishings, and the guest room was finally empty.
With a sigh, Sarah stated, “It’s about time.” “I’m glad the clutter is gone.”
Over the course of the following few weeks, my wife and I painted and furnished the nursery, turning the once-cluttered area into a comfortable haven for our soon-to-be child. It was as though a burden had been removed from our shoulders.
However, just when I believed the drama was finished, there was one more surprise.
“Did you know that Janet is trying to sell that moth-damaged fur coat as a rare vintage item online?” One evening, while glancing through her phone, Sarah commented.
When my wife got upset, she would only address her mother by her first name.
“She’s claiming that it is an antique with ‘natural wear and tear’ and asking for $1,200!”
The insanity made me giggle uncontrollably.
“She’s amazing. She bought a new one, then blamed us for the damage, and now this?” stated Sarah.
I answered, “Or maybe she’s just delusional.” “Either way, we are done with that.”
I got a call one afternoon from Greg.
“I sincerely apologize for everything,” he started. “Janet has been around a lot lately, and I am aware of her desire to have you foot the bill for her coat. I wish to put things right. Can we get together?”
When we got together at the regular coffee place, Greg gave me an envelope. There was a $9,000 check inside.
“Please take into account this payment for the storage,” he stated, appearing truly sorry. “I know Janet would never agree to this, but it’s the least I can do.”
Sarah and I went out for taco night on Greg later that evening.
How would you have responded in that situation?