When a Husband Comes Back From His Mothers House and Suggests a Paternity Test for Our TwoYearOld Daughter: Not for Me, for Mom
One afternoon, after returning from his mothers place, the husband sighed and offered to have a paternity test done on their twoyearold daughter: Not for me, for Mom.
Six months before we got married, she kept telling her son, Dont marry her, shes not right for you! Marine, thirty, recounted, her voice shaking with anger. She said I was too pretty and would cheat on him! We used to laugh about it, joking that Thomas should have chosen a crocodile instead of a woman to avoid any tricks. Now theres no humor leftnone at all.
Marine doesnt see herself as a striking beauty. Shes an ordinary young woman from the Lyon suburbs, wellkept like many others. Slim, neatly styled, dressed simply, she has always been demanding in love and has respected herself. Why her motherinlaw, Thérèse, decided that Marine was frivolous and unfaithful remains a mystery, but that woman has turned the daughterinlaws life into a nightmare.
They have been married for four years and have a daughter. Marine is on parental leave; her days consist of cooking, cleaning, and changing diapers. The only people she sees are the other moms at the park. Yet Thérèse never gives up. She suspects Marine of infidelity and stalks her like a lowbudget TV detective.
Shes always watching me! Marine sighs, eyes glistening with tears. She called to check, showed up unannounced, tried to control my every move. At first I tried to laugh about it, I told Thomas and we joked. But its exhausting! Ive exploded several times, weve fought, she calmed down for a while then started again with even more force.
The first scandal broke a few months after the wedding. Thérèse turned up at Marines office without warningno call, no reasonjust to ask, Do you really work here? Or are you lying to your husband and seeing lovers?
I have no idea how she got in! Marine exclaimed. We have security; visitors have to sign in. I almost fainted when the secretary handed me a note that said Someone for you. I asked, Thérèse, what are you doing here? She replied, I wanted to see where you work. She stared around the open office, everyone glued to their screens. I cant imagine what would have happened if my office had been closed
Later, the secretary, Élodie, told Marine that the odd woman had asked a hundred questions. Since when does she work here? Does she arrive on time? Who does she talk to? Does she have anyone here? I told her youre married! Élodie added, bewildered. Marine was livid. Back home she burst out at Thomas, Your mother crossed the line! Talk to her, this is nonsense! She almost looked under my desk for a lover. Who knows
Thomas seemed to have a serious talk with his mother, and a relative calm settled in. Thérèse called in the evenings, asked how things were, sent cakes. Marine thought the storm had passed. She was wrong.
The next incident happened while she was pregnant. On sick leave, she was at home with the phone off when a clamor woke her: pounding on the door and a continuous ringing. I jumped, thinking there was a fire! she recalls. I looked through the peephole Thérèse, her face twisted, banging and ringing like a madwoman. I was terrified to open the door. I called Thomas, Come quickly, I dont understand! He arrived in twenty minutes. Meanwhile I waited by the door
They shouted at Thérèse. Marine threatened to call the police or a psychiatric hospital if it happened again. Keep her away from me! she demanded. Calm returned temporarily.
Marine gave birth to a girl, but her motherinlaw refused even to see the infant. Why? In Thomass family, all the children were boys; a girl, according to Thérèse, proved an infidelity. I didnt even listen to that nonsense, Marine says. I dont talk to her anymore. Thomas sees her once a month, without us. Good. I would never trust my daughter to her.
The worst came later. One night Thomas returned from his mothers house, looking grim, and suggested a paternity test. Not for me, Marine, come on! he stammered. Its for my mother. She needs to stop this madness! Im the one suffering here
Marine let out a bitter laugh. For your mother? Her voice trembled with fury. Youre just buying into her delusions! Shell never stop. Even after three tests shell claim we rigged the results! I wont play her game, thats final.
Its just a test, Thomas insisted.
Why would we do that? Marine stared at him, holding back tears. I know who the father of my child is. And you? If you need proof, fine. But first we divorce. I wont stay with a man who doesnt trust me!
Her words landed like a sword. Their trust was cracking, poisoned by his mother. Marine felt she was teetering on a cliff, unsure how to rescue her marriage from this madness.
When a Husband Returns from His Mother’s House and Requests a Paternity Test for Our Two-Year-Old Daughter: Not for Me, But for Mum
