When my brother-in-law Mason asked to stay for a week, I didn’t anticipate he’d overstay by six months. My husband, Asher, and I had a calm life until Mason, loud and brash, showed up. Asher’s request, “Poppy, Mason’s going through a rough patch… he just needs a place to crash,” turned into a nightmare.
Mason’s stay quickly soured. He left dirty dishes, scattered laundry, and didn’t help with groceries. “He’s turned us into his personal servants,” I told Asher, who was reluctant to act. Despite my pleas, Mason stayed, and our home became increasingly chaotic.
When I got pregnant, I hoped Mason would take responsibility, but he merely moved to the living room and complained about the baby’s noise. Desperate, I called Maggie, Asher’s mom. She agreed to help: “Mason will stay with me for a while.”
But soon, Maggie and Mason returned, saying they’d stay with us until the baby arrived. My struggle continued as my plans to reclaim peace were dashed, leading to a new, larger challenge.
