When my mom called me from her honeymoon, begging me to save her from her new husband, I thought she was in real danger. Nothing couldโve prepared me for what she told me or how I had to step in to fix it.
Iโve always been close to my mom, Diane.
Sheโs been my rock, my best friend, and the person who taught me everything about love and resilience. But after my dad passed away 10 years ago, things changed.
An upset woman | Source: Midjourney
She became quiet, and withdrawn, like a shadow of the vibrant woman she used to be. She barely called or texted anymore, and every time I tried to check in, she insisted she was fine.
But I could tell she wasnโt.
One day, I couldnโt take it anymore.
I called her and said, โMom, why donโt you come stay with me for a while? Itโll be fun. We can binge-watch those cooking shows you love and eat way too much ice cream.โ
A woman talking to her mother | Source: Midjourney
At first, she resisted, but after a bit of cajoling, she finally agreed.
A week later, she moved into my guest room, and I made it my mission to bring her back to life.
I started encouraging her to get out of the house, make new friends, and attend neighborhood events.
โYouโre still young, Mom,โ I told her. โYou deserve to have fun and meet people. Dad would want that for you.โ
A woman talking to her mother | Source: Midjourney
To be honest, that wasnโt the easiest thing to do.
Sheโd sigh and roll her eyes whenever I suggested going to a book club or joining a gardening group. But eventually, she started saying yes.
Slowly but surely, I saw the spark return to her eyes. She started laughing more, talking about her new friends, and even picking up some of her old hobbies.
I was so relieved to see this side of her again.
Then, about a year ago, Mom told me about Greg. She invited him over for lunch one day.
A man standing in a room | Source: Midjourney
โHeโs just a friend,โ she said, but the way her cheeks turned pink told me otherwise.
Greg was a tall, silver-haired man with kind eyes and a soft-spoken demeanor. He seemed sweet, the kind of man who would hold doors open and always say please and thank you.
After he left, I couldnโt help teasing her.
โSo, Mom, is Greg really just a friend, or is there more to the story?โ
Her blush deepened.
A woman standing in her house | Source: Midjourney
โWell, ummโฆ heโs, uh, heโs my boyfriend,โ she admitted.
โOMG, what?โ I looked at her with wide eyes. โMom! You never told me about him!โ
โI didnโt know how toโฆโ she said. โI meanโโ
โIโm so happy for you, Mom!โ I cut her off and pulled her into a hug. โThatโs so, so amazing!โ
โBut, uh,โ she began. โDo you think itโs okay? I mean, dating someone else after your dadโฆ is that fine?โ
A woman talking to her daughter | Source: Midjourney
โMom, of course, itโs okay,โ I put my hands on her shoulders. โYou deserve to be happy. Think about Dad. He always wanted to see you happy, right? Heโd want you to move forward and do things in life. You canโt put your life on hold forever, can you?โ
Her eyes glistened as she nodded. โYouโre right. I justโฆ I hope Iโm doing the right thing.โ
โYou are,โ I said firmly. โGreg seems like a great guy. And youโre allowed to have a second chance at happiness.โ
A woman sitting on a couch | Source: Midjourney
From that moment, she fully embraced her relationship with Greg. They dated for a while, and when he proposed, she said yes.
Their wedding was a small but beautiful ceremony, filled with love and laughter. As I watched my mom walk down the aisle, I thought to myself,ย Maybe this is her happily ever after.
And for a while, it seemed like everything was perfect. But then I received the phone call that sent a shiver down my spine.
A woman using her phone | Source: Pexels
So, after their wedding, Mom and Greg left for their honeymoon in the Florida Keys. It was Momโs dream trip, and she deserved every bit of it.
I was so happy for her.
My phone rang the day after they arrived, and I saw her name on the screen. Naturally, I assumed she was calling to gush about how amazing everything was.
โMom!โ I answered cheerfully. โHowโs paradise?โ
But her shaky voice on the other end told me something was wrong.
A woman looking at her phone | Source: Midjourney
โKayla,โ she whispered. โPlease. Come and save me from him. I beg you.โ
โMom, whatโs going on?โ I asked as I sat up straight. โAre you okay?โ
โItโs Greg,โ she said. โHeโs not who I thought he was.โ
My mind raced with worst-case scenarios.
โWhat do you mean? Did he do something? Is he dangerous?โ I was already grabbing my car keys, ready to drive to Florida if I had to.
A car key | Source: Pexels
She took a deep breath.
โYou wouldnโt believe me if I told you,โ she said bitterly. โBut he brought his kids, and their kids, on our honeymoon. And he expects me to babysit them.โ
โWaitโฆ what?โ
โYesterday, he said he had a surprise for me,โ she explained. โI thought it was going to be something romantic, like a sunset dinner or a couplesโ massage. Instead, his adult children showed up with their toddlers in tow.โ
A woman holding a baby | Source: Pexels
I couldnโt believe Greg was capable of doing something so absurd.
โThere are four of them, Kayla. Four,โ Mom cried. โAnd now Iโm stuck babysitting while Greg spends all his time with his kids.โ
โYou mean to tell me he brought his entire family on your honeymoon? Without asking you?โ
โYes!โ she cried. โAnd now heโs saying that since Iโm โthe new mom,โ itโs my job to help out. Help out! On my honeymoon! What does he think heโs doing?โ
I could hear the frustration and exhaustion in her voice.
A woman using her phone | Source: Midjourney
My mom, the woman who had given up everything to raise me after my dad passed away, was being treated like a nanny on what was supposed to be the happiest trip of her life.
I felt a wave of anger rush through my body.
โThatโs insane!โ I snapped. โWho does he think he is? Donโt worry, Mom. Iโm coming, and weโre putting an end to this nonsense.โ
โKayla, you donโt have toโโ
โNo, Mom,โ I interrupted, my voice steely. โIโm not letting him treat you like this. Pack your bags. Iโll be there by morning.โ
A woman sitting near a window | Source: Midjourney
The next morning, I arrived at the resort. I was in such a beautiful place, but unfortunately, I wasnโt there to relax. I was there to fight. To tell Greg he couldnโt mistreat my mother.
To make my point crystal clear, I decided to lean into the absurdity of the situation.
Before heading to the resort, I stopped at a store and grabbed a few props. A bright pink kidโs sun hat, a bib, and a pacifier.
If Greg wanted to turn my mom into a nanny, Iโd show him exactly how ridiculous that was.
A woman standing outdoors | Source: Midjourney
When I walked into the resortโs outdoor lounge, I spotted Greg immediately.
He was lounging by the pool with his adult kids, completely unaware of what was heading his way.
Mom was nowhere to be seen, and I could only assume she was stuck babysitting.
I straightened my pink hat, stuck the pacifier in my mouth, and stormed up to him.
โDaddy!โ I called out, loud enough for everyone to hear. โWhereโs Mommy? I want my juice box!โ
The look on Gregโs face was priceless.
A man standing in a resort | Source: Midjourney
His laughter vanished the moment he saw me.
โKayla,โ he said. โWhat are you doing here?โ
โSaving my mom,โ I said as I yanked the pacifier out of my mouth. โAnd calling you out on your nonsense while Iโm at it.โ
Before he could respond, I turned to his grown children, who were now staring at me with wide eyes.
โHi, everyone!โ I said, plastering on a fake smile. โIโm Kayla, Gregโs other kid, apparently. The one he forgot to mention when he invited the rest of you to my momโs honeymoon and turned her into a babysitter.โ
A woman looking straight ahead | Source: Midjourney
One of his daughters stammered, โWeโฆ we didnโt meanโโ
โOh, save it,โ I interrupted. โLet me guess, he told you my mom would be happy to watch your kids so you could enjoy a nice vacation, right? Did he mention itโs supposed to be her honeymoon? You know, the trip where she was supposed to be relaxing, not changing diapers?โ
At that moment, my mom appeared, holding a wailing toddler on her hip and looking like she hadnโt slept in days.
I walked over to her and gently took the toddler from her arms.
A woman holding a baby | Source: Pexels
โHere you go,โ I said, handing the child back to one of Gregโs kids. โPretty sure this oneโs yours. Maybe try taking care of your own children instead of dumping them on a woman you barely know.โ
โKayla!โ Greg snapped. โThatโs enough. Youโre making a scene.โ
โOh, am I?โ I shot back, crossing my arms. โYou dragged your entire family into what was supposed to be a romantic getaway with your new wife. And youโve been treating her like a nanny instead of a partner. What kind of man does that?โ
A serious woman | Source: Midjourney
โItโs a family trip!โ Greg argued. โSheโs part of the family now. Helping out is what families do.โ
โNo,โ I said firmly. โSheโs your wife, not your maid. She didnโt sign up to spend her honeymoon babysitting. And honestly, the fact that you thought this was okay tells me everything I need to know about you.โ
Thatโs when one of Gregโs daughters started apologizing.
โWe didnโt mean to cause trouble,โ she mumbled. โDad said sheโd be fine with itโฆโ
A woman standing outdoors | Source: Midjourney
โOf course, he did,โ I said bitterly. โBecause he didnโt bother to ask her.โ
The crowd around the pool was utterly silent, watching the scene unfold. Greg looked like he wanted to disappear, but I wasnโt done yet.
โPack your bags, Mom,โ I said. โWeโre leaving.โ
She hesitated, glancing at Greg. โButโฆ what aboutโโ
โNo,โ I cut her off. โYou donโt owe him anything. He disrespected you, and you deserve better.โ
Tears welled in her eyes, but she nodded. I grabbed her hand and led her out of the pool area, while Greg mumbled excuses.
A close-up shot of a manโs face | Source: Midjourney
On the drive home, Mom stayed quiet for the longest time. She kept staring out of the window before finally speaking up.
โThank you, Kayla,โ she said softly. โI donโt know what I wouldโve done without you.โ
โYou donโt have to thank me, Mom,โ I said, reaching over to squeeze her hand. โYouโve always been there for me. Iโm just returning the favor.โ
She gave me a small, teary smile. โI thought he loved me.โ
โSomeone who loves you wouldnโt treat you like that,โ I said. โYou deserve someone who puts you first.โ
A woman driving | Source: Pexels
โYouโre right,โ she nodded. โIโm done with Greg.โ
When we got home, she blocked his number and started looking into annulments.
Meanwhile, karma turned Gregโs life upside down. His kids werenโt too thrilled about being dragged into his honeymoon scheme, and they stopped speaking to him after finding out what he did.
Last I heard, he was spending his days alone, wondering where it all went wrong.
I canโt explain how relieved I feel after saving Mom from being exploited for her kindness. Iโm grateful she decided to call me that day instead of quietly looking after that manโs grandkids and keeping up with his insane logic.
A woman smiling | Source: Midjourney
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided โas is,โ and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.