Persecution

FIVE YEARS LATER

Diane was tired and famished as hell, but thankfully, she had finally finished the chores that she had been doing all day.

She dropped the small cloth with which she was using to wipe surfaces clean and heaved a huge sigh.

“Of course, you're tired, you lazy, good-for-nothing slob. I don’t know what the hell my son saw in you all those years ago, or why he keeps wasting his youthful years with a haggard, useless woman who can’t give him even one child!” Diane’s mother-in-law’s grating voice came out of nowhere.

Diane sat up immediately, and the relief that she was feeling at being done with her numerous tasks, vanished immediately. 

However, she didn’t say a word, but instead, kept her expression meek and humble, because she knew what was coming. 

Her mother-in-law, Mrs. Collins, did not disappoint, but instead, went around, running her fingers on the surfaces that Diane had just cleaned, her lips curling with displeasure.

Then she opened her mouth and vile words began to pour out of it.

“Is this your idea of what a good clean-up entails? You really are useless in every ramification, aren’t you? Why did you have to tie my son down with you, when you know that your womb is as barren as a desert? What did my poor Harold do to deserve to be saddled with you? Why have you sunk your claws so deeply into his flesh and refused to let go, no matter how many times I ask you to free him? I believe I'm talking to a human being and not a log of wood. Don’t you dare ignore me! Answer the questions I ask you!”

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Collins, but I love him and he loves me as well. We’re trying hard for a baby. We’ve always been trying. Harold hasn’t asked me to leave him, or given me any impression that he doesn’t want me any longer.” Diane said in a broken voice, the familiar ache stirring up within her chest and tears of sorrow welling up in her eyes.

It was always the same story, and no matter how much she tried to please, or avoid her mother-in-law, she could never escape her sharp and barbed tongue, especially now that the woman took it upon herself to come to their house at will. 

She wondered what Mrs. Collins would say if she knew that it was the fault of her precious son that she didn’t have the grandchild that she so desired.

“You should be able to read the room, and not wait for him to spell out the fact that he wants you gone. If you’re gone from his life, then he will find someone who can give him children. I want you gone out of my son’s life. That’s all I want from you. So are you going to grant my wish without fuss, or do I have to make you?” Mrs. Collins asked, advancing menacingly on Diane. 

Diane shrunk away from her in terror. All she wanted was to be left alone, but it seemed that that was too much to ask.

“I told you before to always reply to me when I’m talking to you, or are you now deaf?”

 “I love Harold …” Diane said again. 

Mrs. Collins was now close to where Diane was sitting on one of the chairs, and she practically got in her face to spit some more vile words at her, but at that moment, Harold entered the living room.

“What’s going on here? How are my two favorite women on earth doing this wonderful evening?” He asked, coming closer to both women and placing his briefcase on the table.

Mrs. Collins immediately straightened and gave her son a big smile, acting like all was fine and she hadn’t literally been threatening Diane a few moments before.

“Welcome home, my darling son. How was your day today?” She asked, her voice sweet as she went towards him for a big, long hug, and peppered his face with kisses.

He hugged her back and they conversed in light, quiet tones, which were obviously not meant for Diane’s ears. 

For Diane’s part, she wiped her tears away and tried to put a bright smile on her face for her husband’s benefit.

“Welcome home, babe. How was your day?” She asked him, coming over to meet him and Mrs. Collins, and trying to ignore the disgusted look that Mrs. Collins threw her way.

“It was fine, babe. Thank you very much, and how was your day?” He asked her, taking his hand off his mother’s shoulders and taking Diane’s hand in his.

Diane tried not to dwell on how Mrs. Collins's face darkened at that move. The woman tried to get Harold’s attention again, but he had his attention on Diane this time around, and he led her away to their room.

“I’m so sorry about my mom. I heard some of what she was saying to you. Thank you for not telling her about the miscarriage babe.” Harold told her when they got into the room, taking her in his arms and giving her a light kiss on the lips. 

Diane leaned against him and sighed, wishing that things were different and they had their own little bundle of joy already.

“She’s your mom, babe. I know you love her, but you have to stand up to her and tell her to stop hounding me all the time over something I have no control over. You know that had it been in my power, this house would have been filled with the sounds of laughing children already.”

“I know, I know. I’ll talk to her. Listen, I have a wonderful surprise for you.” Harold told her, purposely changing the topic.

“Really? What is it?”

“I booked a vacation for us. We’re going to the Bahamas. I know you’ve always wanted to go there, so I decided to make it a reality for you. How do you like that?”

“Are you kidding? I love it! Oh, thank you so much, honey. Wait! Your mom isn’t coming as well, is she?” Diane asked, her excitement fading a little as she dreaded the answer. 

The last thing she needed was Mrs. Collins breathing down her neck while she was supposed to be on vacation. 

Mrs. Collins had made sure to always ruin any vacation that the couple ever went on with her presence because she always insisted on coming along with them, and then causing trouble for Diane.

It didn’t help that Harold was too scared of his mother to defend his wife, and so he almost always pretended not to notice whenever Mrs. Collins began her annoying shenanigans.

 “No, I didn’t tell her about the vacation this time around. It’s going to be just the two of us. I hope we enjoy the vacation. If we're lucky enough, maybe we'll have a baby so that mom doesn't keep bothering you. We’re leaving tomorrow morning.” Harold told her.

"Thank you, Harold. Thank you for always supporting me.” Diane said, her voice choked with emotion. 

They kissed each other passionately, and just when things were starting to get really hot and heavy between them, Harold's phone suddenly rang. He picked it up and frowned when he saw the caller ID.

"Honey, you can rest first. I still have some work to do." He told her and then walked into the study to answer the phone.

It was Nicole, Diane’s best friend, who was calling and when he answered the call, he was flabbergasted at the news she delivered to him.

“I arrived in the city this night. You and I need to see tomorrow. It’s really urgent.” She said without preamble.

“What on earth are you talking about? What do you mean by you arrived in the city that night? How come I didn’t know that you were coming back?”

“I decided that I wanted to give you a wonderful surprise. Why? Haven’t you missed me all this while? I thought that you’d be happy to hear from me.” Nicole said sultrily.

“Well, I can't meet with you, and I don’t even want to. I’m going on vacation with my wife tomorrow morning.”

“Hmmm … I see how it is. Love in paradise, huh? So you’re taking that barren woman on a vacation? You’re wasting your money on someone who adds no value to your life? How stupid!”

“Watch your tongue, and once again, I'm not going to see or meet with you. Goodnight.” Harold told her and hung up, after which he turned off his phone. 

The next morning however, as some of their domestic staff loaded him and Diane’s luggage into the car, an unfamiliar car drove into the compound, and in the next second, Nicole got out of the car, beaming widely.