Do you think your guests have been the worst ever? My brother-in-law was the best of all of them.
We let him and his wife remain at our house for their honeymoon, but then they took over our house and even our bedroom. But in the end, karma got the best of them.
My husband Marcus and I are lucky to live in a small paradise called Seabreeze Point. Picture this: a lovely stretch of beach just a short walk from our front porch, hiking trails that weave through hills that smell like pine, and little cafés on the cliffs where you can have coffee as dolphins jump in the ocean below. People save and plan all year to go there for a week.
Of course, a lot of people use our guest room. Friends, family, and even Marcus’s old college roommates all turn up with a suitcase, wide-eyed, and ready to head to the beach.
Of course, a lot of people use our guest room. Friends, family, and even Marcus’s old college roommates all turn up with a suitcase, wide-eyed, and ready to head to the beach.
“Just a week.” We promise that we will be the most polite guests you’ve ever had.
Famous last words.
Marcus’s phone buzzed at dinner two weeks before they were supposed to come. He frowned as he saw the screen.
He swiped to see the message and remarked, “It’s from Trevor.” His face went from blank to a mix of wrath and disbelief.
I asked, “What is it?”
“Hey man, is there any chance Paige and I could use your room while we’re there?” Marcus read out loud. You know that an air mattress in the guest room doesn’t exactly say “honeymoon,” right?
We only sat there for a moment. There are two bedrooms in our house: ours and my small home office, which also serves as a guest room. We bought a fancy air mattress that seems like a real bed and comes with extra pillows and blankets.
But our bedroom was where we felt safe. After hard days, we went to sleep there, talked to each other in the dark, and stored our most private things there.
“What do you think?” Marcus asked, but the way he phrased it made me think he already knew what I would respond.
“I can’t do it,” I said. “That’s our space.” I don’t want anyone else to use our bed or look through our things. No, simply no.
Marcus said, “Same.” “I’ll tell him.”
He said, “Sorry, but we can’t do that.” But you can stay in the guest room. It’s beautiful. I can’t wait for you to get here!
The answer came in a few minutes: Really? It’s the night of our wedding. One week. Whatever.
Marcus threw his phone on the table. “That went well.”
It was already a busy day when they were due to get there. That afternoon, I was getting ready for our daughter Tessa’s eighth birthday celebration. I was cutting up vegetables, threading fruit skewers, decorating cupcakes, making spaghetti, and setting the table. Marcus was cleaning the guest room when I heard car doors slam.
“They’re here!” I called.
I thought that as I opened the door, people would hug me and say hello with big smiles. Trevor and Paige passed straight by me and didn’t say a word. They were lugging their baggage down the hall.
I inquired, “How was the ride from Ridge Valley?”
“Long,” Paige said with little feeling. “Where is the bathroom?”
I heard the door to our room open, and I knew what it was. My stomach got tight.
Just as I anticipated, I did find them in our room. Paige was leaning over my dresser mirror to check her makeup while Trevor was unpacking on our bed.
“Hey, guys? Your room is actually across the hall.
Trevor didn’t even look up. “Yes, we did talk about this. Paige gets sick in cars, and this room has better air flow. “We’ll just stay here.”
“But we already told you—”
Lena said, “Paige, it’s our honeymoon.” One week. You have owned this place for a while now. You might be able to sleep somewhere else for a few nights.
It felt like a hit. “This is our room.” We gave you the guest room, which is very nice.
Trevor eventually turned to me and looked at me. His jaw was tight. “We’re not going to sleep on an air mattress for our honeymoon.” That’s all there is to it.
I noticed Marcus in the garage, where he was putting a bolt on Caleb’s bike.
I answered, “They are in our room.”
He swiftly lifted his head. “What do you mean by ‘in our room’?”
“They took everything out of the box.” Paige’s makeup is all over the bathroom counter.
In just a few seconds, Marcus’s face went from shock to anger to disbelief. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“I wish I were.”
I grabbed him by the arm as he tried to leave. “Wait a minute—Tessa’s friends will be here soon. Let’s just go through the party first.
That was my second mistake.
I raced into the kitchen to grab drinks when the kids—six eight-year-olds who were laughing and ready to party—got there. What I found was shocking.
Trevor and Paige were enjoying the party food like it was theirs. There were chicken tenders all over the dishes, half-eaten veggie sticks on napkins, and frosting all over my counter.
Trevor said, “These are a little dry,” as he ate a cupcake. “Mix in a box?”
I said, “They were for Tessa’s party.”
Paige put another piece of chicken in her mouth. “Kids will eat anything.” They won’t care.
I turned my head to look toward the dining room. Tessa and her friends were standing there with their eyes wide open, waiting for the dinner I had promised them.
“Marcus!” I yelled. “We’re going to the store now.”
The kids’ questions were the only sounds on the route.
“Mom, why did Uncle Trevor eat all the food at the party?” Caleb wanted to know.
“Are we still going to have my party?” Tessa’s voice shook.
“Yes, dear. I promised, “We’ll make it even better.”
We spent almost $200 on new stuff. Seeing the kids’ joy when we arrived back made it all worth it, but when we pulled up, my jaw practically hit the ground.
Trevor and Paige sat on the porch with their bags at their feet. They were so angry that their faces turned red. Gordon and Helen, Marcus’s parents, were standing in front of them with their arms crossed.
Helen’s voice was so sharp that it may have cut glass: “You will not treat your brother and his wife this way in their home.”
“Mom, you don’t—” Trevor began.
Gordon yelled, “I get it perfectly.” “Tessa called us.” “Do you know what she said? She said that Uncle Trevor was mean to Mommy and took all of her birthday food.
My chest hurt. My daughter called her grandparents because she thought her uncle was hurting me.
Paige went ahead. “We’re related.” We should be able to sleep in the master bedroom on our honeymoon.
Helen shot replied, “Family doesn’t just walk into someone’s room without asking.” Family doesn’t ruin a child’s birthday food and call it names.
“We asked nicely!” Trevor said no.
Gordon said, “You were told no.” “Like grown-ups, you accept the answer.”
Helen gazed at me, and her voice got quieter. “Tessa was crying on the phone.” “We were in town for a baby shower, but when we heard her like that, we came right away.
I looked at my child. “Did you call Grandma?”
She nodded with wide eyes. “I didn’t want you to be sadder.”
My eyes were burning with tears.
Gordon said to Trevor and Paige, “You’re going to a hotel.” “Tonight.” And you are paying for it.
“That’s not fair!” Trevor made a case.
Helen said in a stern voice, “It’s not fair to take advantage of people who let you stay with them.”
They left after one hour, not saying sorry, just grumbling about how “ungrateful” their family was.
Helen hugged me fiercely as their cab pulled away. “I’m sorry, my love.” I taught him how to do it better.
“It’s not your fault,” I said, my voice breaking.
That night, when Tessa fell asleep with the stuffed dolphin her grandparents had given her, Marcus and I sat on the balcony and watched the sun set, making the sea look golden.
“I can’t stop thinking about what she said,” I stated in a low voice. “She called your parents because she thought Trevor was being mean to me.”
“She was looking out for you,” Marcus said. We should have put our safety first from the start.
The next morning, Helen texted, “Flowers are on the way.” I don’t think Trevor and Paige will say they’re sorry, but they should.
A flower with the words “For the best daughter-in-law and grandchildren in the world” came an hour later. Dear Mom and Dad, They also gave them enough money to buy more food.
Trevor and Paige never apologized. They’ve been telling everyone who will listen that we “ruined their honeymoon.” I learnt this, though: being family doesn’t give you the right to take up someone else’s space. Don’t take your limits lightly. People who can’t respect your space don’t deserve to come into your home or disturb your calm.
Trust yourself if you’ve been in a similar situation. Stay inside your limitations. You’re not being unreasonable. You are treating yourself with respect.
