Joe believed he did the best thing for his ailing mother when he placed her in a nursing home. His fiancée, Emily, was the one who convinced him it was for the best for everyone if the elderly lady was out of her home. “You did the right thing,” she said with a grin on her face. “Your mom will have a better life in the nursing home…and we can turn her old crafts room into a lovely nursery for our baby.”

However, upon returning from the nursing home, Joe and Emily were shocked to see some people moving the furniture from their house. They rushed to inspect what was going on, still shocked from the sight.

“What the heck is going on over here?” Joe yelled as he exited the car and ran towards the porch. “Hey, who are you…and what are you doing in my house?”

“You must be Joe!” the man replied. “I knew you would come. By the way, this isn’t your house anymore! Your mom sold it to us. Here are the papers…and there’s your stuff.”

Joe was looking in confusion, he couldn’t believe what he was hearing and was unable to move. But Emily acted. She grabbed the paper from the man’s hand and started analyzing the agreement. Her facial expression said it was true. Joe’s mom really sold the house.

“You fool!” she yelled. “Your mother tricked you right under your nose…and you had no clue? Everything is ruined now.”

“Emily…don’t say that. I don’t understand why Mom did this. But we still have each other. We can…”

“There’s no more WE, you loser! Forget about me,” she said as she pulled the ring and threw it on the ground.

Joe ran after her, pleading, “Wait…what about our baby?”

But Emily laughed at his face as she replied, “You’re so stupid! There’s no baby. Now get out of my way.”

“Wha—what do you mean? Emily…Emily? Stop….” Joe called out, but she left the place and left his life.

Heartbroken, Joe stood on the porch and that’s when he noticed a letter under one of the boxes.

It was from his mother.

“Dear Joe,

I’m sorry this happened. I wish I never had to take such drastic steps. But you left me with no other choice. It all started the day you first brought Emily home… the letter started.

Some weeks ago…

The decision to sell the house was made weeks ago, while Joe’s mom, Nora, was resting in her armchair.

Joe entered the place, and there was a woman with him, Emily. “…Joe is so funny…and charming,” Emily chuckled as she sat next to Joe on the couch. “I couldn’t say no when he first asked me on a date to the funfair.”

“It’s been just three weeks…but it feels like we’ve known each other for ages. That’s why I insisted Emily move in with me,” Joe said with visible delight in his eyes.

Her son’s words stunned Nora. She needed time to compose herself as she placed her oxygen mask on her face.

“I’m sorry if this has come as a shock, Mom,” Joe rubbed Nora’s shoulder. “Things might seem sudden…but trust me…Emily is the one for me. We’re soulmates!”

Nora turned to Emily, took her hand, and said, “Emily, darling, if you don’t mind, can you please make me some tea, dear? The warmth soothes my throat. The kitchen is that way…”

As Emily left the room to make some tea, Joe looked at his mother and whispered, “Isn’t she the best, Mom?”

“She seems like a lovely girl. But don’t you think you’re taking things a bit fast, Joey?”

“Mom, I understand your concerns. I didn’t want to tell you everything because of your health. But you deserve to know…I’m planning to propose to Emily this weekend.”

As expected, Nora believed that was way too soon since Joe knew Emily only for a few weeks.

“Mom, relax. You’re the one who taught me to fight for love. That’s what you and Dad did when you eloped, right?”

“But, Joey, that and this are entirely different.”

“Mom, I love Emily. I can’t live without her. Please trust me… she will be a great wife and a wonderful daughter-in-law.”

This sudden rushing didn’t give Nora peace.

However, when Emily moved in the following day, things seemed to have fallen into place as she and Nora got along well. The two knitted together, watched documentaries, and chatted.

Nora started to like her soon to be daughter-in-law until one night, when she woke up at midnight to take her pills, she heard Nora talking to someone over the phone and saying, “That old crone and her oxygen machine… she is such a thorn in my way… but Joe is madly hooked on me. So I should be able to get rid of her soon.”

Nora froze. At that moment she wondered what could Emily possibly do to get rid of her, but then Emily continued, “Just a lil sweet talk, and he should agree to stick his mother in a nursing home. Then, I’ll kick him out, and this house will be mine!”

Nora’s initial plan was to tell her son what she had heard, but she knew he was too smitten with his girlfriend to trust her.

Over the course of the next couple of days, Emily acted as though she enjoyed Nora’s company.

One day, however, Joe approached Nora and told her they needed to talk.

“It’s about Emily…” Joe said.

“Oh, dear, I’m so sorry things didn’t work out between you two…”

But Joe frowned. “What? Things are great between Emily and me, Mom. I’ve never been happier.

“Actually, Mom…” Joe swallowed hard. “…Emily’s been running her own business while working through the temp agency. She needs help with buying more machinery. But she can’t afford it right now. So I’d like to help her…but there’s only one way to get the money I need.”

“What is it, Joe?” Nora asked dreadfully.

“Mom, you know…your health isn’t improving. I think you need a better place where you’re cared for well…I think it’s time you moved into a nursing home.”