When Gina discovers that her daughter-in-law, Amanda, is using visits to her house as a form of punishment for her grandchildren, she is deeply hurt. Instead of reacting with anger, Gina decides to make her home a sanctuary of love and warmth for the boys. Ultimately, she teaches Amanda a lesson she won’t soon forget.
“We’re only here because you ate the candy Mom was saving for Dad, Jacob. Mom told you not to!” I overheard my grandson, Thomas, scolding his younger brother.
I froze in my tracks, heart sinking as I realized what Thomas had just said. Did they really not want to visit me? Slowly, I approached them, trying to appear casual.
“What do you mean by that, sweetheart?” I asked gently.
Thomas looked up, his eyes wide with guilt.
“Uh, nothing, Grandma,” he quickly responded.
I knelt down to their level, offering a reassuring smile. “It’s okay, you can tell me anything.”
Thomas hesitated, glancing nervously at Jacob, who was chewing on his lip and clutching his toy.
“Well… whenever we do something naughty, or ask for something we shouldn’t… Mom says she’ll send us to ‘that witch’s house,’” Thomas admitted quietly.
My breath caught in my throat. “That witch?” I echoed, stunned. I had always sensed Amanda’s coolness towards me, but this? It felt like a betrayal. I had tried so hard to create a warm and welcoming environment for my grandchildren.
Taking a deep breath to steady my voice, I said, “Oh, honey, my home is never meant to be a punishment. If you don’t want to come here, you don’t have to.”
“But we like it here!” Thomas quickly reassured me. “It’s just… Mom said we could get cursed here, and that’s scary.”
This was too much. Amanda’s issues with me were one thing, but to scare the children and turn them against me? That was unacceptable. I knew I had to take action, not just to protect my relationship with the boys, but to teach Amanda a lesson.
The next time the boys visited, I greeted them with a warm smile and a touch of mystery. “How about some pie?” I suggested. “And I’ve got a little secret to share with you.”
Their eyes lit up with curiosity. “What is it, Grandma?” Jacob asked eagerly
