When Linda decided to get married, her son and daughter-in-law were shocked and didn’t know how to react.

“Are you sure you’re ready for such a big change at your age?” asked Sarah, glancing at her husband.

“Mom, why the sudden decision?” Mark asked, concerned. “I know you’ve been on your own for a long time, but getting married now doesn’t seem like the right choice.”

“You’re younger, so you don’t understand,” Linda responded calmly. “I’m 63, and no one knows how much time is left. I have the right to spend my remaining years with someone I love.”

“Well, don’t rush into getting married,” Mark suggested. “You’ve only known Greg for a couple of months. Why change your life completely?”

“At our age, we shouldn’t waste time,” Linda said. “I just need to know that he’s two years older than me, lives with his daughter and her family in a three-bedroom house, gets a decent pension, and has a summer house upstate.”

“Where are you planning to live?” Mark asked, puzzled. “We don’t have extra space here.”

“Don’t worry, Greg doesn’t want to move in with us. I’ll move into his place,” Linda explained. “His house is big, and I get along with his daughter. Everyone’s grown, so there shouldn’t be any conflicts.”

Mark was still unsure, and Sarah tried to help him understand.

“Maybe we’re being selfish?” she wondered. “It’s convenient for us that your mom helps out and watches our kids. But she deserves to make her own decisions. If this is what she wants, we shouldn’t hold her back.”

“Living together is one thing, but why the big wedding?” Mark asked, still confused. “A wedding dress and all the fuss isn’t really for us.”

“They come from a different generation, maybe it gives them some security,” Sarah suggested.

Linda married Greg, whom she met by chance while walking in the park, and soon moved in with him. At first, everything seemed perfect: the family accepted her, Greg was caring, and Linda believed she had found happiness in her later years. But soon, the reality of living together started to sink in.

“Could you make dinner tonight?” Greg’s daughter, Emily, asked. “I would, but I’m swamped with work, and you have more free time.”

Linda understood the implication and took over cooking, then also shopping, cleaning, doing laundry, and managing the trips to their summer house.

“The summer house is our shared project now,” Greg said. “Emily and her husband are too busy, and the grandkids are too little, so we’ll handle it together.”

Linda didn’t mind; she enjoyed being part of a close-knit family based on mutual help. Her first husband had been lazy and left when Mark was 10. Twenty years had passed, and no one had heard from him. In her new family, everything seemed right, and the chores weren’t burdensome at first.

“Mom, you’re not much help at the summer house,” Mark gently suggested. “Every time you come back, your blood pressure seems to go up. Is it really worth it?”

“Of course, it is. I enjoy it,” Linda said. “Greg and I will grow a great garden, and we’ll share the harvest with you.”

But Mark still had doubts. For months, they hadn’t even been invited over to visit Greg’s family. Mark and Sarah invited Greg, but he always found an excuse not to come. They resigned themselves to the fact that their new in-laws weren’t interested in forging a relationship. The most important thing was knowing that Linda was happy.

At first, everything seemed fine, but the tasks Linda had to do continued to pile up. Greg would often complain about his back or heart whenever they were at the summer house. The loving wife would help him rest while she did all the heavy lifting.

“Another pot roast?” Emily’s husband, Ben, grumbled. “We had that last night. I was hoping for something different.”

“I didn’t have time to cook anything else,” Linda explained. “I spent the whole day cleaning, and now my head is spinning.”

“Sure, but I don’t like pot roast,” Ben said, pushing his plate away.

“Tomorrow, Linda will cook a feast for us,” Greg said with a smile.

The next day, Linda spent hours cooking, but by evening, the food was gone in just 30 minutes. Constant complaints from Emily and Ben became more frequent, and Greg supported them, making Linda feel guilty.

“I’m not a little girl. I get tired too,” Linda snapped. “Why do I have to do everything?”

“You’re my wife, and it’s your job to keep everything in order,” Greg reminded her.

“I should have rights as well as duties,” Linda cried.

She would calm down and try to keep everyone happy, maintaining peace in the household. But one day, her patience ran out. Emily and Ben were planning to visit friends and wanted to leave their daughter with Linda.

“Why don’t you leave the little one with grandpa or take her with you? I’m going to my granddaughter’s birthday,” Linda said.

“Why should we adjust to your plans?” Emily said, upset.

“I don’t owe you anything,” Linda reminded them. “I told you weeks ago that it was my granddaughter’s birthday. You ignored it, and now you want me to stay home?”

“This can’t be,” Greg said angrily. “Emily’s plans are ruined, and your granddaughter won’t understand if you wish her happy birthday tomorrow.”

“It’ll be fine if we go to my kids’ house, or you can stay with your granddaughter until I get back,” Linda said firmly.

“I knew this wouldn’t work out,” Emily said. “She cooks badly, doesn’t clean up, and only thinks about herself.”

“After everything I’ve done here, this is how you think of me?” Linda asked Greg. “Did you want a wife or just a housekeeper?”

“You’re wrong,” Greg blinked. “Don’t start a fight.”

“I have the right to stand up for myself,” Linda said, refusing to back down.

“Do whatever you want, but there won’t be this kind of attitude toward duties in my house,” Greg said.

“Then I’m leaving,” Linda declared, packing her things.

“Will you take me back?” she asked, carrying a bag and a gift for her granddaughter. “I was married, I left, and now I’m back. Don’t ask questions, just tell me: will you take me in?”

“Of course,” Mark and Sarah rushed to her. “Your room is ready, and we’re happy to have you back.”

“You’re happy just like that?” Linda asked.

“Isn’t that what family is about?” Sarah replied, surprised.

Linda knew that here, she wasn’t a servant. Yes, she helped out around the house and with the grandkids, but her son and daughter-in-law never took advantage of her. Here, she was just a mother, grandmother, and family member, not a servant. Linda returned home, filed for divorce, and tried to forget the painful experience.