My wife, Chloe, and I were both swamped with work, so my mother-in-law, Brenda, offered to help out. To show our appreciation, I took her out for dinner.During the meal, Brenda turned to me.”Alex, you work way too hard.
Why don’t you just quit your job and move back home with me?”I frowned, “Mom, I’m still young. This is my time to build something. And honestly, I really like my job.””Plus, I’m used to my own place. I don’t want to move.”To my surprise, Brenda got agitated. “
That’s your brother-in-law’s apartment! Kyle’s getting married soon, so you can’t hog it anymore.”My mind raced. What? This apartment was mine, bought before we even got married. When did it become Kyle’s?…
I figured Brenda had some kind of misunderstanding, so I patiently explained.”Mom, I bought this apartment before the wedding. My name is on the deed. How could it be Kyle’s?”Brenda scoffed, “What’s ‘yours’ and ‘mine’ between family?
Since you married into our family, everything you have belongs to the Davis family!”Chloe and I had fallen in love and gotten married. When did I “marry into” their family?Besides, what kind of man who “marries into a family” buys his own wedding apartment and pays an engagement gift?I felt speechless and looked at Chloe, who was sitting beside me.
