When a husband comes back from his mothers house and suggests a paternity test for their twoyearold daughter: Not for me, for Mom.
For six months before we got married, she kept telling her son, Dont marry her, shes not right for you! Marine, 30, says, her voice shaking with anger. She said I was too pretty and would cheat on him! We used to joke that Thomas should have picked a crocodile instead of a husband to avoid any tricks. Now theres nothing funny left. Not at all.
Marine doesnt see herself as a dazzling beauty. Shes an ordinary suburbdweller from Lyon, neat as many others, slim, wellgroomed, dressed plainly, and has always been demanding in love while respecting herself. Why her motherinlaw, Thérèse, decided Marine was frivolous and unfaithful remains a mystery, but the woman turned her daughterinlaws life into a nightmare.
Theyve been married four years and have a child. Marine is on parental leave; her days consist of cooking, cleaning, and changing diapers. The only people she meets are the other moms at the park. Yet Thérèse never backs off. She suspects Marine of cheating and stalks her like a cheap TV detective.
Shes always been watching me! Marine sighs, tears glistening. Shed call to check, show up unannounced, try to control my every move. At first I tried to laugh about it, I told Thomas and we joked, but its exhausting! Ive exploded several times, weve fought. Shed calm down for a while then start again with even more force.
The first scandal hit a few months after the wedding. Thérèse turned up at Marines office without warningno call, no reason. Just to verify: Does she really work here? Or is she lying to her husband while running off to lovers?
I have no idea how she got in! Marine exclaims. We have security, visitors have to sign in. I almost fainted when the secretary brought her in: Someone for you. I asked, Thérèse, what are you doing here? She answered, I wanted to see where you work. She scanned the room! Our office is openplan, everyone at their desks. I cant imagine if I had a closed office
Later, the receptionist, Élodie, told Marine that the strange woman peppered her with endless questions: Since when does she work here? Does she arrive on time? Who does she talk to? Does she have someone here? Élodie added, puzzled, I told her you were married! Marine was furious. Back home she burst out at Thomas: Your mother has crossed the line! Talk to her, this is absurd! She almost looked under my desk for a lover. Who knows
Thomas seemed to have a serious talk with his mother, and a relative calm settled in. Thérèse called in the evenings, asked for updates, sent cakes. Marine thought the storm had passed. She was wrong.
The next incident occurred during her pregnancy. On sick leave, she was at home with the phone off when a loud commotion woke her: pounding on the door and a continuous ringing. I jumped, thinking there was a fire! she recalls. I looked through the peephole it was Thérèse, her face twisted, pounding and ringing like a madwoman. I was scared to open the door. I called Thomas: Come quickly, I dont understand! He arrived in twenty minutes. I waited by the door
They shouted at Thérèse. Marine threatened to call the police or a psychiatric hospital if it happened again. Keep her away from me! she demanded. Calm returned temporarily.
Marine gave birth to a girl, but her motherinlaw refused even to see the baby. Why? In Thomass family, all the children were boys; a girl, according to Thérèse, proved an infidelity. I didnt even listen to that nonsense, Marine says. I dont talk to her anymore. Thomas sees her once a month, without us. Good. I would never entrust my daughter to her.
The worst came later. One night Thomas returned from his mothers, looking grim, and suggested a paternity test. Not for me, Marine, listen! he stammered. Its for my mother. Let her stop already! Shes gone mad, and Im stuck with this.
Marine laughed bitterly. For your mother? Her voice trembled with rage. Just admit youre buying into her delusions! Shell never stop. Even after three tests shell claim we rigged the results! I wont play her game, end of story.
Its just a test Thomas insisted.
Why do it? Marine stared at him, holding back tears. I know who the father of my child is. And you? If you need proof, fine. But first, we divorce. I wont stay with a man who doesnt trust me!
Her words fell like a hammer. Their trust was cracking, poisoned by his mother. Marine felt she was teetering on the edge, unsure how to rescue her marriage from this madness.
When a Husband Returns from His Mother’s House and Requests a Paternity Test for Our Two-Year-Old Daughter: Not for Me, but for Mum
