“Emily, don’t you trust my son?” Judith asked, setting her phone on the table and folding her arms.
“What does trust have to do with it? It’s my phone,” Emily replied, trying to keep calm despite the anger building in her chest.
“What are you hiding on there? Just hand it over. I only wanted to check a soup recipe. You’ve got one saved, right? Or is there something else you’re keeping from us?”
Emily silently counted to ten. Just two more weeks in this house. Two more weeks until their apartment renovation was done. She could endure it. She had to.
“Judith, you have a laptop. You can find any recipe online.”
“Aha! That’s exactly what someone with secrets would say. If you’re living under my roof, I have every right to see what’s on your phone. I know you’re hiding something from Adam.”
Emily thought back to when Adam had first suggested staying with his mom during the renovation. “Why waste money on a hotel?” he’d said. “It’s just temporary. Mom will love having us.”
Love it? Judith had been thrilled—for the chance to meddle and criticize.
“I’m not hiding anything,” Emily said. “But I do expect a bit of respect when it comes to my privacy.”
“Privacy?” Judith scoffed. “We’re family! There’s no such thing as privacy in this house. My roof, my rules!”
“We’re only here until our place is ready. I appreciate your help, but that doesn’t mean—”
“Oh, so now you’re ‘grateful’?” Judith cut in, eyes narrowing. “If you were really grateful, you wouldn’t be acting so suspicious. Who are you texting in secret? Is that why you didn’t want to move in here?”
Right then, the front door opened—Adam was home. Emily exhaled in relief… too soon.
“Adam!” Judith called out dramatically. “Can you believe this? Your wife won’t even let me use her phone. Says it’s ‘personal.’ What do you think she’s hiding?”
Adam looked between his wife and mother, already exhausted.
“Mom, come on. It’s just a phone.”
“No, Adam! If she has nothing to hide, why keep it locked? I don’t even lock mine!”
“Because personal boundaries and security exist,” Emily said firmly. “It’s perfectly normal.”
“Did you hear that?” Judith said to Adam, feigning offense. “Now she’s throwing around words like ‘boundaries.’”
Adam sighed and turned to Emily. “Emily, why not just show her? It’s not a big deal.”
Emily stared at him. “Are you serious? We’ve always respected each other’s privacy. And now you want me to hand my phone to your mother?”
“Exactly!” Judith chimed in. “She’s too defensive. I warned you, Adam…”
Emily turned sharply. “Warned him? What exactly have you been saying about me?”
Silence fell. Judith pursed her lips, playing the victim. Adam shifted awkwardly.
“Sweetheart, I just worry,” Judith said, her voice dripping with faux concern. “You’ve been married three years, and I still feel like she’s hiding things from you.”
Emily gripped her phone tighter. “Adam, can’t you see what she’s doing?”
He stepped forward. “Emily, just show her so we can move on.”
“No,” Emily said, stepping back. “Because this is how it starts. Today it’s my phone. Tomorrow it’s my texts, my emails, my life.”
Judith smirked. “So you are hiding something.”
“Mom!” Adam raised his voice. Judith just shrugged.
“I’m being realistic. She’s been closed off since day one. You’re too trusting.”
Emily’s chest tightened. Three years she’d tried to make peace with Judith. Three years of passive-aggressive comments and fake smiles. And now this.
“Adam, remember our agreement? That we’d never go through each other’s phones? That we’d trust each other?”
“I remember,” he said, “but this feels different.”
“It only feels different because she’s pressuring you to believe it is!”
Judith sighed dramatically. “And now I’m the villain. I opened my home to you, and this is the thanks I get.”
“We’ll get a hotel,” Emily snapped.
“Emily!” Adam scolded. “Be reasonable. She’s just trying to help.”
“Help?” Emily laughed bitterly. “It’s been two days, and she’s already demanding access to my private messages. Is that your idea of help?”
“I just wanted a soup recipe!” Judith cried. “You’re making this a whole thing!”
“Everyone calm down,” Adam said. “Mom, don’t touch other people’s things. Emily, maybe you’re taking this too far.”
“Oh, so now I’m the problem?” Emily asked, incredulous. “Perfect.”
“I’m not saying that! I just don’t get why this has to be such a fight.”
“Because it’s my phone, Adam. That’s not up for debate.”
“There she goes again—‘privacy,’ ‘boundaries,’” Judith muttered. “My friend Karen said that too. She ended up cheating with her boss. People love hiding behind those words.”
Emily turned slowly. “Are you accusing me of cheating?”
“Who, me? Never,” Judith replied with mock innocence. “I’m just saying… where there’s smoke…”
“Say it clearly. Are you accusing me or not?”
“I’d never accuse,” Judith said sweetly. “Just… pointing things out.”
“Adam, don’t fall for this,” Emily said. “She’s trying to turn you against me.”
“No, Mom,” Adam said, his voice suddenly steady. “You’ve been doing that from the beginning. Just like you did with Rachel.”
Judith paled. “Excuse me?”
“Rachel told me everything,” Adam said. “You’re doing it again.”
Emily let out a breath. “Adam, let’s go.”
“You’re both ungrateful!” Judith screamed. “Get out of my house!”
As Emily packed her things, Adam quietly ordered a ride. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I should’ve seen it sooner.”
“Yes,” Emily replied softly. “You should have.”
Adam’s phone buzzed.
“It’s her,” he said, glancing at the screen. Then he declined the call without hesitation.
“That’s a start,” he said with a small smile. “It’s not much—but it’s something.”
Emily gave him a tired smile. “We’ve got a long road ahead.”