My boyfriend’s mother kept calling me by his ex-girlfriend’s name long after they had broken up, and it irritated me beyond belief. But I stayed quiet, hoping she’d eventually stop. Then, during a family gathering, I found the perfect opportunity to address the issue—though what I did might have cost me my relationship.
Hi, I’m Leylah, and I’ve been with Todd, my boyfriend, for five wonderful years. He’s a great guy, and we’ve had a solid relationship since he parted ways with his high school sweetheart, Emma.
Todd and Emma had been inseparable for years, to the point that his family saw her as one of their own. Their breakup wasn’t just hard on him—it was tough on his family, especially his mother, Tammy. She had built such a close bond with Emma that it seemed she had planned out their entire future together—marriage, grandkids, the whole package.
At first, Tammy would occasionally call me “Laura”—Emma’s middle name. It was awkward, but I brushed it off, figuring she needed time to adjust. I wanted to be patient and understanding, to fit in and gain her approval. I assumed she’d eventually stop, and I gave her the space to grieve the relationship she’d envisioned for her son.
But as time passed, the “accidental” name-calling became more frequent. It reached a point where she called me Laura nearly every time I saw her, despite Todd correcting her on multiple occasions. It was frustrating, but I still held my tongue—until her 60th birthday provided the perfect opportunity to set things straight.
A few weeks before the party, Tammy gathered the family and assigned everyone food items to bring. Todd and I were included, along with his two sisters and brother-in-law. We were all in the kitchen one evening, chatting while I helped with preparations. One of Todd’s sisters mentioned how much she had heard about my cooking.
“Apparently, you’re quite the chef, according to my husband,” she said with a grin.
Blushing, I responded, “I try, but I think Todd hypes me up a little too much.”
Without missing a beat, Tammy chimed in, loud and clear: “Why don’t we let Laura make the birthday cake this year?”
Todd’s sisters tried to stifle their laughter, while I stood there, caught off guard. Rather than correcting her, I feigned excitement and responded, “That’s a great idea!” But deep down, I had decided this was the moment to teach Tammy a lesson.
Fast forward to Tammy’s birthday party—everything was perfect. The guests were laughing, the atmosphere was festive, and all eyes were on the upcoming birthday cake reveal. When it was time for dessert, I saw my chance.
Tammy looked around, waiting for the cake to appear. Sensing her anticipation, I innocently exclaimed, “Oh, the cake! I thought Laura was in charge of that?”
Her face twisted in confusion. “What do you mean, Laura? You were supposed to make the cake, Leylah!”
Feigning surprise, I replied, “Oh no, I must’ve misunderstood! I thought Laura—since you mention her so often—was handling it.”
The room fell silent, and Tammy’s face flushed with embarrassment. Todd’s younger sister, always the peacemaker, awkwardly suggested, “Well, maybe we can just have some ice cream instead?”
But Tammy wasn’t having it. She snapped, “A birthday without a cake? This is unacceptable! Leylah, how could you forget something so important?”
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