Betty was anxious. Her heartbeat was rapid. She was walking back and forth across her bedroom. Her father-in-law, Tom Kolvig, was coming to stay in the house for few months and she was not sure how things in her life would go when he would be around. Matter of concern was that tonight Jack, her husband, was leaving for California for two weeks and in his absence she would have to bear with this unwanted guest. Jack had told her once that his father was a tough man, who likes to dominate people around him. If that was the case then surely there would be trouble for she wasn't the type who would tolerate any dominance from anyone.
Betty and jack married in September 2011 when Jack got good job in New York. Tom Kolvig was not in favor of this marriage. He wanted Jack to marry girl of his choice. But Jack loved Betty. And Betty loved Jack. This arrangement of love was all required for marriage as per their opinion. So when Jack got the job in Brooklyn they decided to move ahead with their life and got married ignoring the dominant, Tom Kolvig. They bought a house, raising debt from the bank, and started their married life with great enthusiasm.
Horn sounded outside. A Car had entered in the driveway.
Betty rushed to the bedroom window and pulling the curtain slightly peeped out. Mustang stopped near the porch. Passenger side gate opened and a man stepped out. As Betty had guessed her father-in-law was in countryside appearance. Anybody could say that he was a farmer. He looked taller than Jack and was also strongly built. Contrary to Betty's imagination the man had black beard and mustaches. As he removed his het she noticed thick black hair on his head.
This man should go to zoo, what's he doing here?, Betty mused.
"Come on you lazybones, pick up my stuff. You don't expect me to pick it after long journey, do you?" he barked at the Jack.
Betty was observing everything from window.
"And where's your lazy wife, call her for help if you need any."
Holy crap! Why's he calling me lazy?
"You get inside papa, I'll manage," Jack said politely.
This was strange; Betty didn't know that Jack could be that much polite.
Just then Betty noticed that her father-in-law was roaming his eyes on the house. Before his eyes reached toward window she pulled herself away and with a long sigh sat down on the edge of the bed.
After half an hour Jack called from downstairs. "Betty! Papa is home, come and meet."
"You have married a wrong girl son, I'm telling you. This isn't the way to treat me. I'm her father-in-law god damn it. She should've been on the door to welcome me."
"She's not feeling well papa, I've told you. Otherwise she would've come to receive you at station."
"Well she can't be that much unwell for not to meet me even here."
Betty heard everything. She didn't want to go downstairs at all but for the sake of Jack she decided otherwise.
With shaking legs she climbed down the stairs slowly. When she was at middle of the stairs she saw that her father-in-law was seating on the sofa in the living room.
"Welcome Betty. Instead of you welcoming me, I'm forced to welcome you," Father-in-law taunted.
"I'm sorry dad, I wasn't feeling well."
"First of all call me Tom; I'm not your dad."
"I ... I just meant to be respectful."
"Tom is also respectful," he grinned. "Now go get one cup coffee for me, I'm feeling little tired."
This was strange. Straight away he was trying to dominate her.
"Coffee?" Betty looked toward Jack, who pleaded with his eyes to comply.
I would rather throw hot coffee on your face, to burn your attitude, Betty thought as she moved toward kitchen.
Jack followed her.
"Jack, I'm sorry to say but I can't stay here with him in your absence. Either you cancel your tour or he would have to stay somewhere else."
"Oh honey, please don't say that. He's my father."
"So what, that doesn't mean he would say whatever he liked."
"Please honey; this is the chance before us to patch up our relationship with him. You know I can't cancel my tour," Jack said kissing her forehead. "And I know pretty well that you can handle everything."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes about my Betty I can never be unsure about anything."
"Liar!" Betty said and kissed him.
****
Knock. Knock.
Betty slowly opened her eyes and fumbled for her bedside lamp. She looked at the wall clock. It said 6 A.M.
Holly crap, who's knocking on my door, she mused.
She had almost forgotten that an unwanted guest was staying with her in the house.
Door knocked again. "Betty!" her father-in-law shouted.