Breaking Free from a Mama's Boy

she looked at me as if I'd lost my mind. "Are you ins

at stupid? Just watch how I teach t

Don't go overboard, and whatever you d

but I'm not about to rui

t say much more. She offered her

ckley, Julian, I spoke to my parents about us. T

l. "Finalize what? Di

pportive of us. They've been pushing me to settle down and have kids

I scheduled the "family mee

d for $500 each. My goal was simple: make Karen and Julian believe I was committed to Julian and our so-c

my usual casual appearance and said, "K

et you to my salon for a little pampering. Y

treatment at her salon would easily cost a fortune. Why no

escorted me to her salon, where

ipping with sugar. "Katy, remember to talk Julian up

aren had taken me for a spa day-to win me over so

oman really knew how to strategize. Truly,

eplied sweetly. "I'll make su

ructing the staff, "Give my future daughter-in-law the

e, delighted. It was always n

cale restaurant. Karen, Julian, and I were

affectionate tone. "Hi, Dad?

ian with a cheerful smile. "Ms. Buckley, Julian, my parents a

eamed and urge

nts. As I led them toward the dining room, I reminded them, "

al small talk. Karen, being her usual skeptical self, probed into their backgrounds and professions, scrutinizing every

ents" and asked, "So, what are your th

e's our only daughter, and as long as this young man treats her we

ression. "Don't worry, Mr. and Mrs. Evans

oval. My "dad" patted me on the shoulder and said warmly, "Katy, he s

odded, blushing sligh

turned to discussions abo

usly asking if my "parents" would be okay with such an arrangement. They r

mits. I casually mentioned that my "dad" loved wine and proceeded to order several of

veral tens of thousands, which ma

acked up my belongings, and with Ver

ow while they were still basking in

cheerful and full of anticipation. "Hey, babe

supposed to listen to our parents, right? Paren

end before he replied, "Of course! Wh

eaking up. My parents don't approve of us, and I need to re

, I hung up and blocked

voice of the announcer echoed through the

the window, taking in the city whe

elf, I whisper