When I came home from the hospital with my newborn, I noticed a note on the table and assumed it was a kind message from my mother-in-law. Instead, it said she was charging us $600 for taking care of our dog while I was in labor. My husband promised to talk to her, but I had a better idea.
A few days before I went into labor, I was sprawled out on the couch, trying to manage the dull ache in my lower back that kept growing sharper by the minute.
A woman in her 30s, 9 months pregnant, sits on a couch looking worried and uncomfortable | Source: Midjourney
My golden retriever, Rich, rested his head on my lap, his big brown eyes watching me like he knew something was up. I scratched behind his ears, grateful for his calm presence.
“Jake!” I called my husband, my voice strained as another wave of discomfort rolled through me.
Jake was in the kitchen, stacking turkey and cheese onto a sandwich, his eyebrows crunched.
“Yeah, babe?” he replied, not even looking up.
A man in his 30s making a sandwich in a kitchen | Source: Midjourney
I sighed. “We need to figure out what to do about Rich while we’re at the hospital. Can we ask your mom to help out?”
We had a scheduled induction the following day because my baby was a week overdue, and I was ready to be done with this mess.
Jake walked over, sandwich in hand, and gave me a quick kiss on the forehead. “Don’t stress, Doris. Mom loves Rich. She’ll handle it.”
A golden retriever in a home | Source: Pexels
That was my husband. He shrugged off almost anything with an easy solution. His optimism was one of the reasons I loved him, but I’m not going to lie, it was also one of the things that often grated on my nerves.
But that might just be a product of the hormones and my discomfort. “Alright,” I said, leaning back into the cushions. “Just make sure she knows it’s only for a couple of days.”
Later that night, Jake called Abigail, his mom, and explained the situation. She agreed without hesitation. He hung up, grinning. “She said she’s happy to help. Problem solved.”
A man holding a phone | Source: Pexels
I guessed that would have to be good enough for me.
Jake and I packed our hospital bag that evening, and the next morning, we said goodbye to Rich. By the door, I knelt to scratch his fluffy head.
“Be a good boy for Grandma, okay?” He wagged his tail like he understood.
“Don’t worry about a thing,” Abigail waved me off with a smile. “I just wish I could be at the hospital.”
A woman in her 60s waving goodbye in a living room with a smile | Source: Midjourney
That had been a slight issue. We had asked that our family not visit or accompany us to the hospital. My pregnancy had been rough enough, and I just needed my husband during labor.
If something went wrong, I didn’t want anyone else there either.
Abigail said she understood, but maybe she was still a bit salty about it.
“Mom, you know our wishes,” Jake intervened, smiling to take the sting out of his words.
“I know, I know,” she said. “You modern kids! Now, go have my grandchild.”
“Thank you, Abigail,” I said, and with that, we went out the door.
A pregnant woman in her 30s waving goodbye with a small smile | Source: Midjourney
***
I never got to be induced. My water broke just as we were entering the hospital… and honestly, we, women, need to talk about labor with each other and our daughters more often because this was hell.
I spent hours gripping the hospital bed rails like they were the only thing tethering me to reality. Between the contractions and the endless poking and prodding from nurses, I thought I might lose my mind.
Jake was by my side the whole time, holding my hand and trying his best to keep me calm, though he looked like he was one more contraction away from passing out himself.
A woman in her 30s in a hospital looking in pain while in labor | Source: Midjourney
But all the pain and the exhaustion melted away the moment they placed my son in my arms. He was tiny, wrinkly, and absolutely perfect.
Jake and I cried like idiots. It was a marvel that we’d brought this little person into the world. For three days, the hospital was our bubble of joy.
When we were finally allowed to go home, I felt relieved. We carefully carried our child through the hospital doors toward the parking lot.
A parking lot | Source: Pexels
Jake called Abigail to tell her we had been discharged, and she said she was going to give us a few days to get settled before meeting the baby. That was so kind of her!
As we pulled up to our driveway, I thought about settling on our couch and getting Rich to meet his new little brother. It was going to be perfect… yeah, no.
The first thing I noticed when we walked into the kitchen was a folded piece of paper on the table. My heart fluttered, thinking Abigail had left us a sweet “Welcome Home” note.
A folded piece of paper on a kitchen table | Source: Midjourney
I carefully shifted the baby in my arms and opened it, already imagining something like “Congratulations on your new bundle of joy!”
Instead, the note read:
“You owe me $600 for feeding and walking Rich. My time costs money. You have my bank details.”
For a moment, I just stared at it, sure I was reading it wrong. But nope. It was real. My mother-in-law was demanding money for watching our dog.
It’s not that I didn’t want to pay for services like that, but she was family AND she never mentioned charging us.
A woman’s hand holding a piece of paper with a note | Source: Midjourney
“Jake,” I called, my voice sharp. He was in the living room, setting down the car seat. “You might want to come see this.”
He walked in, took one look at the note, and groaned. “Are you serious?”
“Dead serious,” I said, waving the paper in his face. “Your mom’s demanding money for taking care of Rich while I was pushing your child out of my body.”
Jake ran a hand through his hair, already looking defeated. “I’ll talk to her,” he muttered.
A man in his 30s looking exasperated, running his hand through his hair in a kitchen | Source: Midjourney
“No,” I snapped, stopping him in his tracks. “I’ll handle this.” My mind was already coming up with an idea, and it didn’t involve quietly paying up.
A week later, Abigail came over to see the baby. She strolled in with a big smile, kissed Jake’s cheek in greeting, and began cooing over my son like the most doting grandmother.
“Oh, he’s precious,” she said, cradling him in her arms. “He has Jake’s nose.”
A baby’s face | Source: Pexels
For a moment, I almost believed she was here just to see her grandson. But as she handed the baby back to me, she dropped the act.
“So,” she said, brushing her hands together. “When can I expect my money? I’ve waited long enough.”
I stared at her, holding my baby close. My smile didn’t waver. “Of course, Abigail. I’ll pay you—on one condition.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Condition? What condition?”
I walked over to the computer desk we kept in the area between the kitchen and the living room and pulled out a folder I’d prepared earlier. I’d spent the past few days going through every instance when Jake and I had done something for her.
A set of folders arranged on a desk | Source: Pexels
Every favor, every single dollar we ever spent on her (excluding gifts) was all there in black and white.
“Well,” I said, flipping it open, “since you’re charging us for your services, I figured it’s only fair we do the same.”
I laid the folder on the table and slid it toward her. Abigail leaned over, her face tight with suspicion. “What is this?” she asked.
“You can think of it as an itemized invoice,” I said, keeping my voice light. “You know, like professionals do.”
Her face went pale as she grabbed the paper and scanned what I’d written.
A woman in her 60s looking surprised while holding a piece of paper | Source: Midjourney
“Let’s see,” I began, tapping the paper. “Helping you move houses last year? That’s $800. That’s cheaper than regular movers, so you can consider it a family discount. Then, there’s the time we paid for your car repair when your transmission failed. That was $1,200. And the free babysitting I did for your neighbor’s kids at your request? That’s around $600.”
Two people moving boxes | Source: Pexels
Abigail’s mouth opened and closed like a fish. “This is ridiculous!” she finally sputtered. “You can’t charge me for things family does for each other!”
I crossed my arms and raised an eyebrow. “Exactly,” I said, my tone sharp. “Family helps each other out without expecting payment. At least, that’s what I thought.”
A woman in her 30s holding a newborn in a blanket, talking and waving her hand | Source: Midjourney
She tried to argue, but her words came out jumbled. “But… but this is different! I had to rearrange my schedule to take care of Rich!”
“And I had to rearrange my entire life to have your grandchild,” I shot back, shrugging. “So if you want to talk about fair compensation, I think we’re more than even.”
Abigail’s face turned beet red. She stood there for a moment, staring at me like she couldn’t believe what was happening. Then, without another word, she spun around and stormed out of the house, slamming the door so hard the baby started to fuss.
A woman in her 60s, her face blushed and pouting, looking angry in a living room | Source: Midjourney
Jake, who had been watching silently from the kitchen, walked over and shook his head, a small grin tugging at his lips. “No one should mess with my wife,” he said, wrapping me in his arms and kissing my cheek.
I couldn’t help but laugh as we pulled apart. “You got that right,” I replied teasingly, sinking onto the couch with the baby.
Rich trotted over, his tail wagging, and rested his head on my knee. I scratched his ears, looking down at the little bundle in my arms.
A golden retriever with a lolling tongue | Source: Pexels
At that moment, I felt at peace. Abigail might not have learned her lesson, but at least she wouldn’t be bothering us about that $600 again. And if she ever did, well… I still had the folder.
Let her try me.
A woman in her 30s holding a newborn wrapped in a blanket, sitting on a couch with her husband smiling in the background | Source: Midjourney
I Woke up to My Husband Mumbling in His Sleep – When He Finished His ‘Speech,’ I Immediately Ran to Our Garage
When I woke to my husband mumbling in his sleep, I thought it was just another strange dream. But his words, “She’s in my garage right now. You can go down and find her there,” sent a chill through me, leading to a discovery that changed everything.
It started with a whisper. I was half-asleep when I heard murmured words tumbling from Robert’s lips.
A sleepless woman in her bed | Source: Midjourney
“Yes, officer,” he said, his voice barely above a mumble. “It’s completely my fault. She’s in my garage right now. You can go down and find her there.”
My eyes shot open.
At first, I thought I’d misheard him. But then, he rolled over, still muttering something unintelligible. My heart began to race. Who was in the garage? What was he talking about?
A serious sleepless woman in her bedroom | Source: Midjourney
Robert wasn’t the type to keep secrets. He was kind, dependable, and, well, predictable. We’d been married five years.
He used to work as a veterinarian, but last year, he opened a 24-hour café in the next town. It had been his dream, though it kept him out late most nights.
A man working in his cafe | Source: Pexels
Earlier that evening, he texted me to say he’d be home late and told me to go to bed without him. That was odd. He rarely worked past midnight. But I didn’t think much of it at the time. Now, as I lay in the dark, his words hung in the air.
I sat up in bed and glanced at him. He looked peaceful, his chest rising and falling with each breath. Maybe I should just wake him and ask what he meant. But the way his words sounded so serious, almost guilty, stopped me.
A man sleeping | Source: Pexels
I slipped out of bed, careful not to wake him, and tiptoed toward the door.
The hallway was quiet. Shadows stretched across the floor, and the only sound was the faint hum of the refrigerator downstairs. My mind raced with possibilities. Could someone really be in the garage?
A woman walking in her hallway | Source: Midjourney
I reached the top of the stairs and paused. My hand rested on the railing, and for a moment, I considered going back to bed. Maybe it was just a dream. But what if it wasn’t?
As I descended the stairs, the cold air from the garage seeped under the door, making me shiver. The closer I got, the more I felt a tightness in my chest.
A door in the hallway | Source: Midjourney
The door to the garage creaked as I opened it.
Inside, it was darker than I expected. The single bulb above the workbench barely lit the room, casting long shadows over the concrete floor.
Robert’s car sat in the middle of the space, its hood dented. My breath caught.
A dented car | Source: Midjourney
That wasn’t there yesterday.
The air smelled faintly of oil and something musky and wild.
Then I heard it.
A low, rasping sound, like heavy breathing, coming from the far corner of the garage. My body froze, and for a moment, I couldn’t move. The sound was rhythmic, almost like an animal panting.
A nervous woman in a garage | Source: Midjourney
“Hello?” I whispered, my voice trembling.
No response.
I forced myself to take a step forward. Then another. My feet felt like lead as I moved closer to the corner.
A nervous woman | Source: Midjourney
As my eyes adjusted to the dim light, I saw a small, shadowy figure curled up on a pile of blankets. It didn’t move at first, but as I got closer, I could make out its shape.
It was a fox.
Its reddish fur was matted, and its body seemed frail. It lifted its head slightly, its dark eyes meeting mine. The shallow and labored breathing I’d heard was coming from the fox.
A fox sleeping in a garage | Source: Midjourney
Relief washed over me. It wasn’t a person. But then, a new wave of worry set in. Why was there an injured fox in my garage?
I crouched down, careful not to get too close. The fox’s ears twitched, and it let out a soft whimper.
“You poor thing,” I murmured.
A fox looking up | Source: Midjourney
It looked so weak and could barely hold itself up.
I stood and backed away slowly, my mind spinning with questions. That’s when I decided to head to the kitchen. Maybe some water would help. Maybe…
I turned toward the door, leaving the fox in the corner, and quietly made my way back inside the house.
A woman in a garage | Source: Midjourney
I poured water into a shallow bowl and headed back toward the garage, my mind still reeling. As I rounded the corner into the kitchen, I nearly dropped the bowl.
Robert stood there, rubbing his eyes, his hair sticking up in every direction. “What are you doing up?” he asked, his voice groggy.
I froze for a second, unsure how to start. “Uh… there’s a fox. In the garage.”
A sleepy man in the kitchen | Source: Midjourney
His eyes widened, and for a moment, he looked like a kid caught sneaking cookies. “You saw her?”
“Her?” I raised an eyebrow. “Robert, what is going on?”
He sighed and leaned against the counter, running a hand through his hair. “Okay, okay. Don’t freak out. I was driving home, and this fox darted out onto the road. I didn’t see her in time. I hit her.”
A sad man in the kitchen | Source: Midjourney
“You hit her?” My voice rose. “With the car?”
“Yes,” he said quickly, holding up his hands. “It wasn’t too bad — just a bump. She was still alive, so I took her to the clinic where I used to work. They checked her out and said she’d be fine, but she needed to be watched for a few days.”
A man holding a fox | Source: Midjourney
“Robert…” I started, but he cut me off.
“I know, I know. You hate the idea of animals in the house. But she wouldn’t stop crying when I tried to leave her there. I couldn’t just leave her. You know how much I love animals.”
I softened a little at his tone. He sounded so earnest, so guilty.
A smiling woman talking to her husband | Source: Midjourney
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I asked, setting the bowl of water on the counter.
“I didn’t want to wake you. And then I figured it might be better to, uh, explain later.”
I crossed my arms. “So you brought her home and decided to stash her in the garage?”
He grinned sheepishly. “I panicked.”
A man with a small smile talking to his wife | Source: Midjourney
Despite myself, I laughed. “You panicked?”
“Yeah. And I guess that explains the weird dream about the cop,” he said, scratching the back of his neck. “I must’ve been stressed about the car damage. In my dream, they were accusing me of hitting a person!”
The police questioning a man | Source: Midjourney
I couldn’t help but laugh again, shaking my head. “You’re impossible, Robert.”
He stepped closer, his expression softening. “I’m sorry. Really. I just couldn’t leave her. I thought I’d take care of her for a few days and then release her. If you want, I can take her somewhere else tomorrow.”
A happy couple talking | Source: Midjourney
I looked at him, at the way his shoulders sagged under the weight of his guilt. “Let’s just make sure she’s okay for now. But you owe me big time.”
His face lit up. “Deal.”
A smiling man talking to his wife | Source: Midjourney
The next few days were a whirlwind of learning how to care for a wild animal. We took turns feeding the fox small amounts of food and making sure she had plenty of water. Robert even dug out an old space heater to keep the garage warm for her.
At first, I kept my distance, letting Robert handle most of the care. But one evening, as I was checking on her, the fox lifted her head and let out a soft, almost thankful sound. It melted something in me.
A woman sitting next to a fox | Source: Midjourney
“She likes you,” Robert said, leaning in the doorway.
“Maybe,” I said, smiling.
By the end of the week, the fox was stronger. She could stand and even walk a few steps. Robert and I would sit in the garage, watching as she cautiously explored her little corner.
A fox walking | Source: Midjourney
“You’re really good with her,” I told him one night.
He shrugged. “It’s nothing. I just… I’ve always felt a connection to animals, you know? They don’t expect much — just kindness.”
I nodded, realizing for the first time how much his love for animals said about his character.
A woman talking to her husband | Source: Midjourney
Two weeks later, it was time to let her go.
We drove to a nearby forest where Robert had hit her, the fox nestled in a crate in the backseat. She seemed calm. It was as if she knew what was happening.
When we opened the crate, she hesitated for a moment before stepping out. She sniffed the air, then turned to look at us.
A fox coming out of the crate | Source: Midjourney
“Go on,” Robert said softly.
The fox took a few steps, then stopped. She turned back and, to my surprise, nuzzled her head against Robert’s leg before darting into the trees.
I blinked back tears. “She’s going to be okay, isn’t she?”
Robert nodded. “Yeah. She’ll be okay.”
A happy couple in the woods | Source: Midjourney
From that day on, we made it a habit to visit the forest. Each time, the fox would appear, bounding through the underbrush to greet us. She’d rub against our legs, her way of saying thank you.
Looking back, I never would’ve imagined that a sleepless night and a strange mumbling dream would lead to a bond with a wild fox and a deeper connection to the man I married.
A fox nuzzling against a man’s feet | Source: Midjourney
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
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