Katie believed she had seen it all when Liam, her boyfriend, stormed into her office with a blouse smeared with ketchup and demanded that she wash it. However, what began as a bold request evolved into a well-thought-out lesson in accountability.
I’m Katie, a nurse who has found passion in her work despite the long, hectic shifts. Caring for patients, staying calm in high-pressure situations, and solving problems on the fly have been part of my everyday routine for years.
But nothing could have prepared me for the chaos Liam, my boyfriend, brought into my life.
Before we moved in together, Liam and I had been dating for about a year. I didn’t think much of it at the time, even though I knew he was really close to his mom. When he needed help with little things—like how to cook chicken or which detergent to buy—he’d call her. I found it endearing, even a bit charming. That is, until we actually moved in together.
The first day we moved into our new apartment, I headed to work for my regular 12-hour shift at the hospital. It was around midday when Liam stormed into the break room, right as I was catching a quick breather. He was holding a white button-down shirt, the front marred by a huge crimson stain, looking visibly frustrated. He shouted, “Katie!” so loud that it echoed through the room, causing everyone—patients and coworkers alike—to turn and stare.
“Liam?” I stepped out to meet him, confused. “What are you doing here?”
He held up the shirt like it was evidence in some courtroom drama. “I need you to wash this. It’s urgent for tonight.”
I blinked in disbelief. “Pardon me? I’m working.”
He looked at me, almost matter-of-factly. “Well, don’t hospitals have washing machines? You could just toss it in a scrub washer or something. Or you can quickly head home. When I had something important, my mom always handled these things for me.”
I leaned in, lowering my voice. “Liam,” I whispered, “you want me to leave work, go home, and wash your shirt… because you spilled ketchup on it?”
His face softened, as though this was the most reasonable request in the world. “It’s for dinner at that fancy restaurant for Sam’s birthday. I can’t go like this. It’ll only take a few minutes, darling. Please, hurry.”
The receptionist didn’t even try to hide her laughter, letting out a snort that only made my cheeks burn brighter. I glanced around, and though some of my coworkers pretended to be busy, I could see the smirks creeping at the corners of their mouths.
I forced a tight smile, doing my best to hold it together. “I’ll take care of it,” I said. “Give me the shirt, and after it’s dry and clean, I’ll drop it off at the restaurant. You can change in the restroom there.”
His face lit up with a grin. “See? I knew you’d get it. Thank you, sweetie. You’re the best.” After handing me the shirt, he left without even acknowledging the irony in my words.
For a moment, I just stood there, holding the stained shirt, trying to wrap my head around it all. That’s when Cheryl, my manager, came over, her smile full of knowing amusement as she shook her head.
She let out a loud, uncontrollable laugh. “You’re dealing with a mama’s boy, honey. Are you really going to let him get away with that?”
“No way,” I said, the faintest smile tugging at my lips. “But I’ve got an idea.”
Cheryl chuckled again. “Take it easy for the rest of the day. You deserve it. But only if you’re planning to put this boy in his place.”
“Thanks,” I said, grabbing my backpack. A new sense of resolve washed over me as I walked away. I was already looking forward to seeing Liam’s reaction—he had no idea what was coming.
As I drove home from the hospital, I dialed Liam’s mother’s number. After just two rings, her cheerful voice picked up.
“Hey, Katie! What’s up with my favorite nurse?” she said, her tone as bright as ever.
“Hello, Mrs. Harper. I… Okay, I need to talk to you about Liam.”
Her voice immediately shifted, her tone full of concern. “Oh no, what’s he done?”
I took a deep breath before replying, “He insisted I wash his ketchup-stained shirt when he showed up at work today—while I was working at the hospital.”
There was a long pause, followed by a sharp gulp. “What did he do? That boy’s behavior is completely out of line for his age. Katie, I’m so sorry. This will be handled by me. How can I help?”
I smiled, relieved that she was on board. “Actually, I have an idea. Tonight, Liam expects me to bring the cleaned shirt to the restaurant. Would you mind stepping in for me? Maybe add a little something extra special for him.”
“That sounds like a great idea,” she replied, her voice full of mischief. “Leave it to me.”
I arrived at the restaurant about twenty minutes after Liam and his friends were supposed to get there. The sounds of glasses clinking, silverware scraping, and laughter filled the air.
I found a table tucked away in the corner, just out of sight, to keep an eye on things. Perfect. A few minutes later, Mrs. Harper walked in, holding a garment bag with the freshly laundered and ironed shirt. She looked calm and collected, but the twinkle in her eye told me she was ready to make an impression. This was going to be good.
She gave me a quick wave when she spotted me, and I pointed discreetly to Liam’s table, where he and his friends were settling in. With confident clicks of her heels, Mrs. Harper made her way over to them. Her footsteps were loud enough to draw the attention of nearby diners.
“Hey, Liam!” she called out brightly, her voice carrying across the room. “Sweetheart!” She held up the garment bag like it was something precious.
The moment Liam saw her, his smile vanished, and his head snapped up in disbelief. His friends froze, their wide eyes bouncing between him and his mom. “Mom?” Liam croaked, his face already turning crimson.
“I washed your shirt for you!” she exclaimed, her voice full of cheer as she pulled the garment bag from its clasp with a dramatic flourish. She held the perfectly pressed white shirt up for everyone to see. “I couldn’t let you look disorganized. And don’t worry, I’ve got stain remover wipes on hand, just in case!”
At first, Liam’s friends snickered quietly, but after a few beats, one of them gave a loud clap. “Aw, look at Mommy taking care of her little boy!”
“Yeah, Liam,” another friend chimed in. “Next time, just have her pack your lunch too!”
Liam stood up quickly, practically yanking the shirt from his mother’s hands, his face a deep shade of crimson. “Thanks, Mom,” he muttered through clenched teeth.
But Mrs. Harper wasn’t done. She reached up, giving his cheek a gentle pat, and then, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, she fixed his collar. “You’re welcome, sweetheart. And remember what I always say—use sauces with caution and keep those napkins in your lap!”
Laughter erupted around the table. Liam tried to join in, but his chuckle came out strained and awkward. Even a server passing by couldn’t help but grin, while his friends were practically in tears from laughing so hard.
From my hidden corner, I couldn’t contain my own laughter. Watching Liam squirm under his mom’s doting attention was more satisfying than I’d imagined.
Then, his eyes caught mine. His mouth dropped open as our gazes locked across the room. In an instant, the realization hit him. His eyes widened, and he gave a small shake of his head, silently mouthing, You didn’t.
I just smiled sweetly and raised my glass in a silent toast to his newfound understanding.
Liam stormed over to my table, clutching the garment like it was his only hope for survival. His face was a mix of humiliation and frustration, and he leaned in close, hissing, “What the hell, Katie? You involved my mother?”
I tilted my head, a grin barely held back. “Well, you mentioned how your mom always took care of you like this. I thought the nostalgia might be something you’d appreciate.”
With a groan, Liam ran his palm across his face in frustration. “All right, I get it. I was being rude. Especially with you being at work, I shouldn’t have dumped that mess on you like that. I’m sorry.”
I raised an eyebrow, a slight smile tugging at my lips. “Good start.”
He let out a long sigh. “And I promise I’ll stop relying on you or my mom for things I should handle myself.”
I leaned in slightly, a grin spreading across my face. “That’s all I wanted to hear. Just make sure you never pull something like this again.”
He nodded, reluctantly conceding. “Deal.” As he turned to head back to his table, one of his friends leaned in to fake a kiss on his cheek, causing the group to erupt into laughter. Liam let out another groan. “I’m never going to live this down.”
I couldn’t help but watch with a sense of satisfaction as he padded back to his seat. Establishing boundaries and teaching him responsibility felt far more important than letting him slide with a little embarrassment.
Later that week, Liam made his first attempt at doing laundry on his own. Three times, he called me from the laundry room, clearly frustrated. By the end of it, he had accidentally shrunk one of his favorite sweaters. He held it up, now looking more like a toddler’s size, and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“You’re lucky you’re cute,” I teased.
Liam gave a sheepish smile, his face flushed. “I’m trying.”
I shook my head and laughed. At least he was learning, but he still had a long way to go.
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