When I married Scott, I knew his closest friend was a woman named Avery. They worked together — he as a food safety auditor, she as a nutritionist — and at first, I had no problem with it. Avery was smart, confident, and easy to like. We bonded over music, joked at parties, and even grabbed coffee once. But everything changed when I got pregnant.
The day we shared the news, Avery was among the first to send congratulations. Her texts soon turned into daily messages filled with unsolicited advice: lists of “must-have” baby products, organic meal plans, and endless articles about pregnancy diets. At first, I brushed it off as enthusiasm, but it didn’t stop there.
Whenever I posted a photo online — me eating sushi, sipping coffee, or simply smiling — Avery messaged Scott behind my back: “She shouldn’t be eating that,” “Caffeine isn’t safe,” “You need to be more careful.” It felt intrusive, controlling, and as if she were the one expecting the baby.
One night, Scott showed me his phone. “Look at this,” he said, shaking his head. “Now she says you need to switch to gluten-free bread because it’s ‘better for brain development.’”
I exhaled hard. “She’s way out of line. You need to tell her to stop.”
But Scott hesitated. “She means well.”
“Scott, she’s overstepping,” I said firmly.
Still, he didn’t confront her. And Avery didn’t stop.
When my mom and sister began planning a small, intimate baby shower, Avery offered to host it herself. I politely declined, but the next day she arrived at my door with boxes of decorations, a clipboard, and a bright smile. “Surprise! I brought everything for the baby shower!” she announced, breezing past me before I could respond.
I tried to explain, but she cut me off. “Jean, trust me. I know how to make it perfect.” She’d already chosen a gluten-free cake, eco-friendly favors, and calming music for the baby’s “vibrations.”
That was the final straw. I nodded and smiled, pretending to agree. But in secret, I began planning something very different…
