AIO about this plate
TW: mention of pet getting abused :(
I'm going to try to explain this situation the best I can. Me (21F) and my mom (47F) own an antique sore/ art shop in our town. Recently we've had a woman (S) come around to the shop and hang around literally all day. Hours. Sometimes she can ask personal questions and make you unconformable, but that's besides the point.
I met S years ago and she is not close with our family by any means. The only connection we have is that her husband works at the same place that my dad does. Context for her: she is not employed and no longer has kids in the house. She used to work as a nurse.
Last year my dad was planned to get a sinus surgery. At the hospital his blood pressure was too high, so they ended up cancelling the surgery and he decided to do red light therapy instead. He's doing okay. But the morning of the surgery, my mom had posted on facebook talking about the operation and to keep my dad in their thoughts. Flash forward to after the cancellation, my mom dropped my dad off at home (he wfh) and she went off to her job. He had left his office to find S standing in our basement. She had just let herself in and said that she was here to check on him. She had been fired as a nurse for stealing medication from older patients so we kinda think thats the reason for this odd behavior. My mom never deleted the post or said that the surgery was cancelled on facebook so she may have thought he was out cold. That's the only conclusion that we could come to, but thoughts aren't reality so we don't know for sure.
This year me and mom opened our shop. About a week after we opened, S started in on her obsession with us. She started calling and texting us both multiple times a day. From 5AM to 11PM. Its still going on. Then she started asking us for a key to come in after hours and shop. ???? She's gone behind my mom's back and asked me for her key. And this is not just a one- off experience, either. There's been multiple instances of her asking for our keys both in text and in person. Just very weird behavior.
In July, we moved houses. Yes, I live with my parents. S was very very interested in our moving process. One day I was in the back of the shop after hours and she showed up to find my mom to talk with her about it. Couldn't find her, so she drove to our house and pulled up in the driveway. !!!! My dad was outside and entertained some of her questions, he figured Mom was avoiding her, and eventually sent her on her way. Later that night I was home alone and I look out to see S's car in our driveway once again. I honestly just hid inside because I didn't know what she was doing here. I assume she was trying to find my mom again.
Anyways, on this night. S had also done something else while randomly showing up at our house.... she ran over my cat. I was sick. That poor kitty. She ran over her back legs and it broke her spine. She lived for that night and died soon after. We live out in the holler so I couldn't bring her to a vet and we aren't gun people so the only thing I could do for her was make her comfortable. It was so hard to see my kitty like that.
We've gotten moved and S has somewhat laid off. Still showing up at our shop and still texting and calling, but not being as insistent as she was. We did not tell her where we're living now (obviously) but she has asked to come over several times. We never allow her to because we don't want her or anyone in our space while we're settling in. Even if we weren't, I don't think S will ever be over here lol.
I understand this post is going to make us sound like bitches, but we honestly do not know why she thinks me and my mom want to be friends with her because we very obviously do not. My mom has actually made these feelings known to her and we are not inviting to her. We are kind, but not inviting. My mom had set her boundaries but she continues to push and push.
The only reason we have not completely blocked her on everything and ran her off is because her husband works with my dad. We do not want to make it uncomfortable for him and decided to try to navigate this properly.
She does appear to be a nice person but I think she has alternative motives. I don't want her to get obsessed with my mom and hurt her someday... I mean she is already basically stalking her.
Last week S gifted my mom this plate. Tonight she opened the bag and read what the plate says. Is this creepy with the added context or are we being dramatic? WWYD?
TLDR: Lady seemingly obsessed with my mom and I; stalking and ran over my cat; asks constantly to come over to our home and we don't allow her to; gifted my mom this plate
EDIT: I posted this at 1AM last night and this has blown up way more than I thought it would.
- these are all true things and not rage bait unfortunately. I actually left out other things that have happened with S because they didn’t pertain to this plate story.
- the husband is very odd as well. Very quiet and every conversation I have with him is awkward. He doesn’t seem malicious at all, just mainly hard to talk to.
- a few weeks ago my mom had accidentally sent S a message talking about what all she’s done and how annoying and creepy it has been. She meant to send it to a friend, but sent it to S instead. S profusely started apologizing and offered to come over and bring us brownies as an apology. We said no
-I’ve not answered any of my texts from her in a few weeks. She’s also reached out to my sisters and my aunt. We don’t know how she got their numbers
- after discussing it a little this morning with my parents we’ve decided to plan on talking to the husband. Say something along the lines of “we’re concerned for her” and explain that she’s making us uncomfortable.
Thank you everyone for your feedback! Once again, this is all true and ongoing. It’s a sticky situation. We do live in a very small town. I seriously doubt the police here would do much of anything unless she took it a step further unfortunately.