My MIL Let Her Friend Use My Clothes and Makeup—But Karma Gave Them a Dose of Justice They Never Saw Coming

My MIL Let Her Friend Use My Clothes and Makeup While I Was on a Business Trip – Karma Worked on Them Better than Any Revenge

While I was abroad, my mother-in-law allowed her acquaintance to plunder my closet. They had no idea that karma would intervene in a startling way that would make retaliation seem mild.

Has somebody ever taken anything out of your closet while you were away? Now picture your mother-in-law’s best friend dressing up in your high-end attire. I’m Karen, a 32-year-old mother and businesswoman, and I recently went through this nightmare.

A few weeks prior, when I was preparing my bag for a work-related week-long vacation to New York, my mother-in-law, Janet, gracefully entered my bedroom.

She patted my arm and whispered, “Don’t worry about a thing, dear.” “I’ll take good care of Dave and your daughter Marly while you’re gone.”

I feigned a laugh. “I’m grateful, Janet. Thank you very much.

Janet looked at my walk-in closet as I zipped up my luggage. “My, you have such lovely things, Karen.”

I tried not to roll my eyes as I nodded. “I’m grateful. I best start going now. I have a three-hour flight.”

As I left, Janet waved. “Have a safe trip, dear!”

My mother-in-law was quite the sweetheart, or so I thought. I was overjoyed to have her assistance. As it happens, I ought to have kept them CLOSED.

I was in the middle of a meeting two days into my vacation when my phone chimed. It was a text message from Lisa, my closest friend and neighbor.

Lisa: “You won’t believe this, I promise! Are you acquainted with Sheryl?”

Me: “Sheryl? No, why?”

Lisa: “Well, Janet’s buddy Sheryl is essentially residing in your home at the moment! She’s applying your cosmetics and dressing in your clothing!”

Me, totally freaked out: “WHAT? Are you telling the truth? That is absurd.

Lisa said “You need to see this.”

I saw a video appear on my screen.

I excused myself and watched it from the side of the hallway. I was astounded to see a middle-aged woman, wearing my favorite red dress, prancing around my living room and applying what appeared to be my Chanel lipstick.

I gave Lisa a call right away. “What the hell is going on?”

Lisa responded, “I don’t know,” seeming just as surprised as I was. “Whenever Dave isn’t home, this woman has been coming and going from your place. When I observed her trying on your clothes and makeup through the glass, I initially thought she might be a relative or something.”

My heart raced. “That’s not a relative at all. I appreciate you informing me, Liz. I will take care of things.”

My mind racing, I hung up the phone. Why was this Sheryl dressing up in my house and who was she?

I was about to blow up! This is unbelievable, I can’t believe it. But I have to remain composed since I have meetings for three more days.

When I did get home, I stormed through the front door, prepared, as always, for a conflict.

“Janet?” I exclaimed.

Dave emerged from the kitchen, his expression bewildered. “Hey, sweetheart. How did your travels go?”

I didn’t answer his query. “Where’s your mother?”

She’s with Marly upstairs. What’s not right?”

I stormed up to our bedroom, without responding. My stomach turned to see what met my eyes.

It appeared as though a tornado had struck my walk-in closet. There were makeup containers left open and crusted over, and clothes were all over the place. My wedding dress, however, was what stopped my heart—it was all crumpled and covered in a large stain of red wine.

“What just happened here?” I let out a gasp.

Janet materialized behind me, her hand around Marly’s. “Oh, Karen! You get home early. We were about to finish cleaning up.”

I swear, I could have eaten Janet alive as I turned around. “Ordered well? Organize yourself? What have you done to my belongings, Janet?

Janet only shrugged, as if it didn’t really matter. “Now, please, try not to cry. It was merely lighthearted entertainment.”

“Harmless?” I stammered. “My wedding dress is ruined!”

With his eyes enlarging due to the disarray, Dave hurried in. “Mom, what’s going on?”

Janet clenched her palms. “You know, my friend Sheryl had a date while she was in town. She required a great outfit, and since Karen possesses such exquisite items,…”

I interrupted her. “You let a complete stranger USE MY CLOTHES AND MAKEUP?”

Janet objected, saying Sheryl wasn’t a stranger. “My best friend is her. I assumed you wouldn’t object. She was merely STEALING them.”

Dave became serious. “Mom, it is just inappropriate. You have no business handling Karen’s belongings or allowing anyone else to use them.”

It was the doorbell ringing. As Dave went to answer it, I saw a voice I didn’t recognize.

“Hey, hi there! Sheryl is who I am. Is Janet present?

I hurriedly descended the stairs, prepared to exact my vengeance on Sheryl. With a short-lived sneer on her face upon seeing me, she stood in the doorway.

“Oh, you must be Karen,” she remarked in a sickly-sweet voice. “I hope it’s okay with you that I took a few items from you. Janet assured me it would be alright.

Trying not to lose my temper, I took a deep breath. “To be honest, I do mind. Really, really much.”

Sheryl smiled again. “Oh, please, hurry up. What’s a little friend-to-friend sharing?”

“We’re not friends,” I muttered. “Moreover, you didn’t share what you did. It was both stealing and trespassing.”

Sheryl’s surprised eyes grew wide. My, do we act so dramatic? It was only mildly enjoyable. Nothing negative occurred.”

Just as I was about to go on a tirade, Dave pointed to the door. “I believe it’s time for you to go, Sheryl. And please do not return.”

I looked to Janet as Sheryl huffed and walked out. “Leave my home, please. Right now.”

The days that followed were tense. I was still fuming, and Dave was mad with his mother. Even though I was furious, I chose to be sensible. I would never become like them.

While having coffee, Lisa said, “Let karma handle it.” “What goes around comes around.”

As I sipped my latte, I nodded. “You’re accurate. I won’t waste my time seeking retribution.”

I had no idea that karma was already at work.

My phone rang a week after the incident. Janet was calling out in a panic.

“Karen, please assist me. Sheryl is here.”

I exhaled. “What about her?”

“She’s in the medical facility. She experienced a possible allergic reaction. She has a rash and her face is swollen.”

I couldn’t help but get a slight sense of fulfillment. “That is quite awful. However, how is it related to me?”

Janet lowered her voice to a whisper. “The makeup she wore, according to the physicians, is what caused it. Your cosmetics.”

I made an effort to control my excitement. “Well, that’s too bad. I’m hoping she’ll be alright.

Janet went on, “She’s mortified.” “She had to tell the medical professionals how the rash came on. She felt really embarrassed about it.”

I bit my lip to suppress a chuckle. “Well, actions have consequences, Janet.”

The person on the other end of the line hesitated. “I understand, sweetie. And I sincerely apologize for our actions. I made a mistake by allowing Sheryl to use your belongings without your consent. Will you ever be able to pardon me?”

I inhaled deeply. “Janet, it will require some time. You betrayed my trust and truly wounded me.”

“I comprehend,” she murmured. “I’ll do whatever it takes to make it up to you.”

Dave entered as I was wrapping up the call. “Was that my mom?”

I gave a nod. Yes. Karma has already begun to work its spell.

Janet did her utmost to make apologies throughout the course of the following few weeks.

She paid to have my wedding dress professionally cleaned, replaced all the used cosmetics, and even hired a closet organizer to help me organize my belongings.

Dave turned to face me one evening as we were tucking Marly into bed. “I’ve been thinking about what happened with my mom and Sheryl.”

I arched an eyebrow. “Oh?”

“I believe we should establish some unambiguous boundaries with her. She seriously violated our confidence and privacy with what she did.”

I grinned as a wave of warmth passed through my chest. “I couldn’t agree more.”

Dave gave me a tight squeeze. Tomorrow, I’m going to speak with her. Tell her that she runs the risk of losing touch with Marly and us if she ever does anything like again.”

I lightly kissed him as I leaned in. “Thank you for having my back.”

He smiled. “Always.”

Dave spoke with Janet for a long time the following day. He appeared relieved and a bit dejected when he got home.

“How did it go?” As I asked, I gave him a coffee cup.

He let out a sigh. “It was difficult, but essential. I informed her that if she wanted to be a part of our life, she had to respect our boundaries. She shed a few tears, but I believe she now gets it.”

I gave a nod. “And Sheryl?”

“Mom said she would no longer be visiting. It seems that she experienced some trauma from the entire cosmetic fiasco.”

I couldn’t hold back my laughter. “Well, I guess karma really does work in mysterious ways.”

Dave encircled me with an arm. “I’m proud of you, you know, for not going after revenge. You chose the right path, and it was worthwhile.”

I felt satisfied as I leaned toward him. “Sometimes, the best revenge is just sitting back and letting the universe do its thing.”

Dave and I had grown closer as a result of this whole experience, I realized as we stood there. What about Janet? She had finally respected our boundaries and was acting appropriately.

I didn’t have to do anything at all in the end. I could have planned revenge, but karma worked better. Sheryl was no longer in our lives, Janet had learned her lesson, and Dave and I were stronger than before.

Story’s lesson: Never tamper with another person’s belongings. Karma has a way of making more sense of things than you could. Occasionally, it accomplishes this with a sense of comedy that surpasses anything you could have created on your own.