I HAVE been friends with my sister-in-law for 25 years. I’ve been there for her during many heartbreaking situations, even putting my marriage on the line at times. Our relationship has been mostly one-sided. My sister-in-law is self-centred, demanding, and doesn’t hold back on being deliberately cruel if things don’t go her way. Due to my forgiving nature and dislike of confrontation, I tried to rise above it all.
That is, until now. I am going through an extremely unpleasant divorce. My ‘ex’ moved on, and said and did damaging things. Still, I keep it all bottled up inside, and never say a bad word against him to his family.
My brother-in-law recently confided that under the pretence of a nice day out, my sister and mother-in-law plan to pump me for information to pass along to my ‘ex’. My brother-in-law says he is disgusted with what they are saying, and wants me to know what I am up against.
Comments he passed on make me know he’s telling the truth. I am appalled. My in-laws always said I’m the most wonderful person, with the loveliest disposition of anyone they ever met. I thought they genuinely cared about me.
Obviously, I do not want to engage in any way with my sister-in-law, but she’s pushing to meet with me. I wish to call it a day, in writing, as I will be a wreck if I have to do it verbally. How can I do this without betraying my brother-in-law’s confidence?