My stepmother smashed my late mother’s precious crystal set to pieces – she had no idea she had been tricked.

First there were the outbursts.

“Will you walk down the aisle alone or will you carry your mother’s casket?”

Then came the requests.

One Tuesday morning, he was standing in our kitchen, his arms crossed over his chest. His eyes had that familiar fire.

“You will wear my wedding dress,” she announced. No questions asked. No warning. Just an order.

I started laughing. “You’re kidding, right?”