Chapter 5
Melissa called while Daniel and I were driving home from work. She wanted us to host Ethan’s birthday because their backyard renovation wasn’t finished.
Daniel looked at me.
I shook my head.
He told her we already had plans.
Melissa laughed through the speaker.
“What plans? Emily reorganizing her spice cabinet?”
Daniel said nothing.
Then she added, “Come on. She loves playing hostess. Makes her feel important.”
After the call, I asked him one question.
“Why do you let her talk about me like that?”
His response came automatically.
“She doesn’t mean anything by it.”
“Then why does she keep doing it?”
He had no answer.
That evening became our first serious argument in years.
No screaming.
Just uncomfortable honesty.
I told Daniel I was tired of being expected to tolerate disrespect because confronting Melissa would make family gatherings awkward.
“They’re already uncomfortable,” I said. “They’re just uncomfortable for me instead of everyone else.”
That finally reached him.
Three days later, Diane called and offered to cook dinner at our house.
I agreed.
I hadn’t planned the trap Melissa accused me of setting.
But when she arrived, looked at the dishes, and smirked at me, I knew what was coming.
“Trying something rustic tonight?”
I could have told her Diane had cooked.
Instead, I simply said, “Dinner’s ready.”
Then I waited.
Now Melissa was being asked to do something nobody in the family had required from her in years.
Take responsibility without qualification.
She looked at me.
“I’m sorry.”
I waited.
“For insulting you.”
Another pause.
“And for making comments about your cooking.”
She swallowed.
“And your house.”
Daniel raised an eyebrow.
Melissa glared at him.
“And probably other things.”
“Definitely other things,” Scott murmured.
She turned toward him.
“Could you not?”
Scott leaned back.
“No, actually.”
That surprised everyone.
Melissa stared at her husband.
“You do it to me too,” he said.
She blinked.
“What are you talking about?”
“You make jokes about my job, my clothes, my parents. You criticize me in front of the kids and call me sensitive when I don’t laugh.”
The children went quiet.
Melissa looked stunned.
“That’s completely different.”
“How?”
“Because you’re my husband.”
Scott stared at her.
“That’s not the defense you think it is.”
Ethan lowered his head to hide another smile.
Then Diane sighed.
May you like
“Melissa, your father used to do the same thing.”
The mood shifted.
