I worked as a graphic designer, which she considered an unreliable career.
At family dinners, she asked when I planned to find a “proper job.”
When Daniel defended me, she accused me of turning him against her.
She’d criticized my job.
That fateful Thanksgiving night, my MIL had accused me of keeping Daniel away from his family.
I asked her to stop.
She wouldn’t.
So we left.
My husband still called her sometimes, but I hadn’t visited since.
I asked her to stop.
When he asked me to come along and tell her about the baby, I agreed. I wanted to give us another chance.
He called Carol to say we were stopping by, but didn’t tell her why.
***
When my MIL opened the door, she still looked surprised to see me.
“Alma?”
“Hi, Carol.”
She stepped aside.
“Come in. There’s coffee.”
I wanted to give us another chance.
***
We sat in the living room. My MIL asked about Daniel’s job and our kitchen renovation.
