“It’s like chewing shoe leather. My mother knew how to cook meat properly. She used to let it cook for hours until it fell apart.”
I felt the insult immediately.
Not because I doubted the food.
Because I knew exactly what she was doing.
Then Virginia looked toward Justin.
“Of course, when you’re a guest in someone else’s home, you simply eat whatever they give you.”
That was enough.
Something inside me became completely calm.
I stood up.
Walked around the table.
Picked up Virginia’s plate.
Her eyes widened.
“What are you doing?”
“One moment.”
I carried the plate into the kitchen.
Set it on the counter.
Then returned to my chair.
Virginia stared at the empty space in front of her.
“You took away my dinner?”
“Yes.”
“Are you serious?”
“You just said it tastes like shoe leather. I’d hate for you to suffer through it.”
Her face reddened.
“You’re punishing me in front of my son.”
“No.”
I looked directly at her.
“I’m taking you seriously.”
Justin’s knee bumped mine nervously under the table.
I continued.
“I respect you because you’re Justin’s mother and a guest in this house. But I’m not going to sit at my own table while you deliberately humiliate me.”
“I was telling the truth!”
Before I could answer, Brenda cut a large piece of pork and ate it.
She chewed.
Then looked at Virginia.
“Mine is perfectly tender.”
Frank nodded.
“So is mine.”
Justin took another bite.
“Mom, it’s cooked really well.”
Virginia went pale.
Then Brenda placed down her fork.
“And since we’re being honest, Virginia, you told me yesterday that you invited me because Chloe needed someone to teach her how to run a home.”
The room went silent.
Justin slowly turned toward his mother.
Virginia glared at Brenda.
