“That was a private conversation.”
“Then maybe you shouldn’t have invited me here to participate in some ridiculous setup.”
Virginia slammed her hand against the table.
“Justin!”
He looked up.
“Are you really going to sit there while your wife and my own sister attack me?”
Everyone looked at him.
Virginia clearly expected him to defend her.
I said nothing.
Because for the first time, Justin could not hide behind coffee cups, sighs, or silence.
He had to choose what kind of husband he wanted to be.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Justin looked at his mother.
“Mom, Chloe isn’t disrespecting you.”
Virginia blinked.
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me.”
“So I’m the problem now?”
“I’m saying what happened.”
His voice remained calm.
“You intentionally insulted Chloe in front of everyone.”
“The meat was tough.”
Brenda glanced at her empty plate.
“Then apparently my teeth are unusually powerful.”
Frank tried not to laugh.
Justin continued.
“Since you arrived, Chloe has done everything she can to make you comfortable. She prepared your room, rearranged her schedule, cooks after working all day, and every day you find something wrong.”
Virginia stared at him like he had betrayed her.
“I raised you.”
“I know.”
His voice softened.
“And I love you.”
Then he added,
“But raising me doesn’t give you permission to come into our home and treat my wife like she has to pass some test.”
I felt something inside me finally release.
Virginia leaned back dramatically.
