Chapter 3

After I watched my mother walk into the train station, I turned and went home.

When I pushed the door open, my mother-in-law was on the phone, her whole face lit up, looking full of energy.

Lesley glanced at me and said, offhand, "You sent your mom off?"

"She's gone."

Lesley nodded. "Good, that's one less worry. One fewer idle mouth in the house, and it's peaceful again."

Hah.

A woman who'd been waited on hand and foot for eighteen years, all thanks to my mother, was calling my mother an idle mouth. My mother, who'd worked her back crooked for this family.

Truly laughable.

Before I could say anything, my mother-in-law hung up, squared her shoulders like the head of the house, and delivered her orders down at me from on high.

"Tony, I talked it over with Lesley. Tomorrow I'm inviting all the relatives over to the house for a get-together."

"To celebrate the official start of my retirement."

"I've already called every one of them just now. Everyone's coming to eat here tomorrow."

"Remember to give the house a good cleaning, then cook a nice big spread to host them all."

As if worried I'd refuse, Lesley quickly soothed me in a soft voice.

"Tony, I know you're busy with work and short on time, so I already went ahead and called your boss to get you the day off."

"Tomorrow I'll take my mom out first and show the relatives around, so you'll have plenty of time to get everything ready."

"My mom's back has only just started to recover. She really can't overexert herself, so it'll have to fall to you."

Watching Lesley put on that fake show of reluctance and helplessness, I smiled and said, giving nothing away, "It's no trouble."

"I'll make sure everyone's well looked after."

Seeing that I hadn't refused, my mother-in-law and Lesley looked at me the way you'd look at prey that had finally been tamed.

Early the next morning, at first light.

My mother-in-law was already up, dressing and doing her hair.

Then, brimming with energy, she reminded me, "Tony, Lesley and I are going to pick up the relatives. You're home alone, so remember to clean the place well and make plenty of food."

"Don't you slack off and make the Pruitt family lose face."

I nodded obediently. "Don't worry. I'll make sure you're both satisfied."

Seeing me so meek, Lesley and my mother-in-law traded a smile.

I smiled too.

They were laughing at how stupid I was.

I was laughing at how naive they were.