Chapter 4

And so, thoroughly pleased with themselves, mother and daughter set off for the train station to fetch the relatives.

On the drive back with everyone in tow, Lesley's aunt was the first to speak up.

"Lesley, I hear your husband graduated from one of the top schools back in the day?"

Before Lesley could answer, Tabitha jumped in, her voice thick with pride.

"That's right, top of his class at a big-name university!"

"But so what?"

"Haven't I got him trained to heel like a dog anyway? I tell him to cook for the whole family, and he doesn't dare so much as frown."

Hearing that, Lesley's aunt spoke again.

"But there's so many of us today. Can he really manage a whole table of food all by himself?"

Tabitha waved a hand as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"Manage or not, he'll do it. I want him to know that when our family comes over, a son-in-law's job is to wait on us, plain and simple."

"From today on, he's the one earning the money and keeping the house, he's the one doing the chores and waiting on people, while my daughter and I just sit back and enjoy the good life."

Lesley's uncle picked it right up.

"Well, since he's so obedient, that works out perfectly. My boy's in eighth grade this year, and his grades are terrible. Since Tony graduated from a top school, how about he swings by every day after work and tutors my boy for free?"

Tabitha patted her chest and answered for me without a second thought.

"No problem. I'll tell him later. He'll report to your place every night."

"If he dares say one word against it, you just watch me straighten him out."

Lesley's aunt perked up at that too.

"Then send my Yuki along while you're at it. She just started seventh grade and her foundation's shaky. Let Tony tutor her at the same time."

Tabitha nodded at once.

"Sure, leave it all to me."

"He's so meek these days, I tell him east and he wouldn't dare go west. Never mind tutoring a couple of kids. If I told him to go to your house and wash your clothes, cook your meals, and carry your wash water for your feet, he'd do it without a peep."

Lesley chimed in, just as smug.

"It's true. I used to worry Tony would get angry, but who knew he'd be this easy to handle."

"My mom faked being sick and ran back to our hometown to live it up, sent his mother over to slave away for eighteen years, then the moment she came back she threw his mother out the door, and he didn't dare make a sound."

"Now, whatever we ask of him, Tony does it, no dragging his feet at all."

The relatives burst out laughing and piled on with jokes from every direction.

"You two really know what you're doing. Marrying off your daughter got you a free workhorse, one who earns money and does the housework both."

"Tabitha, with a son-in-law as obedient as Tony, you're set for life."

Flushed with all the flattery, Tabitha grinned so wide she couldn't close her mouth.

"Of course. I just want him to know who the master of this house really is."

The more she talked, the more worked up she got, holding forth endlessly on her "art of training a son-in-law."

From standing in the family to who controlled the purse strings, she went on and on, all the way home.

Around noon they reached the complex. Tabitha climbed out of the car and swept her arm forward.

"Come on! Let's go home and inspect the results!"

At the front door, Tabitha was still swearing up and down.

"Just train your sons-in-law the way I taught you, and I guarantee you'll all end up like me, with a son-in-law as obedient as a dog!"

With that, she couldn't wait to pull out her keys, and, brimming with confidence, opened the door, ready to show everyone her docile son-in-law.

But when the door swung open and they saw the scene inside, every one of them froze……