I stood in the shadows and listened as someone asked, "Hey, didn't your daughter-in-law just have a baby? Shouldn't you be over there helping?"
Mrs. James lifted her chin proudly. "My daughter-in-law specifically asked for her own mother. Why should I intervene? I'm just here to enjoy my retirement."
Envious voices surrounded her.
"You're so lucky! Good health, devoted son and daughter-in-law. You get the title of Grandma without any of the hard labor!"
That day, I stood there for a long time, the soup growing cold in my hands.
I wanted to call Aria right then. I wanted to ask if she knew her mother-in-law was perfectly healthy.
But I didn't dare.
I told myself she didn't know. I was afraid my questioning would cause a rift between Aria and her in-laws.
But deep down, I was terrified of the alternative: that my daughter knew perfectly well, and they had conspired to turn me into their beast of burden.
Seeing my silence, Aria spoke again, her tone shifting to mild annoyance.
"Mom, look, maybe I wasn't clear, but you're being unreasonable."