After a family dinner, while I was cleaning up in the kitchen, my daughter-in-law leaned close and whispered, “You old witch, I only tolerate you because of my husband.” I laughed it off and replied, “Don’t worry, you won’t be seeing me anymore.” The very next day, I had the locks on the house changed and…

I told him to go rest and that I would call him when dinner was ready. I went back to cooking but Rosie’s words echoed in my head.

I knew Melinda’s anger would eventually spill over onto me. Dinner was eaten in an oppressive silence.

Phillip barely touched his food. Skyler tried to lighten the mood but quickly gave up.

After dinner, I washed dishes while Phillip watched TV. Melinda returned around ten and she was not alone.

She was laughing with a woman named Jessica. Melinda said Phillip was probably asleep and the old woman was unlikely to stick her nose out.

I stood frozen in my bedroom doorway. I wondered if she was talking about me.

Jessica asked if it was cramped living with her husband’s mother. Melinda said it was temporary because they had almost saved enough for a house.

She was lying. Melinda said I stick my nose into everything and that I was a grandmother stereotype.

Jessica said her mother in law was a headache too. They both laughed and a lump rose in my throat.

Melinda said the hardest part was pretending to appreciate my favors like laundry and cleaning. Jessica asked why she did not just move out.