She jabbed a finger at me, her voice shaking with anger. “You went and divorced him. Did you even think about your sister-in-law?”
She huffed. “He promised last month to help your sister-in-law find an easy job! Now that you’ve divorced him, how is she supposed to get it? How could you do this to her?”
And just like that, I understood. All of this—her fury, her slap, her humiliation—was just for her beloved daughter-in-law.
In other words, my happiness was worth less to her than Ethel’s job.
Something in me snapped. I no longer cared about anyone’s disapproving stares or gasps.
I shouted, accusing her of being a bad mother.
“For your daughter-in-law’s sake, my happiness doesn’t matter?
“You’re a wonderful mother-in-law—the best in the world, even. But to me, you’re a terrible mother!
“You’re just like every mother who only values her sons—a parasite, sucking the life out of her daughter to feed her precious son’s family!
“When you were in the hospital, who paid your bills? Who stayed by your side day and night? It was me!
“When you needed living expenses or someone to check on you, who was always there? It was me!”