"Sarah, what happened to your face?" I couldn’t hold back the question.
She glanced at Margaret, then quickly shook her head, saying nothing, though tears slipped down her cheeks.
Margaret slammed her bowl on the table and glared at her.
"Crying again? You’ll cry away whatever blessings you have left! Sure, Mike’s temper is a little hot, but if you behaved yourself, would he lay a hand on you?"
"It’s been a year since you married and still no baby. You eat for free every day—if you were my wife, I’d hit you too!"
"If you’re not going to eat, get back and take care of your husband. Don’t sit here being an eyesore, you bring bad luck!"
"Mom, how can you talk like that?!" I cut in, horrified, and looked at Sarah with concern.
She covered her face and cried, then stood and ran outside.
I made to follow her, but Margaret yanked me back.
"Don’t chase her—women shouldn’t be spoiled."
After Sarah left, Robert and Margaret kept chatting with me cheerfully, but I’d lost all interest.
Jacob was stuffing meat into his mouth so greedily that his lips shone with grease, and the sight made me queasy.