Predictably, my mother was irked, muttering about how inconsiderate Juniper was, showing off her in-laws' car like she was rolling in money.
I stayed silent, but my mind was busy with thoughts.
Just wait, Mom—things were about to get even more dramatic. I hoped your blood pressure could keep up.
I intentionally picked a mall just a stone’s throw from Juniper’s gym and wandered through a few stores, savoring the delay.
My mother scrutinized every option until she finally settled on a massager. I didn’t hesitate to splurge and buy it for her.
Her excitement was palpable—her smile was so wide it nearly obscured her eyes. She wasted no time snapping photos and posting them online, proudly showing off to every relative she could think of.
I checked the time—everything was falling into place.
"Mom, I heard this mall has a gym with a special promotion. Aunt Collette from next door comes here to work out and she says it’s a fantastic deal."
My mother had always dismissed gyms as a waste of money, but dropping Aunt Collette’s name was like flipping a switch.
She couldn’t resist comparing everything to Aunt Collette, determined not to be outdone.