Kyle Cooper, Wayne’s older brother, gently nudged Lucy’s elbow, but she simply flicked him off with a glance and continued, “If you’re not giving me a gift, just say so. Don’t drag me into this.”
My heart dropped, and I couldn’t bring myself to reach for the gift.
Gloria slammed the gift down on the table. “What’s your problem? Are you jealous now? Mel’s thoughtful. She cares about Michael and me and actually does stuff to help us out.
“Of course, I’d get her something. But you? You come home just to eat and laze around. You honestly think I’d give you a gift?”
Gloria was unraveling, and it was clear she had a deep-seated grudge against Lucy.
Lucy shrugged nonchalantly and remained silent.
I forced a smile. “There’s no need for a gift, Gloria. You’re Wayne’s mom. It’s only right that I help out.”
I noticed Lucy letting out a soft sigh out of the corner of my eye.
Gloria broke into a hearty laugh, took my hand in hers, and praised me endlessly for being such a thoughtful daughter-in-law. She smoothly returned the small gift to her pocket.
Suddenly, Emily, who’d been silently eating, cried out, “Why are there pickles in my salad?”
She spat the chewed-up salad onto the table. “I said no pickles! I hate them! Mom, didn’t you tell Melanie?”
“I did! I don’t know how they ended up in there,” Gloria blurted out.
Emily’s glare shifted to me.
I waved my hands frantically. “I didn’t know. Gloria never said anything…”
My voice trailed off as Wayne pinched my arm to silence me.
Gloria’s face darkened. “I never told you? I told you earlier that Emily doesn’t eat pickles and asked you to leave them out. How could you forget?”
A lump formed in my throat. I wanted Wayne to say something on my behalf, but all he did was shake his head.
