Just as Teresa was about to take a sip, Jennifer snatched the glass right out of her hand. “Teresa, are you out of your mind? You have to drive later”
“It’s none of your business,” Teresa muttered, frowning as she grabbed the glass back.
Hayden spoke up, “Teresa, I know you mean well, but don’t drink. You have to drive. It’d be dangerous.”
Teresa pressed her lips together, refusing to put the glass down. Jonathan, who’d been silent all night, finally stood up.
He poured two shots, raising one to Hayden. “Grandpa, let me drink this for her. If anyone’s at fault, it’s me. Teresa never did anything wrong”
He downed it in one go. Then, with the second glass, Jonathan turned to Teresa’s family. “Evelyn, thanks for raising such a great daughter. I wouldn’t have met Teresa without you. Jennifer, Donald, I wish you guys a happy marriage.”
He paused, looking at Teresa. “Teresa, I hope things only get better for you.”
He chugged down the shot of strong wine in one gulp. Among everyone here, only Hayden heaved a genuine sigh, brimming with regret and helplessness over their failed marriage.
After dinner, everyone said their goodbyes. Evelyn got into Teresa’s car, asking her to drop her off at the hotel.
“Get in,” Teresa said, pulling the car around. She hadn’t touched a drop, but Evelyn was already wasted.
“Your sister found a good man. Why don’t you just do what Hayden said and get back with Jonathan? He still cares about you, you know,” Evelyn said.
Teresa spun the wheel with one hand. “Mom, just drop it.”
Evelyn mumbled, “I just want you and your sister to be happy; that’s all a mom wants.”
Teresa shot back, “Do you really care about if I’m happy?”
“How could you even say that? Every mom wants the best for her daughter. If it weren’t for Irene… What does she think she is?” Evelyn’s voice faded as she dozed off, her snores softly filling the car.
Teresa kept driving, the stereo playing a gentle love song–the kind she used to love when she got married. She didn’t wake Evelyn up until they pulled up to the hotel.
She watched Evelyn enter the hotel before heading off to pick up Michael.
Michael was still mad that Teresa went to the dinner without him, so he didn’t speak to her the whole way home.
Once they got home, Teresa pulled out two big crabs. “Look, I didn’t forget about you–I snuck these crabs out just for you.”
“Wow, Mom, these crabs have huge claws.” Michael’s eyes lit up.
“You’ll have them tomorrow morning.”
09:03 Tue, 27 May
“If I hadn’t stopped you, you would’ve had wine too. What about the baby? Good thing I was there,” Jennifer shot back.
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