Page 29 of Unbreakable
“So, I’m coming back next Wednesday to help you while Dylan’s on his long road stand,” Carla said. “I’ll stay the whole week.”
My lips popped open again, completely dumbfounded.
“Isn’t that nice, J?” Dylan asked, all foreign and official. “You’ll be able to get a break during the busy holiday season.”
Phil walked in with four pies stacked carefully across his arms like a waiter. “Still got it, like I never left the old Campanello’s Eatery! You know, Jeanine, you weren’t the only one who used to wait tables.”
Oh, Phil. God bless Phil. He was trying so hard not to make this day a complete disaster.
“You’ve mentioned!” I said, brightening. I couldn’t help but humor Phil. He, like Dylan, just wanted everybody to get along.
“Dad, you’ve told her so many times,” Dylan laughed.
Phil was non-plussed, setting the pies on the table. “Who wants pumpkin? Kids! I’m gonna eat all the whipped cream if you don’t get in here!”
And with the thunder of feet from the living room, the topic of Carla’s visit was settled. I was firmly steamrolled by my mother-in-law.
“Well,there was a little bump in the road, but I think it was a hit overall,” Dylan said, sweeping me into a hug after we closed the door behind his parents. “I’m really sorry about Ma.”
Not sorry enough.
“She knows how to bring up the trauma,” I said.
“Well, she is still a bitch. That didn’t change,” he said, kissing my forehead. “But at least when she comes back, she’s going to help.”
“Dyl.” I cocked my head, trying to get him to see reason. Historically, when had I ever gotten along with his mother? And under no fault of my own. She was hell-bent on attacking me, and for what? Would she have rather married her son?
“Babe, she needs to make it up to you. I think some of the problem is she’s never taken the time to get to know you. And I know if she knows you, she’ll love you. There’s a lot to love about you.” He tilted my chin up, planting a soft kiss on my lips. I barely kissed him back.
Oh my god, it was worse than I thought. It wasn’t even Carla’s idea to come visit; Dylan had concocted this messed-up version of a parent trap to force us to get along.
“And you could use the help, right? You said December was going to be hectic with a lot of events at the school.”
This is one of those moments when I questioned whether I was just losing it. Yes, I had told Dylan things would be hectic, and to his credit, he listened. But the takeaway was so far off themark that I wondered how I could have led him to believe that this was a good idea.
I rolled my lips, leaning a hip against the doorframe. “Dylan, I don’t know if I can spend a week with your mother.Alone.”
Dylan put out a hand. “J, come on. It’s my mom. She’ll love you once she knows you.”
“She’s had eight years to get to know me, Dylan! This isn’t someone I have to pass a puck to. This is a woman who has been outwardly hostile to me since we started dating. A leopard doesn’t change its spots.”
He leaned into the wall too, brushing my hair behind my ear. “She wants to see her grandkids around Christmas.”
“Myparents won’t be here,” I tried.
Dylan sighed. “Jeannie, they got the last seven Christmases. Ma has the time to come help you. You won’t let her?”
“She won’t be help, Dylan.”
“Will she not be help, or will you not let her help?”
I ground my teeth, my eyes shooting daggers. “What is that supposed to mean?” I spat.
He pinched the bridge of his nose. “It’s no secret that you like to run the show, J. You know that.”
Oh, this was fresh.
“Iliketo run the show? Ihaveto run the show, Dylan. I don’t see anyone else around here volunteering to hold these three kids together. I don’t see anyone else folding laundry, or making breakfasts, or sticking to nap schedules, or packing lunches.”
