Sunday Dinner

Deep in slumber, the dog lifted his head, listening. Awake, front paws on the arm of the couch, pre-bark huff at the back of his throat, he launched himself off the burgundy leather towards the front door.

"They're here, Erik," deadpan, Marcia called her husband, "go answer the door." She turned her back to the door and resumed dinner preparations. Not that it mattered, no one would miss her presence at their entry into her home.

"I love you. They're only here for dinner. They never stay long." Strong arms wrapped her in a loving embrace. "I'm sorry." Her husband of fifteen years kissed her and moved to greet his parents, their four children wandering to the foyer behind him.

"How's our little dogger?"

Marcia rolled her eyes as her mother-in-law fussed all over their twenty-pound Boston Terrier.

"Is Gramma's little Bugsy a good boy? Gramma loves you."

Bugsy's nails clipped and clawed at the ceramic floor. He hopped, jumping to get as close as possible to them both. Her father-in-law picked the dog up, cuddling him and scratching between his ears. The kids stood back, waiting for their grandparents to notice them. The grandparents walked down the hall, cooing at the dog and filling Erik in on everything they'd done since their last visit.

They made their way through the kitchen and into the family room, plopping themselves onto the burgundy leather couches. Not once looking for their grandchildren.

Marcia worked away in the kitchen. She was busy peeling potatoes, basting the small turkey, adding water to the veggies and popping fresh, homemade pumpkin and cherry pies into the oven. Erik's favourite desserts. She shot him a sly smile as she pictured his surprise when she placed dessert in front of him later.

Conversation drifted across the twenty-five feet separating Marcia and her in-laws.

She heard all about the camping trip they went on instead of celebrating their twin grandsons' birthdays. The next-door neighbour praised for bringing treats back from a shopping trip for her mother-in-law. Friends exalted and celebrated for how cherished they made them feel and how they treated them well, making delicious meals for them.

Marcia tensed when she sensed her mother-in-law's eyes following her as she recounted their adventures.

Her back itched with awareness when she mentioned their generous and giving friends.

Negativity and resentment flowed across the room, swirling and dancing around Marcia as her in-laws regaled Erik with their escapades, not once asking about him or his family.

Typical, only interested in themselves.

Not proud of the bitterness in her thoughts, Marcia tried to get herself under control. It angered her to see her in-laws ignore and neglect her husband and children, only paying attention to them when it served their own purposes.

Marcia's ten-year-old twin boys wandered into the family room with their latest building block creations held boldly out in front of them.

Their eight-year-old sister hung back, eyeing their grandparents warily and holding her creation protectively.

Chester, three-year-old baby of the family, plunked down on the floor, dinky cars zooming around his imaginary town.

"Mom, the boys have something to show you." Erik had to draw his parents' attention away from themselves and put it towards his sons. "Dad, did you see the planes they built? They an outstanding job."

They turned their attention to their elder grandsons, still ignoring their granddaughter. Their praise puffed the twins up with pride and happiness, only to crush them again with their arbitrary dismissal. No longer of any interest to them, their grandparents turned their attention to their younger grandson.

"Hi there, Chester. We're your grandparents, but you don't know us." Marcia's mother-in-law's tone implied they were the injured party. "We all know why that is, don't we, sweetie?"

Marcia turned and caught Erik's eye, who shrugged and nodded at her. She slammed the knife she was holding down onto the cutting board and turned in a rage.

Marcia glared at her mother-in-law, making her look away, uncomfortable with the intensity of her stare.

"We DO know why that is, Susan, don't we? Maybe I should enlighten you." Marcia abandoned the meal preparation and headed into the family room, fists of rage at her side. "It's because you have decided that they are not worthy of your attention and ignore them. You only pay attention to your grandchildren when you can brag about them or have a gift for them. You lose interest as soon as it no longer benefits YOU to spend time with them."

Affronted, her mother-in-law straightened her shoulders, mouth open to argue with her. One look at Marcia's face dissuaded her. She wasn't done yet.

"Your grandchildren don't know you because you don't care to learn who they are."

"That's not true. I love my grandchildren. Everyone knows how good I am to them," spluttering, she argued, again making it all about her.

"Right. Everyone knows how good you are to them." Marcia shook her head, amused disgust on her face. "Do you know anything about them? Their favourite colours? Favourite food? What TV show they can't live without? Can you buy them a gift they love without me picking it out for you first?" Her mother-in-law teared up, angry at being called out like this. "So, yes, Susan, we all realize why Chester doesn't know you. It's because you never visit unless it benefits you, and you only spend time with your grandchildren when you get something out of it."

Disgusted, Marcia shook her head. "They are loving, creative, kind, beautiful children, Susan. They're NOT trophies for you to show-off and make yourself look better, they are your grandchildren. You should cherish the time you have with them, not ignoring them. Something you have yet to figure out."

Chester sensed the mounting tension in the room and reached for his mother. Marcia picked him up and cuddled him close. She met Susan's gaze and, never wavering, Marcia challenged her mother-in-law to dispute what she'd said.

In typical Susan fashion, she sputtered and danced around the issue before pulling the victim act and blaming it all on her daughter-in-law.

"You have a real problem, you know, Marcia." She stood up and made moves to leave, hesitating as she expected Marcia to stop her. "How dare you speak to me like that? You should respect me. I am your mother-in-law, not a piece of trash."

"True, you are my mother-in-law… and I am your daughter-in-law, the woman your son fell in love with and chose to spend his life with. We have a family together, yet you walk into MY home and do not greet me, nor do you respect me. You are a rude, selfish, ignorant and narcissistic ass, and I've had enough. You get the respect from me that you deserve, which isn't a lot." Marcia held her son close. Chubby little arms wrapped around her neck, he snuggled into her shoulder watching his grandmother lose her shit.

"I don't have to put up with her attitude. Marcia shouldn't speak to me like that. I deserve to be treated with respect. Let's go, Bob. I'm done with her."

Bob got up, reaming his son out for the way his wife spoke to his mother. Erik earned his wife's loyalty when he replied, "Then I guess Mother Dearest should have been more respectful to my wife. She has never treated Marcia the way she deserves. Marcia is standing up for herself, with my support."

Susan and Bob stared at their son in amazement. Marcia differed from other women in Erik's life. They'd met not long after his first marriage broke up, and she'd proven herself different from any other woman he'd been with. His parents treated his wife like a pariah from day one, and she endured mistreatment at their hands. Years longer than anyone else ever did, including his ex-wife. That's why he supported her now.

Susan disliked every woman in Erik's life, driving wedges between them until Erik ran home to her once more. Unable to tear him away from Marcia over the years, she held out hope she would break her down and get her to leave him. Susan's hope faltered for the first time. Now that Erik stuck up for his wife, Susan's hold over him was even more tenuous.

"We're leaving, and won't be back anytime soon." Susan waited, her victim card laid out on the table for all to see. "I can't believe how rude and inconsiderate she is being to me. I don't need this treatment from her, after everything we've done for you both."

Marcia laughed out loud, bringing a shameful blush to Susan's cheeks.

"What have you done for us? Other than try to break us up over the years, ignore my children, treat my husband like he owes you something and play the victim every time something doesn't go your way." Marcia opened the door and handed her in-laws their jackets. "You have never been unwelcome in our home, the way you treat us and speak to us is unwelcome. When you can be the grandparents and parents we want and need in our lives, we would welcome you with open arms."

Susan and Bob put their jackets on and stepped out onto the front stoop, turning back to Marcia with an air of expectation.

Shoulders straightened arrogantly, they awaited apologies to be heaped upon them, pleas for them to forgive and forget and come back inside.

Pleas and apologies not forthcoming.

"Drive safe, it is only a ten minute drive home for you. Of course, with how often you visit, you'd think it was a ten hour drive." Marcia hated the way she spoke to them, but felt disgusted with their treatment of those she held dear. "Y'all come back now, y'hear?" Marcia closed the door in their surprised faces. Satisfied smirk on her face, she wandered back into the kitchen to check on dinner.

Erik and the kids followed her. Her tears fell as Erik gathered his wife into his arms and held her as she cried, the kids joining in for a big family hug.

"I'm sorry, love, I just couldn't take it anymore." Mumbling into his chest, Marcia's tears wet his golf shirt. "Now that my mother's gone and my father's walked out on us, I only wanted your parents to act like they wanted to be a part of our family. They're the only grandparents our kids have, why can't they just love us?"

"I have no idea, sweetheart, but I'm proud of you. You weren't nasty, just honest. If they can't handle that, then that's their problem, not yours." A kiss sealed their agreement to keep their family safe from those who were too negative to be around them.

An hour later, with dinner on the table, no one noticed or missed the two missing diners. Marcia raised her wine glass in a toast.

"To us, our family. I love you all and, as much as what happened today breaks my heart, I appreciate how awesome we are."

Clink of glasses and sippy cups celebrated their love for one another as they tucked into a lovingly prepared home cooked meal.