Emily stood frozen in the Thompsons’ Littleton entryway, clutching the cheesecake box, feeling like a deer caught in a pick-up’s high beams. Nick’s warm welcome had her smiling, but Linda’s icy glare sucked the oxygen out of the place. Before Emily could even muster a high, Linda snatched Jake’s arm and hauled him toward the kitchen like he’d swiped the last bud light.
Emily blinked, stranded by the door, her pulse hammering. Linda’s voice, sharp as a tack, ricocheted off the walls. «‘Jake, what in God’s name? Who’d you drag in here? She looks like she’s strutting out of a reality TV trash-fest.’ Jake’s face flared red as he yanked free.
«‘Mum, cool it. What’s your problem?’ he fired back. Linda didn’t flinch, her words cutting deeper.
«‘Oh, please, son, look at her. That dress, those nails. She’s dolled up like she’s working the pole at some Vegas dive, not meeting your damn parents.
I didn’t raise you for this low-rent nonsense.’ Her voice boomed, and Emily caught every stinging word. She peeked at her outfit—navy sundress, tidy red manicure. Nothing crazy.
«‘What’s her deal?’ «‘Am I missing something?’ she thought, her throat knotting as tears stung her eyes. Why was this woman tearing her apart? «‘She’s a teacher, mum, not some club chick,’ Jake growled, volume climbing. «‘That dress? I bought it for her.
It’s from Target, not some sketchy pawnshop. Her nails? Normal. What, you wanted me to date a nun in a burlap sack?’ Linda snorted, arms locked tight.
«‘A nun be a damn upgrade. I’m looking out for you, Jake.’ Girls like her, too hot, too loud. They don’t stay loyal.
Take Sarah next door. She’s sweet, low-key, whips up a mean casserole. Not this overdone Barbie wannabe.’ Emily’s chest throbbed as the jabs kept coming.
She wanted to sprint, snag her cheesecake, and call an Uber out of this nightmare, but her legs were jelly. Then Jake’s voice roared back, fierce. «‘Stop it, mum.
You don’t know squat about her. Sarah’s fine. Yeah, but she’s been batting her eyes at me since tenth grade.
Your little set-up, not mine. I’m with Emily because she’s the real deal, not your pet project. Back off, or we’re done here,’ Linda hissed, her stare pure poison, but she clammed up.
Nick popped in, clueless, holding a Bronco’s mug. «‘Hey, you two coming?’ «‘Emily brought cheesecake. Let’s dig in,’ he hollered, waving them over.
Emily forced a wobbly smile, swiping a tear as Jake stomped back to her. «‘Sorry about her,’ he mumbled, grabbing her hand. «‘She’s unhinged sometimes.’ Emily nodded, choking down the lump in her throat.
«‘It’s fine,’ she fibbed, though her gut twisted. Linda’s venom stung deep, but Jake’s stand patched her up enough to shuffle into the dining room, fingers locked with his clinging to the one anchor she had left. Dinner at the Thompson’s was like tiptoeing through a minefield with a blindfold.
Emily sat at the polished oak table, poking at her meatloaf, the tangy aroma of ketchup glaze heavy in the air. Linda’s cold stare drilled into her from across the room, making every bite feel like a test. Nick kept things breezy, yammering about the Bronco’s epic win over the Chiefs, asking Emily about her classroom chaos, but the tension clung like humidity before a storm.
Jake stayed glued to her side, his knee nudging hers under the table, a silent, «‘I’ve got you.’ Still, Emily’s gut twisted. Every clink of silverware sounded like a timer ticking down to trouble. Linda stayed mostly quiet, but when she spoke it was a gut punch.
«‘So, Emily,’ she said, carving her meatloaf like a surgeon. «‘Teaching must eat up all your time. Not much left for extracurriculars, huh?’ Her voice oozed suspicion, like she was sniffing out scandal.
Emily gripped her napkin, forcing a smile. «‘It’s a lot, but I love it. The kids are nuts sometimes, but they’re why I show up.’ Linda’s eyebrow arched, unimpressed, and Emily’s face heated.
«‘What’s her problem?’ she thought, but she held it together. After dessert, Emily’s cheesecake earned a grin from Nick, thank God. Jake suggested they bounce.
Emily nearly sprinted for her purse. In the car, she exhaled hard, staring at Littleton’s manicured lawns and glowing porch lights. «‘That was a lot,’ she mumbled.
Jake sighed, knuckles white on the wheel. «‘I’m so sorry, Em. Mum’s got this habit of judging first, thinking later.
You didn’t deserve it.’ Emily nodded, throat tight. «‘Why does she hate me? I just showed up with dessert.’ Jake grabbed her hand. «‘She doesn’t get you yet.