5
454words
I flopped onto the couch.“Oh,my back hurts so bad,honey.I’m exhausted—maybe from lack of sleep and walking.I can’t move.”
James snapped,“You’re useless,immobile just because you’re pregnant.Might as well lose the kid!”
My heart chilled,but I smiled.“She’s six months.this cannot be changed.Once she’s born,I’ll care for Mom.For now,you’ll have to step up,honey.”
In my past life,while I tended to Dorothy,James dodged home,playing poker until midnight.
I wasn’t enabling his outsourced filial piety anymore.
“Baby doesn’t care!Baby is very hungry!”Dorothy pouted.
James rubbed his temples,hugging her.“Okay,I’ll get them now.”
As he left,I dropped my smile.
Dorothy turned to me.“Cook some noodles for me.”
“This is what Baby saw today—little babies can’t eat it,”she stuck out her tongue.“but now I am naughty!”
I grinned indulgently.“Sure,I’ll make it.”
I ordered two packs of ultra-spicy noodles online,dumped both sauce packets into one bowl,and served it.
“Mom,this is authentic ramen.Foodies say you gotta eat it in big bites for the full experience.”
“Baby’s gonna gobble it up!”
She took a huge bite,then spewed it out,tossing the bowl aside.“Spicy,spicy!It’s killing Baby!Water,now, I need water!”
I nodded,grabbing her tiny-sip baby bottle,filling it with water,and handing it over.
She frantically chewed the nipple,but one bottle didn’t quench the burn.
“Baby doesn’t want this little bottle!Get me a glass!”
“Ok.You threw out every other cup I gave you.This bottle’s Baby’s special one.”
I made an excuse and locked myself in my room,popped in earbuds,and slept soundly.
The next morning,before they woke,I headed to the restaurant.
In my past life,my downfall partly stemmed from having no income.
This time,for myself and my daughter,I’d make the restaurant thrive.
At noon,tallying profits,I was grinning when the door was kicked open.
Dorothy stormed in and ranting,“You’re ignoring me!Last night,you fed me super-spicy noodles on purpose!”
James’s face was dark.“You don’t answer your phone,lock your door,how do you become a daughter-in-law?
!Mom’s so old,what if something happened?”
They tag-teamed me as diners whispered.
“The owner seems nice,but she’s heartless to her mother-in-law.”
“So cold to an elder mom.That’s not just cruel—it’s emotionless.What a cursed family.”
I feigned confusion.“What’s wrong,honey?I’ve been swamped here all morning.”
“Don’t I have to work?You’re better off at home with Mom.This restaurant will close down sooner or later!”James bellowed.
The dining room quieted.The restaurant’s food had earned praise lately.
A diner piped up,“No way,the owner’s cooking is great!”
Dorothy wiped tears.“You know how to cook but pretend you don’t,bullying Baby with deadly spicy noodles!”
“I never said I couldn’t cook. The noodles is supposed to be spicy,Mom.Tell me next time,and I’ll tone it down.”
I smiled sweetly.
James opened his mouth.“Then why lock your door and sleep through us banging for two hours?”
Diners perked up.“That’s not right.Sounds like she’s dodging her mother-in-law.”
