Surprise, Daddy‪!‬

“So how’s it going, son?”
Drew plastered on what he hoped looked like a genuine smile as his father-in-law slapped him across the shoulder blades. Of course Chris had a drink in the other hand that sloshed out of the glass as he moved. He and Tempeste were at her parent’s home for Thanksgiving dinner, against his better judgment. “It’s going. How about you?”
“I can complain, but what good would it do.” Chris quickly sobered and took a long draw on his beverage. “What good would it do?”
For a split second, Drew almost felt sorry for the man. If his wife nagged and criticized him like his mother-in-law did, he’d be in the same place. Lucky for him, Tempeste was the exact opposite of her mother. She even grew a little backbone when it came to her interactions with Muriel. In the past she had jumped when her mother called, ready to do her bidding. Now, she could tell her mother to her face what she will and will not do. She had come a long way.
Just as Drew opened his mouth to respond to Chris, Muriel flowed into the room with a young couple in tow. What was this about?
“Everyone, can I have your attention?” She waited until the family gathered around her before continuing. “I’d like to introduce you to our new neighbors, Erin and Bob Drake. Their family is on the other side of the country so I invited them to spend the day with us.”
Shouts of welcome directed to the couple quickly followed with some family coming forward to shake the young couple’s hands. “But there’s more,” Muriel announced. She turned and looked directly at Drew before continuing. “Erin and Bob just told me that they’re expecting their first child in early May. Isn’t that wonderful?”
Drew glared at his mother-in-law, aware of what she was doing.
“And it looks like I’ll get to be an honorary grandmother to their child, since my own daughter and son-in-law have failed to provide one for me.”
“Mother!”
Everyone froze in place as mother and daughter faced off against the other, Drew included. As much as he wanted to participate in setting Muriel straight, he realized it was up to Tempeste.
“Did I say something that’s not true?” Muriel asked in a sickening sweet tone of voice.
“How could you insult us like that? This is not the place to discuss this,” Tempeste spit out.
“And why isn’t it,” Muriel continued. “We’re all family, or close friends. We’d all like to know what’s taking you two so long to have children.”
About to lose what little control he had left, Drew strode over to his mother-in-law. “As my wife said, this conversation is not going to happen.”
Muriel straightened her spine and looked around her. “You don’t frighten me, Andrew Sawyer. I can ask whatever I’d like to ask to my daughter in my house.”
“No you can’t mother,” Tempeste countered. “Please drop this, okay?”
Drew could hear the other guests starting to whisper amongst themselves. Time to put an end to this little sideshow. “Tempeste, get your coat.” She hesitated for a split second before heading to the hall closet to retrieve both of their coats. “Sorry folks for the commotion. Have a blessed Thanksgiving.” With that, he took his wife’s arm and hustled both of them out the door. The last thing he heard was a shriek from Muriel before he slammed the front door closed.
They were halfway home before Drew felt calm enough to speak. “I’m sorry for causing a scene in your parent’s home.”
“I’m not.”
“What?”
“My mother is the one who should be apologizing to us. Her behavior was out of control and as far as I’m concerned, the final straw.”