After I placed the dishes on the table, Emily poked at them with her fork.
“Who even eats this on Christmas Eve? Are you trying to mess with me, Melanie Stone? I barely make it home for Christmas Eve, and I don’t even get to taste any meat, huh? Have I lost my place in this family just because I’m married?”
Her voice rose with each word, and before I knew it, she dropped her fork and started crying.
Gloria quickly stepped in to comfort her. “Absolutely not. You’ll always be our little princess. Kyle, Wayne, your dad, and I would never let you suffer.”
Then she turned to me. “Mel, go make a honey-glazed ham. Emily loves it.”
I couldn’t hold back any longer. I pointed at the smoked ham on the table and said, “It’s right here. I didn’t put any pickles on it.”
Gloria paused, clearly surprised by my defiance. She cocked her head, her gaze lingering on me.
“Did you not get what I said? Smoked ham isn’t the same as honey-glazed. I told you to make a honey-glazed ham, so do it. What’s with all the questions?”
She only said a few words, but it felt like she had turned into someone else entirely. Just moments ago, she had been so warm and kind. Now, she was practically unrecognizable.
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. No one had ever spoken to me like that before! I shot a furious look at Wayne. He gently squeezed my hand, trying to calm me down.
