Our Simple Peace
This was the hundredth time Mom caught Dad throwing thousands of dollars at social media influencers.
She didn't scream or make a scene for the entire construction crew to laugh at anymore, nor did she pause her work.
Dad thought she had finally learned her place and grown sensible. The very next month, he invited every single worker on the job site to attend his wedding.
However, he kept Mom and me out of it.
When the workers returned, they were all gossiping about how Mom, the worn-out house-cat, had been replaced by a beauty.
The bride was a meticulously dolled-up young woman. I had seen her on his phone many times.
Every time, she would be wearing next to nothing, dancing on camera while calling my dad her "Big Spender", right before Dad transferred amounts of money to her with many zeros at the end.
Mom looked calmly at them.
Unfastening her apron, she thrust the spatula into the woman's hands. "The workers' massive daily meals will be on you from now on."
Dad's expression hardened instantly, and he slapped Mom's hand away.
"Are you out of your mind?! There are over a hundred people on this site. How could you possibly make Abigail cook for them? It would wear her out! She married me to live in luxury!"
"And living in a shack on a construction site isn't too much for our daughter?"
The young woman stepped forward to play the peacemaker.
"Oh, I heard you and my husband started working on construction sites together ten years ago. The kid must be totally used to it by now.
"You can just stay on as the housekeeper. I won't kick you guys out."
As if granting charity, Dad commanded Mom, "Hurry up and thank Abigail for her generosity. She's the new matriarch around here. We're all one family now."
Mom didn't say another word, simply closing the drafty corrugated tin door.
"Bailey, I saved up a bit of money. How about I take you somewhere else to go to school?"