For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Mom smiled.
“I thought you might want to explore something with better long-term prospects.”
My aunt looked down at her plate.
My cousin suddenly became fascinated by his phone.
Ethan examined the gift card, then looked at my mother.
“That’s thoughtful of you, Linda.”
I was so embarrassed that my face burned.
After dinner, I confronted her in the kitchen.
“How could you do that to him?”
She folded her arms.
“What did I do?”
“You humiliated him.”
“Oh, Olivia. Don’t be dramatic. I was trying to help.”
“He’s happy with his work.”
“Being happy won’t pay your mortgage.”
“We’re doing fine.”
“For now.”
I turned away before I said something I couldn’t take back.
Ethan had heard every word.
That night, I apologized to him while we sat in our car outside our apartment.
“I’m sorry she treats you like that.”
He stared through the windshield.
