“No.”
He shook his head.
“Don’t tell me you didn’t notice.”
His voice became quieter.
“Because I noticed in thirty seconds.”
That sentence changed the room.
Marcus continued.
“I walked in after working fourteen hours, and within thirty seconds I could see that my wife was exhausted.”
He looked at his mother.
“You’ve been here all day.”
His mother looked away.
Marcus felt something inside him break.
Not rage.
Something deeper.
Disappointment.
He had always defended his mother.
He had always believed she loved Elena.
He had told Elena countless times:
“She’s difficult sometimes, but she means well.”
Tonight, he wasn’t sure anymore.
He walked back into the kitchen.
Elena was standing exactly where he’d left her.
She had tears in her eyes.
Marcus took her hands.
“Come on.”
“Where?”
“Bedroom.”
“But…”
“No.”
He gently shook his head.
“The dishes can wait.”
He turned toward the living room.
“Everything can wait.”
Then he looked at his family.
“I want everyone out of this house tomorrow morning.”
His mother stared at him.
“What?”
“By ten.”
“Marcus!”
“Ten.”
“This is ridiculous.”
“No.”
His voice remained firm.
“What happened tonight is ridiculous.”
His mother shook her head.
“This is my family.”
“So is Elena.”
