After the baby was born, my mom deliberately turned down her work to come take care of me.
I'd barely finished my postpartum month when my husband brought his ex-wife's mother into the house.
"Honey, I've noticed Mom really knows how to look after people. She's taken great care of you and the baby this whole month."
"It just so happens Mila Henson's mother isn't in good health and needs someone to care for her, and Mila's usually too busy with work to do it."
"I figured you're out of your postpartum month now, so Mom won't be as busy, and looking after one more person shouldn't be a big deal. So I brought her over."
I stared at him, unable to believe it.
"My mom came to take care of me because I'm her daughter. She's not a nanny. Why on earth would she wait on a stranger?"
Clarence Fox's brow furrowed.
"She was family to me once. How can you call her a stranger?"
Then he went right on assigning the rooms as if it were already settled.
"Her health is bad, she needs proper rest, so she should have the master bedroom."
"Mila already told me she'll come see her mother once a week, so we have to keep the second bedroom for her."
"I need the study for work, that can't change. For now the two of us will just make up a floor bed in the living room with the baby."
Without thinking, I asked, "Then where does my mom sleep?"
Only then did he seem to remember something.
He was quiet for a moment, then his eyes drifted toward the balcony.
"How about we just put Mom on the balcony? There's exactly enough room out there for a folding bed."
I stood frozen, looking at the faint guilt on his face, and said coldly.
"And if I say no?"
"..."
Clarence's face darkened at once.
"Antonia Swanson, when did you become so heartless?"
"She's old, she's not well, she's only staying with us for a little while. Do you really have to nickel-and-dime over this?"
I stared at him, almost laughing from anger.
"I'm the one nickel-and-diming?"
"You bring your ex-wife's mother into my home, make my mom wait on her, and want me and a one-month-old baby to sleep in the living room, and now I'm the one with no compassion?"
Clarence looked impatient.
"We're husband and wife. Shouldn't we share the load when something comes up?"
"Besides, I've already worked it all out. Are you going to make a scene and leave everyone with no way to save face?"
I was about to speak when the kitchen door opened.
My mom came out carrying the chicken soup she'd just finished, her forehead damp with sweat.
She'd clearly heard us arguing, and her eyes were full of worry.
"Antonia, don't be upset. You just got out of your postpartum month, be careful you don't make yourself sick."
Then she turned to Clarence.
"Clarence, if you're really that worried, then let Mila's mother move in."
"Anywhere is fine for me. The balcony's nice, it's bright, and I can look out at the view."
My nose stung sharply.
My mom was saying it so I wouldn't be put in a bad spot.
But Clarence didn't feel she'd been wronged at all. If anything, he looked relieved.
"See, Mom's reasonable about it."
"Honey, you should learn from her instead of only ever thinking about yourself."
My mom's face stiffened, and she set the chicken soup down on the table.
"But Antonia and the baby can't sleep in the living room."
"The baby's only a month old, he can't catch a chill at night, and Antonia hasn't recovered yet. The master bedroom has to go to the two of them."
"Mila's mother, whatever else you say, is just a guest. The second bedroom is fine for her."
"And when Mila comes to visit her mother, the two of them can squeeze in together and have their time to talk."
Sitting on the sofa, Mila's mother suddenly pressed a hand to her chest and coughed twice, softly.
"This is all my fault."
"With this useless body of mine, anywhere's the same. If it's really too much trouble, I'll just go."
She started to rise, and the moment she was on her feet, her knees buckled.
Clarence rushed to steady her.
"Ma'am, don't strain yourself."
She waved him off.
"I'm just afraid of being a burden to you all."
"I thought you were a good, devoted son, willing to look after me for a few days. I never expected it would upset your wife."
Instantly Clarence's heart went out to her, and he turned to glare at me and my mom.
"She needs peace and quiet, she has to have a room of her own."
"Mila's worn out from work, and she comes over once a week. Surely she can't be left without even a place to sleep."
I let out a cold laugh.
"Doesn't she have her own home?"
"Since when did this place become her mother's house?"
Clarence's expression turned uglier.
"It's only a few nights. Do you have to put it in such ugly terms?"
"You're out of your postpartum month already. What could possibly be wrong with your body?"
"Lay the living room floor a little thicker. What's the harm in a few nights on a floor bed?"
"Other women get up and do chores during their postpartum month. What makes you so precious?"
His voice startled the baby, who suddenly began to cry.
I quickly picked him up.
My mom dropped the argument too and came over to help me check his diaper.
The two of us were busy fussing over the baby, while Clarence eased Mila's mother into a seat, fetching a cushion, pouring warm water.
I never once saw that kind of attentiveness during my own postpartum month.
There was a time I had a fever of a hundred and two and asked him to hold the baby for a while.
He said he had a meeting the next day, put in his earplugs, and went to sleep.
Now Mila's mother coughed twice and he was beside himself with worry.
I patted the baby and slowly pressed my feelings back down.
"I won't give up the master bedroom."
"And my mom won't sleep on the balcony."
"If you want to be the dutiful son, take her to a hotel. You pay, you take care of her."
Right then the door lock beeped with the sound of someone entering the code.
A few soft clicks, and the door opened.
Mila wheeled a suitcase in.
