He had twenty minutes left before the doorbell rang.<\/p>\n
When the bell finally rang, Jenna stayed behind the bedroom door, listening to the entire disaster unfold.<\/p>\n
This time, she was not planning to step in and save him.<\/p>\n
Scott opened the front door to greet his family with tomato sauce stains on his shirt and sweat dripping down his forehead.<\/p>\n
Pamela walked in first, carrying her trusty tote bag for leftovers as usual.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hope you actually made something edible today,\u201d she said without bothering to say hello.<\/p>\n
Scott just stood there, completely unable to find the words to respond.<\/p>\n
In the middle of the table sat a pot of clumped spaghetti stuck to the bottom, surrounded by paper plates and a warm soda bottle. He had desperately tried to boil two boxes of dry pasta with barely any water, leaving a thick mass that was burnt on the bottom and hard in the middle.<\/p>\n
The kids ran over to the table, but they stopped cold the moment they saw the food.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs that supposed to be our lunch?\u201d the eldest kid asked, squinting at the pot.<\/p>\n
Alicia gave her husband an awkward glance, while Greg crossed his arms over his chest.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere is Jenna?\u201d Greg asked gently.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe went out,\u201d Scott lied in a faint whisper.<\/p>\n
Pamela stuck a fork into the middle of the pot, and the entire block of pasta lifted up in one single piece.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is completely raw and burnt!\u201d Pamela yelled, dropping the fork. \u201cAre you seriously asking us to eat this junk?\u201d<\/p>\n
Right then, the bedroom door opened, and Jenna stepped out wearing nice black pants and a burgundy top.<\/p>\n
She had been home the whole time, staying quiet so nobody could pin the blamed disaster on her.<\/p>\n
\u201cHope you guys enjoy your lunch,\u201d Jenna said with a calm smile.<\/p>\n
Pamela gasped loudly, looking like she was about to explode.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou were in there the whole time while your husband embarrassed himself like this?\u201d Pamela shouted.<\/p>\n
\u201cI did not make him do anything,\u201d Jenna replied evenly. \u201cHe chose a system where every adult is responsible for themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n
Scott lowered his head, completely unable to defend himself.<\/p>\n
Jenna walked over to the table and took a look at the ruined pasta pot.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow much money did you have left after paying for that restaurant order?\u201d she asked Scott directly.<\/p>\n
\u201cNine dollars,\u201d Scott admitted in a low voice.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd when the restaurant canceled, you had to feed seven people on nine dollars without knowing how to boil pasta,\u201d Jenna noted calmly.<\/p>\n
Nobody in the room said a single word.<\/p>\n
\u201cI did this every single Saturday for three years,\u201d Jenna continued, looking at Pamela. \u201cI spent over two hundred dollars every week, woke up early, cooked for six hours, cleaned up the mess, and watched you guys pack every last piece into your bags.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pamela pressed her lips together, trying to stand her ground.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, nobody forced you to cook those big meals for us!\u201d Pamela argued defensively.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, you guys just took advantage of the fact that I did it out of love,\u201d Jenna replied smoothly. \u201cAnd the worst part was that you never viewed it as real work, as if the food just magically cooked itself.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jenna walked over to a shelf, pulled out a clear folder, and placed several bank statements on the table.<\/p>\n
\u201cThirteen thousand dollars for Saturday lunches last year,\u201d Jenna stated clearly. \u201cEight thousand for groceries, two thousand for house expenses, plus all the gifts and vacations.\u201d<\/p>\n
She then slid a separate summary sheet right in front of Scott\u2019s face.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you know how much you put into our joint account during that same time?\u201d she asked him.<\/p>\n
Scott knew the number, but he was far too ashamed to say it out loud.<\/p>\n
\u201cLess than fifteen hundred dollars total,\u201d Jenna revealed to everyone. \u201cBarely a hundred bucks a month, while the rest of your salary went to gadgets, beer nights, and sending money to your mom.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pamela immediately got defensive again upon hearing that.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am his mother!\u201d Pamela snapped loudly. \u201cIt is completely normal for a son to help his mother!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSure he can help you,\u201d Jenna answered calmly. \u201cWith his own money. But it is not normal for him to fund his luxuries while I pay for his house, his food, and his entire family\u2019s visits, only for him to tell me he is tired of supporting me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Alicia covered her mouth, looking completely shocked by the numbers.<\/p>\n
Greg turned to his brother with total disappointment in his eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you seriously tell her that, Scott?\u201d Greg asked incredulously.<\/p>\n
Scott nodded his head, looking completely crushed.<\/p>\n
\u201cA guy at work got divorced and got into my head,\u201d Scott confessed in a broken voice. \u201cHe made me think wives take advantage of husbands, and Mom kept sending me articles, so I got scared Jenna would take my savings if we ever split up.\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg let out a dry laugh at his brother\u2019s explanation.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat savings are you talking about, man?\u201d Greg asked bluntly. \u201cShe was literally paying for your life!\u201d<\/p>\n
Pamela glared at Greg, trying to shut him down.<\/p>\n
\u201cStay out of this, Greg!\u201d she ordered angrily.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, I am not staying out of it, Mom,\u201d Greg fired back firmly. \u201cWe took advantage of her too, coming over every week, eating like kings, and taking food home while you sat there complaining about her cooking.\u201d<\/p>\n
Alicia stepped up closer to Jenna with an apologetic look on her face.<\/p>\n
\u201cI knew it was wrong,\u201d Alicia admitted softly. \u201cI told Greg a bunch of times that we shouldn\u2019t take so many containers, but Pamela insisted you loved cooking and had tons of cash to spare.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jenna looked at her mother in law with a steady gaze.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was the whole problem,\u201d Jenna said. \u201cYou guys thought that because I made good money, my hard work didn\u2019t matter, as if my time and my energy had no value at all.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pamela opened her mouth to argue, but she could not find a single word to defend herself.<\/p>\n
The kids sat quietly on the couch, until the youngest one whispered if they could just order some tacos.<\/p>\n
Jenna took a deep breath, letting her strict posture soften a bit.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe kids didn\u2019t do anything wrong,\u201d Jenna said gently. \u201cThere is fresh bread, fruit, and cheese in my pantry, and they can eat that.\u201d<\/p>\n
She unlocked her private cabinet and quickly pulled out some fresh berries, sliced cheese, and milk for the children, though she did not make anything for the adults.<\/p>\n
Pamela watched the kids eat quietly without saying a word.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou are being really harsh on us,\u201d Pamela murmured in a low voice.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, I am just setting a boundary,\u201d Jenna answered clearly.<\/p>\n
The room went completely silent as those words settled in.<\/p>\n
Scott slowly got up from his chair, his eyes red and full of tears.<\/p>\n
\u201cJenna, I am so sorry,\u201d he stammered out, wiping his face. \u201cNot just for these past few days, but for all the years I took everything you did for granted while walking into a clean apartment with hot food on the table without ever thinking about your sacrifices.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jenna stood perfectly still, watching him break down.<\/p>\n
\u201cI really miss my wife,\u201d Scott begged, taking a step toward her. \u201cI don\u2019t want a cook back, I just want the woman who loved me back, and I know I messed up big time.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat sounds a lot better than saying you miss hot breakfasts,\u201d Jenna noted softly.<\/p>\n