Linda watched that. She watched everything.
Brandon was always careful and image-conscious around her.
She followed him into the kitchen and stopped when she saw the combination lock hanging on the refrigerator.
“What… is that?”
Before I could answer, Brandon snorted and smiled at his mother as if he expected praise.
“My system, Mom! Emily has had a hard time getting back in shape, so I stepped in. All my friends’ wives got fit again faster. It’s not hard unless you let it get out of control.”
Linda said nothing. She turned and looked at me as I stood by the counter with Sophie in my arms, already close to tears.
“All my friends’ wives got healthy again faster.”
Brandon unlocked the refrigerator, grabbed a juice, locked it again, and announced that he was going upstairs to take a nap. Because apparently, you need rest in order to humiliate your wife after childbirth.
The moment he disappeared, I broke down. Linda came into the kitchen and took Sophie in her arms so I could properly cry.
“How long?” she asked.
“A week.”
She looked at the lock. Then at me. Then at the untouched pie.
“Have you eaten anything today?”