I was burning with a 102°F fever when my mother-in-law used our emergency key to walk into my bedroom, photographed me at my worst, and posted the picture online to shame me. But when my husband saw what she had done, his calm reaction frightened me more than her cruelty.
The kitchen was still dark that Monday morning when I poured my first cup of coffee. Six o’clock had always been my favorite part of the day. Quiet, predictable, mine.
Even though I felt awful, I packed Nathan’s lunch, answered a few work emails, and folded the towels I had left in the dryer overnight.
Nathan walked in around six-thirty, took one look at me, and frowned.
“You’re shaking, Claire.”
“I’m fine.”
“You have a 102-degree fever. You are absolutely not fine.”
He wanted to stay home, but I insisted he go to work. I promised I would stay in bed and sleep.
Before leaving, he kissed my forehead.
“Do nothing today.”
I should have listened.
By eleven-thirty, I had finally fallen into a deep, feverish sleep.
Then my bedroom door slammed against the wall.
I opened my eyes and saw Patricia standing there with our emergency key dangling from one finger.
“Almost noon,” she announced. “And you’re still in bed?”
I struggled to sit up.
“Patricia, I’m sick.”
She looked at the tissues, medicine, and thermometer beside me and gave one of those little disapproving hums I had spent eight years trying not to hate.
“We all get sick, Claire. My generation still got up and took care of our husbands.”
“I have a 102-degree fever.”
“Nathan is working while you’re lying around.”
Then she pulled out her phone.
My stomach dropped.