When Jake’s conservative mother went to extremes to exclude his wife and stepdaughter from a family dinner, he decided to teach her a harsh lesson about the true meaning of family.
A year ago, I met Linda, and my life changed forever. She’s amazing—kind, smart, and incredibly strong. With her came her little daughter, May, whose infectious laugh brightens even the gloomiest days. May’s dad isn’t in the picture, so I naturally stepped into that role. It felt right like she was always meant to be part of my life.
But then there’s my mom. She’s very conservative with rigid views about family. Linda is Black, and while Mom never said anything outright, her actions spoke volumes.
She always had an excuse whenever we invited her over.
