The Best of Everything by Kimberla Lawson Roby

that and sometimes her mother-in-law called her that, too. They’d accepted her right from the beginning, and she’d liked them both immediately. She was glad she didn’t have to deal with a horrid mother-in-law because she had certainly heard stories from so many other women she knew.
    When Alicia returned to the family room, she sat down on the sofa and curled her legs under her. “Phillip, did you want anything?”
    “No.”
    Phillip’s answer was short and curt, and he hadn’t even bothered looking at her. Maybe he was angrier than she’d thought, but what he didn’t know was that she was angry, too. Angry, irritated, and feeling like she was living with some prison warden.
    Mom Katherine could obviously tell something was wrong. “Son, is everything okay with you? You’ve been so quiet since we got home, and you seem distant.”
    “No, Mom, everything is fine.”
    Phillip’s parents looked at each other, and Alicia could tell they knew different.
    Alicia changed the subject. “So, Mom Katherine, in a couple of weeks, maybe I’ll drive over to the city so that you, my mom, and I can have lunch together.”
    “I’d really like that. I haven’t seen your mom since you and Phillip got married, but the two of us had such a great time that whole weekend.”
    “She talks about that, too.”
    “You make sure you tell her I said hello.”
    “I will.”
    After another two hours passed, Phillip’s parents gathered their garment and overnight bags and Phillip helped his dad load everything into the car.
    Mom Kathrine hugged Alicia and then Phillip. “Well, I guess it’s time to head back home.”
    Dad Phil hugged them next. “Yeah, we’d better get going before it gets too late.”
    Phillip stood with his arms folded. “You know I hate to see you go, but I understand.”
    “You two take care of yourselves, and we’ll be talking to you,” Mom Katherine said, smiling.
    Alicia smiled back. “You, too, and we love you both.”
    “We love both of you, too.”
    Alicia and Phillip stood in the front doorway, waving until his parents had left the driveway and were on their way down the street. Then, once they were back inside the house, Alicia shut the door and wasted no time giving Phillip a piece of her mind.
    “What I want to know is why you were trying to make me look bad in front of your parents. Because I didn’t appreciate that little snide remark you made about the housekeeper one bit.”
    “Look, Alicia. I’m tired, and all I want to do is enjoy the rest of my Sunday evening in peace. If you want to argue with someone, then by all means, please feel free to argue with yourself. But leave me out of it.”
    Alicia followed him back into the family room. “Excuse me?”
    Phillip sat down on the sofa and resumed watching the basketball game he’d sort of been watching while his parents were still there. But what pissed her off was that he acted as though she wasn’t even in the room with him. He acted as if she didn’teven exist. But she was going to make him talk to her one way or the other.
    “So, who was that tramp you introduced me to today?”
    “What? What tramp?”
    “You know exactly who I’m talking about, Phillip. That tramp Shandra.”
    “Didn’t you hear her say we went to high school together?”
    “Oh, I heard her loudly and clearly but with the way she was looking at you, I have a feeling that you were a lot more than just schoolmates. And I also saw how you were looking at her, too.”
    “You’re making something out of nothing.”
    “Am I now? So, you never dated her?”
    Phillip didn’t say anything.
    “Hello?”
    “What?!”
    “Did you or did you not date that woman?”
    “Okay, fine. Yes, we dated but that was a long time ago. Years and years ago.”
    “I knew she was more than just some acquaintance. I knew it as soon as I laid eyes on her and saw how she was acting around you.”
    “We were practically kids, Alicia, so why are you harping on