Thawing the Ice

Elizabeth arrived home to see her mother-in-law, Jada, at the table. Elizabeth couldn't miss the large diamond glittering on her ring finger.

"Jada," Elizabeth said stiffly. "What brings you by?"

"Just visiting my son," Jada said. Their bellies were equally large with babies. "Clearing the air a little."

"How so?"

"Well, your white ex finally proposed. And I wanted to assure my son I understand I offended you both by what you caught Douglas and I doing. But I'm fixing the situation."

"If you're getting married to him, I hardly see how that's fixing it ..." Elizabeth trailed off as Jada smiled.

"He's learning his place. Your problem was you let him pretend to be some important bigshot. He's learning he ain't all that. I got that boy locked down tight, and really, you probably want ****. So what? A little more alimony? Fuck that. The best **** is what he's getting every night now. Ownership. Control. Being the little bitch he was always meant to be."

Elizabeth just stared at her, jaw agape. Jada smirked.

"I'll see you Sunday, Jamaal, to see your siblings. Douglas is making muffins."