Vincent and John came back together after eating at Nora's.

Vincent noticed I'd cleared everything off the table and looked at me. "Where's the food?"

I pointed at the trash can beside me.

"Why the hell did you throw it out? I'm still hungry!"

"That sounds like a you problem. Not my concern."

Vincent had no comeback. He went and made himself a cup of instant noodles.

I glanced at my son's round little belly. Vincent must have let John eat most of the leftovers at Nora's, which was why he hadn't gotten enough himself.

"Johnny, starting tomorrow, Mommy's going to bring back food from Aunt Nora's house for you. Doesn't that sound great?"

He jumped up and down, beaming. "Yes! Finally I don't have to eat your gross cooking anymore!"

"But here's the deal. If you choose to eat Aunt Nora's food, then you can never eat Mommy's cooking again. Ever."

"Fine! Who wants it anyway!"

He grabbed Vincent's hand. "Daddy's with me too."

I looked at Vincent. He grinned.

"I'm with my son."

"Fine."

The first day of the new arrangement, I set the food I'd packed up from Nora's house on the table.

John craned his neck to look and immediately scrunched up his face.

"These are leftovers."

"Of course they're leftovers. You're the one who loves Aunt Nora's leftovers so much, so eat up."

"Whatever. Leftovers are still better than anything you make."

In front of me sat four freshly cooked dishes, still steaming: braised ribs, garlic butter shrimp, clam and egg custard, and baby bok choy in garlic sauce.

Every single dish looked and smelled incredible.

In front of Vincent and John sat the food I'd brought back from Nora's in plastic bags. Cold. Picked over. There was barely enough for John alone.

Vincent frowned. "That's all there is?"

"Can't help it. That's all she had left today."

He reached his chopsticks toward my plates. I smacked them away with mine.

"I already told you. You chose to eat Nora's food. You don't get to touch mine."

"You made way too much. It's just going to go to waste."

"I'd rather dump it in the trash than give you a single bite."

"Judy, are you serious right now?!"

I ignored him and kept eating, one big mouthful after another.

Vincent slammed his chopsticks down and sat there glaring at me.

John polished off Nora's leftovers in minutes. Vincent didn't get a single bite.

"Daddy, I'm still hungry."

Vincent stood up. "Come on, buddy. Daddy's taking you out to eat."

John leapt off his chair. "Yes! I want pizza!"

The two of them strolled out the door without a care in the world and didn't come back until late.

The second day, the same thing sat in front of them: Nora's leftovers.

This time, it was nothing more than some watery gravy over plain rice.

John took one look and slapped the table. "How am I supposed to eat this?!"

Vincent grabbed the container and tossed it straight into the trash. "Don't worry, buddy. Daddy'll take you out again."

John stuck his tongue out at me. "We're going to KFC! Have fun being jealous!"

On the third day, before I could even head over to Nora's to pack up leftovers, Vincent cut me off.

"Don't bother. I'm taking John to eat at Nora's directly."

He crossed his arms. "You won't let us eat your food? Fine. We'll just go eat at her place."

John was practically vibrating with excitement. "Aunt Nora is so pretty and nice, and her food is amazing! I wish she was my mom instead. Daddy, can you just get me a new mom?"

Vincent shot me a smug look. "I'll think about it."

The two of them walked over to Nora's front door, and Vincent raised his hand and knocked.

I leaned against the doorframe and watched them.

Vincent held his chin high, dripping with self-importance. "Even if you begged us to come home for dinner, we wouldn't go."

John parroted him right on cue. "Yeah! Me and Dad are eating at Aunt Nora's from now on! Even if you got on your knees and begged us to eat your food, we wouldn't touch it!"

I just stood there, watching.

Nora's door opened.

Vincent explained why they were there, but Nora didn't invite them in.

"Sorry, I only made enough for me and my daughter."

Vincent's face stiffened. "That's fine. We'll come back tomorrow, then. We won't freeload—I can pay for groceries."

"Sorry, but cooking for two extra people is a hassle. And I don't need your grocery money."

Vincent clearly hadn't expected such a blunt rejection. He stood there, rooted to the spot, with nowhere to put his hands.

To salvage what was left of his pride, he raised his voice.

"Don't worry, Johnny! From now on, Dad's taking you out to eat every night. Whatever you want, we'll get it!"

I let out a quiet laugh and turned back inside.

On Vincent's salary, after the mortgage and car payments, there was barely anything left. Eating out every night? He wouldn't last three days.

Sure enough, that evening he came home with a sour expression and got straight to the point.

"Transfer me five hundred dollars."

"No."

His eyes went wide. "You make that much money every month—how can you not have five hundred bucks?"

"Oh, so you do know I make good money. Funny how that doesn't stop you from trashing me in front of our son."

"When have I ever trashed you?!"

Whether he admitted it or not didn't matter to me.

"You're a grown man holding his hand out to his wife for cash. And you don't even have the decency to be embarrassed about it."

"My entire paycheck goes to the mortgage and the car! You think I'd be broke otherwise? Fine—you pay next month's mortgage and car payment. That's what you get for refusing to cook for us!"

"The house and the car are both in your name. Why on earth would I pay for them?"

Vincent jabbed a finger in my direction, shaking with anger.

"Judy, it's pretty clear you don't want this marriage to work!"

He pulled John to his side. "Starting today, neither of us says a word to your mother. Let's teach her a lesson."

John agreed without hesitation, then shot me a dirty look for good measure.

They thought the silent treatment would break me. That if they ignored me long enough, I'd cave.

They really overestimated themselves and underestimated me.

A few days later, Vincent called me in a panic.

"Why is the power out? The water's off too! I checked with the neighbors—everyone else is fine!"

"I thought you weren't speaking to me. So why are you calling?"

"Did you forget to pay the utility bills? Pay them right now! Your son and I need water and electricity!"

"And what time is it, anyway? Why aren't you home yet?"

"Look, Johnny and I are being the bigger people here. We're not holding a grudge anymore. Now get back here and make us dinner."

I crossed my legs in the airport terminal and leaned back in my seat. "Sorry. Can't make it."

"What do you mean you can't make it? Hurry up—we're starving over here!"

"Why don't you go knock on Nora's door? Maybe she and her daughter have some leftovers to spare tonight."

"Anyway, I have to go. I'm about to board."

Vincent's voice exploded through the phone. "Board?! Where the hell are you going?"

"Vacation. I'll be back in three months at the earliest. There's a little surprise waiting for you on the desk in the study. Go take a look."

I hung up and powered off my phone.