The One Star Wife

In our house, Mom had to live by a performance review system.

But Dad was the one who held the absolute veto.

For five years, every single thing she wanted to do had to go through a family vote before it could happen. It applied to the big things, like looking for a job or going to visit Grammy, down to the smallest detail of what we were having for dinner.

Until last night, when Mom’s appendix flared up. She was crying, clutching her stomach, begging Dad to drive her to the emergency room.

But his eyes never left his phone screen.