Emily knew her husband well enough to recognize that he was frustrated, not just for Daniel’s sake, but for her as well.
He hated that his mother was casting suspicion on the family they had worked so hard to build. It felt like an invasion, as though Susan’s doubts were a threat to the foundation of their relationship.
One evening, after a particularly exhausting family dinner where Susan had made more pointed comments about Daniel’s appearance, Mark broke down.
He and Emily sat together on their living room couch after putting Daniel to bed. “I don’t know what to do anymore,” Mark confessed, running a hand through his hair in frustration.
“My mom won’t stop. It’s like she’s convinced herself there’s something wrong, and nothing I say makes a difference.”
Emily sighed, placing her hand on his. “I know, Mark. But we can’t let this go on forever. It’s not fair to Daniel or to us.”
