The Misadventures of the Laundry Hag 00 - Skeletons in the Closet

viewed that life as a bitter pill to swallow. Neil had decided to make a clean break. He wanted to spend more time with his family and return to his New England roots. Honestly, I think I was having more trouble transitioning to life post-navy than he was.
    “You’ll always be a SEAL, just one whose wife isn’t developing ulcers from worry.”
    “Oh, come on, I could be electrocuted, or hit by a bus, or suffer a heart attack from your fabulous cooking.”
    “Or you could be poisoned by your tormented and mentally unhinged wife.”
    He laughed and reached out to smooth my hair. “That’s my little sadist. Why can’t you show some of that spunk to my mother? You know she’d appreciate it.”
    “Since she is so full of spunk herself?” I let the sarcasm drip.
    Neil stood and helped me to my feet. “My mother ferrets out and exploits weakness. The less you show, the happier you’ll be around her.” He squeezed my hand. “I know it’s hard for you, being so near to them now, and I know you don’t understand them. I hope you never do. Just let me know what I can do to make things easier on you.”
    “Teach me how to make that SEAL warrior face so I can scare the crap out of Sylvia.”
    “She’s still on your case, I take it.”
    I sighed. “You know I’m glad I met her because I really don’t know many other people around here, but why she’d do this….” I trailed off, since I was getting sick of my own belly-aching. Neil had listened to me rant for half the night, and I’m sure he’d had enough too.
    “Tell me something, Uncle Scrooge, why are you so against the idea? Is it the ambush or is it something else?”
    Neil is way too perceptive for my peace of mind.
    I led the way into the kitchen, stalling in a most obvious way by sticking my head in the refrigerator. Neil pulled me backwards against his chest. “What is it Maggie? I know something’s bothering you.”
    “I just…I feel inferior.”
    “Inferior how?”
    I swallowed the lump in my throat. “I don’t fit in. All of the people are sophisticated and worldly, and I’m the only stay-at-home mom around here.”
    Neil frowned. “No you aren’t. Josh’s friend Randy and a few kids in Kenny’s class all have stay-at-home mothers.”
    “No, they have society stay-at-home mothers, women who do event coordination and fund-raising for charity. Not mothers who clip coupons and shop clothing sales six months ahead. Those mothers don’t have to wipe the sweat from their checkbooks every month.”
    Neil hugged me, and I breathed in the confident and comforting smell of him. “You’re a terrific mother to those boys, and I’m the luckiest guy in the world to have you by my side. And don’t tell me you aren’t worldly in your own way. I happen to know of a late night trek along a major highway which resulted in a diamond ring being hurled into the Atlantic. How many women can claim that?” He released his grip and turned me so I looked into his eyes. “I see you, Maggie.”
    “I see you too.” I smiled at our special phrase.
    “ Mom! ”
    I glanced up at the sound of Kenny’s voice as he slammed the front door. Josh and Kenny stampeded into the house in the way only young boys could. Kenny had dropped his backpack in the entryway, but Josh clutched his to his chest like a life preserver.
    “Hey, guys, how was school?”
    Kenny squeezed past me, his nine-year-old body craving whatever the fridge had to offer. “ Borrrr- ing.”
    “Josh?” I felt a prickling at the back of my neck. Josh usually shoved his brother out of the way and joined in with the chorus of boring. Today, however, he seemed shell-shocked and clutched that backpack with all his might.
    Kenny surfaced from the fridge with an apple and one of those disgusting squeeze yogurts in the tube. “My teacher told us about the Native Americans coming to the first Thanksgiving, how they shared their food with the Pilgrims, ‘cause they were too stupid to grow their own food.”
    Neil cleared his throat. “They weren’t stupid, Kenny, they didn’t know how. The Indians showed them how.”
    “Mom always says ignorance is no excuse. Where there’s a will there’s a way.”
    “It’s Native Americans now, Neil,” I said. “It has been for a few decades. And Kenny, you’re right, I do say that, but if you don’t know how to do something, you need to ask for help. That was the point of the first Thanksgiving, that the Native Americans befriended the