MY SON-IN-LAW CALLED MY DAUGHTER “BUTTERBALL” AND TOLD HER SHE WASN’T ALLOWED TO HAVE DESSERT AT OUR FAMILY DINNER — HE HAD NO IDEA I WAS ABOUT TO MAKE HIM REGRET IT.

happened.

No dishes broke.

Yet the entire room suddenly felt tense.

Sally looked down at her plate.

Little Emmy glanced between her parents and quietly said, “Daddy, that’s not nice.”

Greg laughed. “Relax, Em. Grown-ups can joke.”

I placed my glass down. “Not every cruel thing becomes a joke just because someone laughs afterward.”

His eyes turned toward me.continue reading …