Tracy and Patricia.

Tracy was in love with Mark, and he was in love with her. And that was the end of the story. They’d been living together for a while, and she knew she’d say yes if and when he asked her to marry him. If she had his family’s blessing for that, then great. If not, then that was great too. If anything, not getting their blessing would make it more fun.

​ After her shower, she checked her phone.

​ “Yup,” she said. “Five more missed calls. And, oh look. A text.” The message read:

“Come to the house, or I will go to you. Take your pick.”

Tracy sighed.

​ “Fine. Be there within the hour”Sabrina messaged back.

Mark did not know about these exchanges with his mother. He thought they were meeting for brunch every time Tracy went over. She would tell him one day, of course. But, not until his mother gave up.

She would win this war on her own. Tracy decided she needed to look strong, and powerful. Not like the demure lady her mother-in-law wanted her to be.

“I need to look like a badass bitch toda