Chapter 3
One time, Keaton and I were invited over by our former neighbors. While we were in the neighborhood, we bumped into Michael and Clara during a walk.
As soon as they saw us, their faces fell. Michael complained that we were invading their private space.
Keaton was so mad that he blurted out right then that he wanted to cut ties with them.
But after I cooled off, I started thinking that keeping the family together was what mattered.
Parents and kids couldn't stay angry for long, especially now that we had a grandson. It would be silly to keep holding grudges.
So, I convinced Keaton to let it go, and I kept compromising, time after time.
Whenever they needed money, they'd be all smiles, calling us "Mom" and "Dad."
But when they didn't, suddenly, it was all about their personal space and boundaries, keeping us at a distance.
In the end, we compromised so much that they started walking all over us, and it even cost Keaton his life.
Thinking about it, I wanted to slap myself.
"You look so pale," Keaton's worried voice snapped me back to reality. "Come on, let's go get you checked out at the hospital."
"Don't worry. I'm okay. It's probably all the wedding stuff wearing me out," I told him, trying to calm him down.
After making sure I was alright, Keaton glanced over at the door and sighed.
He said, "We bought two houses, one big and one small. We plan to give the smaller one to Michael for his wedding and keep the bigger one for ourselves.
"You always liked this spacious place, so it's right for the two of us.
"As for the smaller house, we can transfer it to them whenever they want.
"If they don't want to live there, they can sell it. Worst case, we'll chip in a bit more and let them figure out their own place."
Then he lowered his voice. "But you have to listen to me. Even though we've got our pensions, we should keep our savings under wraps and not mention a word to them.
"You're too soft-hearted, always thinking family should always be there for each other, but I don't think we can count on them."
Keaton always had a clearer view of things than I did. Back then, when I was looking after Johny, I took a nasty fall and ended up stuck in bed for over half a year.
Michael and Clara didn't bother to pay the medical bills, and not once did they come by to see me. Michael only called a couple of times to say a few polite words over the phone.
When I thought back on all that, I felt a lot more at peace.
I said, "If they want to be independent, as parents, we shouldn't crush their confidence. We don't need to hand over the house or fork out any cash.
"They're nearly forty. Let them stand on their own two feet. Everyone's got their own fate. Come on, it's still early. Let's go get our checkup at the hospital."
Keaton thought I was venting, so he kept trying to comfort me, telling me not to get upset.
I didn't say much more. I grabbed our IDs and other documents and then headed out the door with Keaton in a rush.
On the way, I didn't have time to think about anything else.
Once most of the test results came back, I made sure to ask the doctor if there was any risk of a heart attack. Only after he reassured me did I finally feel a bit more at ease.
Keaton noticed how anxious I was and gave my shoulder a clumsy pat, cracking a joke to cheer me up.
He smiled. "Hey, remember our wedding vows? We said we'd stick together till we're 99 and then go out hand in hand, side by side in bed.
"Don't worry. I'm not letting you go alone. If you go first, I'll be right behind you, a minute later. You won't have to be scared."
I ended up laughing as tears rolled down my face.
But then I remembered how Keaton had passed away at sixty-five last time, and sadness washed over me all over again.
Keaton and I had always been healthy, but as Michael and Clara's issues kept piling up, Keaton got more and more exhausted.
Especially when I was laid up in bed for over half a year after the severe fall, he visibly became more haggard.
He was the one handling everything, taking care of me, looking after Johnny, and running the whole household.
Even at his age, Keaton had to squeeze in time, swallow his pride, and go around asking old colleagues for any small jobs or side gigs he could find.
His eyes were so blurry, but he still had to hunch over the table, sketching designs late into the night.
He was worried he'd die before me, so he was making sure I'd be okay after he was gone.
But because of my own foolishness, he barely had a day of comfort in those last days of his life.
This time, for the rest of my days, I wanted to be with someone who truly deserved it and grew old together.
After we finished our checkup at the hospital, Keaton wanted to head straight to the market for groceries, but I pulled him into a cozy restaurant instead.
"Why go home to be their unpaid help? Trust me, if we take our time eating and stroll back, they'll still be hanging around," I said.
And I was spot on.
When we got home, Michael was slumped on the couch, looking grumpy.
He looked like he was ready to start lecturing us.
When he saw we were back empty-handed, he jumped up. "It's this late, and you still haven't bought groceries? Seriously, what's up with you guys?"
Then he added, "Whatever, we can eat out later. Mom, you need to go in and say sorry to Clara.
"She's packed up all her stuff and is dead set on leaving. No matter what I say, she won't change her mind."
As he said that, he started pulling me toward the room.
Keaton's face was cold as he was about to scold Michael.
But before he could say a word, there was a loud slap, and both Keaton and Michael stood there stunned.
While Michael was still stunned from the first slap, my anger boiled over, and I smacked him a few more times, not holding back.
Michael shouted, shocked, "Mom, what the hell are you doing?"
The door to the room was suddenly yanked open. Clara had been keeping an eye on what was happening outside.
I seized the moment and gave Michael two more hard slaps.
Michael clutched his face and stumbled back a couple of steps, his eyes blazing with anger. "Mom, are you crazy? You hit me?"