Chapter 4 - DIANA’S DEFINITION OF A WIFE
Diana Croft never liked servants serving family.
Not because she opposed hierarchy.
Because she believed women married into the Croft family should perform some of the service themselves.
Christmas dinner.
Daughters-in-law helped carry plates.
Birthday brunch.
Wives poured coffee.
Holiday garden party.
Women arranged dessert.
Men stood near bourbon.
The first time I noticed, I said:
“Does Nathan know how trays work?”
Diana smiled.
“Don’t be vulgar.”
I laughed.
She did not.
Nathan occasionally intervened.
“Mom, leave Elise alone.”
Then later:
“She’s old-fashioned. Don’t take it personally.”
There was that sentence again.
Do not take disrespect personally because the disrespecting person has been practicing longer.
When I became pregnant, Diana became worse.
Not because she wanted me lifting heavy things.
She wanted symbolic obedience.
Sit here.
Wear this.
Attend that.
Thank this aunt.
Call that cousin.
Let the family announce the pregnancy before my studio staff knew.
I refused often.
Nathan usually supported me.
Then the Maren problem began.
Suddenly he became tired of conflict.
“Can you just let Mom have one dinner?”
“Can you stop making everything a boundary?”
“Does every tradition need a debate?”
I thought pregnancy stress had shortened his patience.
Maybe guilt had.
If I was difficult, his betrayal became easier to narrate.
Maren did not become:
I chose someone else.
She became:
I needed somewhere uncomplicated.
May you like
That story would appear later.
Diana already believed it.
