He reached his chopsticks toward my plates. I smacked them away with mine.
"I already told you. You chose to eat Nora's food. You don't get to touch mine."
"You made way too much. It's just going to go to waste."
"I'd rather dump it in the trash than give you a single bite."
"Judy, are you serious right now?!"
I ignored him and kept eating, one big mouthful after another.
Vincent slammed his chopsticks down and sat there glaring at me.
John polished off Nora's leftovers in minutes. Vincent didn't get a single bite.
"Daddy, I'm still hungry."
Vincent stood up. "Come on, buddy. Daddy's taking you out to eat."
John leapt off his chair. "Yes! I want pizza!"
The two of them strolled out the door without a care in the world and didn't come back until late.
The second day, the same thing sat in front of them: Nora's leftovers.
This time, it was nothing more than some watery gravy over plain rice.
John took one look and slapped the table. "How am I supposed to eat this?!"
Vincent grabbed the container and tossed it straight into the trash. "Don't worry, buddy. Daddy'll take you out again."
John stuck his tongue out at me. "We're going to KFC! Have fun being jealous!"
On the third day, before I could even head over to Nora's to pack up leftovers, Vincent cut me off.
"Don't bother. I'm taking John to eat at Nora's directly."
He crossed his arms. "You won't let us eat your food? Fine. We'll just go eat at her place."
John was practically vibrating with excitement. "Aunt Nora is so pretty and nice, and her food is amazing! I wish she was my mom instead. Daddy, can you just get me a new mom?"
Vincent shot me a smug look. "I'll think about it."
The two of them walked over to Nora's front door, and Vincent raised his hand and knocked.
I leaned against the doorframe and watched them.
Vincent held his chin high, dripping with self-importance. "Even if you begged us to come home for dinner, we wouldn't go."
John parroted him right on cue. "Yeah! Me and Dad are eating at Aunt Nora's from now on! Even if you got on your knees and begged us to eat your food, we wouldn't touch it!"
I just stood there, watching.
Nora's door opened.
Vincent explained why they were there, but Nora didn't invite them in.
"Sorry, I only made enough for me and my daughter."
Vincent's face stiffened. "That's fine. We'll come back tomorrow, then. We won't freeload—I can pay for groceries."