Zina Abbott Books: Saturday Snippet: You Sit, Honored Mother-in-Law

Saturday, November 14, 2020

Saturday Snippet: You Sit, Honored Mother-in-Law

The following snippet is taken from my upcoming book,

Gift of Restitution: A Story for Christmas

Gold Mountain, Book 4

Odette grabbed a folded rag and lifted the lid of the iron pot. “Our supper is ready.”

Joy set her sewing project in her workbasket. “You sit, honored mother-in-law. I serve you supper.”

As he rose to his feet, Luke smiled and shook his head. He placed his hand under Joy’s elbow to help her to stand. He knew what was coming, for the two women played out the same scene almost nightly.

Odette laughed and shook her head. “I’m not the one who is big with child, Joy. You sit and I’ll serve.”

“But, I am your daughter-in-law. It is my duty I serve you.”

Luke kept his head down and mouth shut while he moved Joy’s chair to her to accustomed spot at the table. He knew from comments his mother had made in the past and from the way Odette sometimes studied his wife that she worried about Joy being so large with child. Compared to Ojibwa women, she considered Joy a small woman. She believed first babies were often difficult. She did not wish Joy to perform any task that might cause difficulties in her pregnancy.

“Maybe that’s how it is in China but not in my house. You may wait on me hand and foot when I’m old, Joy, not before.