When my boyfriend’s mother kept calling me “Scarlett” instead of Jasmine, I thought it was an honest mistake. But after months of this, I realized her “forgetfulness” was intentional. So, this Thanksgiving, I decided to serve up a dish she wouldn’t forget.
I never thought I’d be the cause of a Thanksgiving meltdown, but here we are.
A woman looking outside a window | Source: Midjourney
It all started two years ago when I met Arnold at work. He was everything I could want in a partner. We hit it off immediately, bonding over our shared love of 90s sitcoms and terrible puns.
Arnold was different from any guy I’d dated before. He listened when I spoke, remembered the little things I mentioned in passing, and always made me feel valued.
Whether it was surprising me with my favorite coffee on a rough Monday morning or holding my hand through a particularly stressful work presentation, he was my rock.
A couple holding hands | Source: Pexels
For two years, everything about our relationship was perfect.
It wasn’t until Arnold introduced me to his family that I realized there was a storm brewing beneath the surface of our seemingly calm relationship waters.
I was super nervous when Arnold drove me to his parents’ house to meet them for the first time. I’d spent hours choosing the perfect outfit and even baked a batch of my famous chocolate chip cookies as a peace offering.
But from the moment I walked in, all I heard about was Scarlett this, Scarlett that.
A woman sitting in her boyfriend’s house | Source: Midjourney
It took me a while to piece together that Scarlett was Arnold’s ex-girlfriend.
Scarlett was Arnold’s high school sweetheart. They’d been together for nine years, and she was practically part of the family. Arnold had never talked much about her, but his family couldn’t seem to stop.
Their breakup had shocked everyone, especially Arnold’s mom, Melissa. While Arnold had moved on and started dating me, his family… well, they were stuck in the past.
An older woman | Source: Midjourney
