Rosa, standing on her parents\u2019 doorstep, took a deep breath, trying to prepare herself.<\/p>\n
She had a box of her mom\u2019s favorite chocolates in her hand, something she always brought along during her visits.<\/p>\n
She loved her parents deeply, but each visit seemed to come with a price\u2014a long, awkward conversation about her love life, or more accurately, her lack of one.<\/p>\n
At 32, she had a steady job and a fulfilling life, but her parents, especially her mom, couldn\u2019t seem to accept that.<\/p>\n
Finally, she rang the doorbell. Within seconds, her mom, Jolene, opened the door, her face lighting up as if she hadn\u2019t seen her daughter in years.<\/p>\n
\u201cHello, dear! So good to see you!\u201d Her mom\u2019s warmth was always comforting, despite the inevitable topic she knew would come up.<\/p>\n
\u201cI missed you too, Mom,\u201d Rosa replied, giving her mom a quick hug.<\/p>\n
\u201cCome on in, don\u2019t just stand out there!\u201d Jolene said, motioning her in. Rosa stepped inside, and her mom quickly took the box of chocolates, beaming.<\/p>\n
Rosa sat on the couch, noticing how every picture and little decoration seemed to have a story. This home had always been a place she could feel safe, even if it came with its share of pressure.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere\u2019s dad?\u201d Rosa asked, hoping to steer the conversation somewhere safe.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, he\u2019s out in town. His car\u2019s acting up again. I keep telling him that old clunker isn\u2019t worth fixing anymore, but he insists. You know how he is. He even named it, you know\u2026 Lucille,\u201d her mom laughed, rolling her eyes a little.<\/p>\n
Rosa smiled, picturing her dad stubbornly fixing his old car.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, I remember. That car has been around forever.\u201d She paused, but it didn\u2019t take long for her mom to change the subject.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, how are you, really?\u201d Jolene asked, her tone shifting. Rosa knew what was coming. \u201cHave you met anyone special?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMom\u2026\u201d Rosa sighed, bracing herself.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat? You\u2019re not young anymore, Rosa,\u201d her mom continued. \u201cYour dad and I\u2026 well, we might not be around forever to see grandkids if things keep going like this.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rosa rolled her eyes. \u201cMom, you know I hate talking about this.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know, I know,\u201d Jolene said, not backing down.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut we just want the best for you, honey. It\u2019s not that we don\u2019t appreciate your independence. We just worry about you being alone.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rosa shook her head, trying to suppress a groan.<\/p>\n
\u201cMom, I\u2019m fine. Really.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, but listen,\u201d Jolene went on, \u201cjust the other day, we ran into the Petersons. They stopped by, and guess who was with them\u2026 their son, Robert.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh no, don’t start with Robert again\u2026\u201d Rosa said, sighing.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a good man!\u201d her mom argued, looking genuinely enthusiastic.<\/p>\n
Rosa crossed her arms.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe last time I saw him, he was like, 14 years old. I barely remember him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you two got along so well back then!\u201d Jolene insisted.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t see why you wouldn\u2019t even consider giving him a chance.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMom,\u201d Rosa said firmly, \u201cyou\u2019re acting like I\u2019m some kind of\u2026 product that you get to arrange for someone.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, sweetheart, it\u2019s not like that,\u201d her mom replied, softening her tone.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe just want to help. In fact, we even invited the Petersons over for Thanksgiving dinner.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rosa\u2019s eyes widened.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t worry, it\u2019s nothing serious, just a casual meet-up,\u201d Jolene tried to assure her. \u201cMaybe something will change. Who knows?\u201d<\/p>\n
Rosa put her face in her hands, exasperated.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wouldn\u2019t be surprised if you pulled out a wedding dress for me at this point.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jolene chuckled.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, come on. I\u2019m not asking for a wedding on the spot, just a simple dinner. Give it a chance, honey.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rosa let out a sigh, feeling defeated.<\/p>\n
Thanksgiving dinner was shaping up to be anything but relaxing, but she knew there was no escaping it now.<\/p>\n
She just hoped it wouldn\u2019t be as unbearable as she feared.<\/p>\n
Thanksgiving had arrived, and once again, Rosa found herself standing on her parents\u2019 doorstep, frozen with nerves.<\/p>\n
She took a deep breath, hesitating as she heard voices and laughter drifting from inside.<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, Rosa,\u201d she muttered to herself, \u201cIt\u2019s just dinner\u2026you can get through this.\u201d Finally, she knocked, and within seconds, the door swung open to reveal her mother, already beaming.<\/p>\n
\u201cCome on in, Rosa! The Petersons are already here!\u201d Jolene exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Rosa, standing on her parents\u2019 doorstep, took a deep breath, trying to prepare herself. She had a box of her mom\u2019s favorite chocolates in her hand, something she always brought along during her visits. She loved her parents deeply, but each visit seemed to come with a price\u2014a long, awkward conversation about her love life, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":2992,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2991","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tales"],"yoast_head":"\n