The next day, yours truly had scored three free tickets to Disneyland.  Bratty was super-excited and wanted to get up at the crack of dawn to get going.  She had a late night flight out of the airport nearby to head home, so the plan was for the three of us to spend the day there, grab some dinner, and then drop Bratty off at the airport.  I was still upset from the day before but decided to put on a happy face and get through the rest of Bratty’s visit. 

We actually had a nice day at Disneyland.  The rides and entertainment were a pleasant distraction for all three of us.  We ate some non-vegan junk food (all paid for by SO and I) and Bratty had a very non-vegan lunch of salmon and veggies.  Followed up with some non-vegan churros (damn those Disneyland churros are freakin’ delicious) and caramel dipping sauce.  At any rate I did not point out that Bratty was apparently no longer vegan and just focused on enjoying myself and having some fun.

As it started getting late in the afternoon, SO asked Bratty where she wanted to go for dinner before her flight.  Without hesitation, Bratty wanted to go to [wait for it….]………Boston Market for dinner.  Now I was confused as less than 24 hours prior Bratty was dismissing my homemade (and delicious, if I do say so myself) Thanksgiving dinner.  But today Boston Market was the place to go.  SO didn’t say a word as he’s used to this type of behavior from Bratty but I was definitely annoyed.  Nevertheless, Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho, it’s off to Boston Market we go.

Once there Bratty proceeds to order a meal of chicken and mac.  In silent protest (and to be honest I wasn’t hungry after all the eating at Disneyland) I ordered nothing.  Chicken is not vegan.   Mac and cheese is not vegan.  Nor was the cornbread that she also devoured.  I still said nothing and continued my silent protest.  Bratty asked me if I wanted some of her meal.  I said no thanks.  A few minutes go by and Bratty asks again.  I’m wondering if she’s trying to taunt me at this point and I snap a bit and say no thanks and no need to ask again.  A bit rude of me but it was going to be a bigger argument if I didn’t shut her up to be honest. 

Bratty didn’t ask again and we dropped her off at the airport after dinner.  She did say thank you for hosting her to both of us as she left to catch her flight.  We wished her safe travels and headed home, tired from a long day and another drama-filled visit.  The next day SO and I spoke and I told him it was completely unacceptable that he yelled at me at Thanksgiving.  I was struggling with Bratty’s behavior with me, SO’s lack of parenting Bratty, and communicating anything negative about Bratty at all to SO because he tended to get defensive.  We ultimate decided to find a therapist who would work with both of us as a couple on how to communicate about Bratty.  Our next chapter will cover the counseling sessions, and Bratty’s “Sorry, Not Sorry” apology letter to me.