Teague, I know very little of what happened between him and you and anyone else, and I do not consider it to be any of my business.
I know that Miniver can be a crude, insensitive, self-absorbed, weaselly, fickle, bratty, spoiled bully. Speaking neutrally, if you or anyone else took action to put him in his place for that, I applaud you. He has never mistreated me, but I have seen him act that way to other people.
You must understand something I rarely discuss with anyone, Teague, which is that... I do love him. I do genuinely love him, with all my heart, as a wife would love a husband. However, I also know that he does not, and CANNOT, ever return that love. We are not as husband and wife to each other. I do not know him; I cannot speak for him; I cannot control him. I can TRY, but I do not think that is my obligation.
I thank you for your words, Teague. I am very, very happy to know that my son and I are still invited to be part of your family. If you will allow it, I would very much like to call you my brother, too, though I am not even your sister in law and never shall be. And I do truly thank you for treating my daughter as your daughter. I admit that I may have done her a disservice by never giving her a father figure to look up to. She is young and foolish and haughty and, for lack of a better word, stupid... but I believe she is a good girl at heart and I don't think she ever intended to hurt anyone.
Anyway... I also thank you for the offer of the jambalaya, but I'm not sure my stomach could take it right now. I'm in an odd Pregnant Lady swing. There's very little I can stomach right now.