On an empty road on a sunny holiday evening, a car cruised along. Inside, behind the wheel, was Ethan, a cheerful man with a perpetual smile on his face.

He was steering with one hand while carefully scrolling through his playlist with the other.

Concentrated on two tasks, his gaze constantly shifted between the road and the player. The bright sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow on his face.

Next to him sat his wife, Claire. Her arms were crossed tightly over her chest, and her eyes stared straight ahead, avoiding Ethan.

Her face was a picture of irritation, her lips pressed into a thin line. The tension in the car was palpable, almost as if a cloud of unease hung over them.

After what seemed like ages, Ethan finally settled on a song. "Take Me Home, Country Roads" by John Denver filled the car.

Ethan's smile widened, and he nodded his head in time with the music.

"Almost Heaven..." he began to sing, glancing at Claire, hoping she would join in. His voice was warm and inviting, filled with the hope that the music might lighten her mood.

But Claire remained silent, her eyes fixed firmly on the passing scenery outside. Her irritation only seemed to deepen.

Seeing her reaction, Ethan, undeterred, turned up the volume a little, the familiar tune growing louder.

Claire’s face tightened, and she turned away even more, pressing herself against the car door as if trying to escape the sound.

"Turn it down..." she muttered, her voice barely audible over the music.

Ethan wasn’t ready to give up. He took a deep breath and sang even louder, "Country roads, take me home, to the place I belong..."

He looked at Claire with a wide grin, trying to draw her into the song, hoping his enthusiasm would be contagious.

Claire's patience snapped. With a swift, angry motion, she reached out and turned off the player. The car fell into a sudden, heavy silence. The tension thickened, filling the space between them like a dense fog.

"What’s wrong? Did I do something?"

Ethan asked, his voice filled with concern and a hint of confusion. He kept his eyes on the road but occasionally glanced at Claire, hoping for some explanation.

"It’s not you... I’m just not in the mood for songs... you know why..." Claire's voice was tight with suppressed emotion.

"Because of my mom, right? It's just for the weekend, dear..." Ethan’s voice was gentle, trying to soothe her.

"She hates me... She always finds something wrong... Either I cook wrong, clean wrong, talk wrong, look wrong... I can't even breathe without hearing that something's wrong with me." Claire’s words tumbled out in a rush, her frustration clear.

"I know, dear, I have no idea why she's picking on you like that. But it’s only for this weekend, I promise I’ll talk to her to be kinder." Ethan reached out to touch her hand, but she pulled away, still too upset to be comforted.

"No need, the last thing I need is for her to know I’m complaining about her. Let her do what she wants, I just wonder why she does it."

Claire's voice wavered, and she let out a heavy sigh, staring down at her lap.

"We can't change the direction of the wind..." Ethan said softly, glancing at her with a hopeful smile.

Claire sighed sadly, feeling the weight of the weekend ahead pressing down on her.

"But we can adjust the sails," Ethan added with a smile, hoping to bring a little lightness to the conversation.

A small smile tugged at the corners of Claire’s mouth. She reached over and pressed the player, starting the song again. "Country road! Take me hoooome," they sang together.

Ethan sang loudly and diligently, while Claire joined in with less enthusiasm but already starting to feel a bit lighter. The warmth of the music and the moment shared began to melt away the tension, if only just a little.

Arriving at Ethan’s mother Linda’s house, they immediately noticed that her lawn was unkempt, and the yard was a bit dirty. Weeds were poking through the cracks in the walkway, and the bushes were overgrown.

"I've offered her so many times to order lawn mowing for her," Claire said, shaking her head.

"You know her, she doesn’t like it when someone helps her," Ethan replied, his voice calm and understanding.

"Yes, yes, everything herself... That’s our Linda," Claire added sarcastically, rolling her eyes.

"Don't mock her, she's still my mom," Ethan said, a gentle reminder in his tone.

"I know, it’s just that she’s all alone here..." Claire trailed off, her voice softening.

"You mean well, but trust me. Over time, everything will change," Ethan reassured her, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.

Just then, the door opened, and Linda came out, wiping her hands on her apron. "Ethan, what took you so long? The food is getting cold, come in quickly," she called out, her tone brisk but warm.

"Hi Mom, we're coming," Ethan replied with a smile, waving at her.

"Hello, Linda," Claire greeted calmly, trying to keep her voice neutral.

Linda looked at Claire, sized her up, and in a half-tone said, "And you came? Welcome..."

Ethan understandingly looked at Claire, giving her a supportive nod, and walked inside with her, ready to face whatever came next.

The evening would be long, and neither of them knew how it would unfold. But deep inside, both hoped that this time, things would be different.