On an empty road on a sunny holiday evening, a car cruised along. Inside, behind the wheel, was Nathan, 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, Emily. Her arms were crossed tightly over her chest, and her eyes stared straight ahead, avoiding Nathan.

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, Nathan finally settled on a song. “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver filled the car.

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

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

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

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

Emily’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.

Nathan 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 Emily with a wide grin, trying to draw her into the song, hoping his enthusiasm would be contagious.

Emily'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?” Nathan asked, his voice filled with concern and a hint of confusion. He kept his eyes on the road but occasionally glanced at Emily, hoping for some explanation.

“It’s not you… I’m just not in the mood for songs… you know why…” Emily's voice was tight with suppressed emotion.

“Because of my mom, right? It's just for the weekend, dear...” Nathan’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.” Emily’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.” Nathan 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.”

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

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

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

“But we can adjust the sails,” Nathan added with a smile, hoping to bring a little lightness to the conversation.

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

Nathan sang loudly and diligently, while Emily 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 Nathan’s mother Margaret’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,” Emily said, shaking her head.

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

“Yes, yes, everything herself... That’s our Margaret,” Emily added sarcastically, rolling her eyes.

“Don't mock her, she's still my mom,” Nathan said, a gentle reminder in his tone.

“I know, it’s just that she’s all alone here...” Emily trailed off, her voice softening.

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

Just then, the door opened, and Margaret came out, wiping her hands on her apron. “Nathan, 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,” Nathan replied with a smile, waving at her.

“Hello, Margaret,” Emily greeted calmly, trying to keep her voice neutral.

Margaret looked at Emily, sized her up, and in a half-tone said, “And you came? Welcome...”

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

The evening ahead was bound to be filled with tension, but maybe, just maybe, there was still hope for understanding and reconciliation.