– The holiday package you bought for my mum will have to be paid for by yourself, – said John coldly.
– What time will you be home today, John? – asked Emma, stretching in bed.
– Not before six, – John replied absently as he pulled on his jeans.
– I’ll be waiting for you, love, – Emma replied, offering her lips for a kiss.
– You’re going to be cooking and cleaning all day again? You should go out and enjoy yourself a bit; you might get stuck in a rut otherwise, – John suggested with a peck on her cheek.
– It’s not the same without you. I’ll catch up on some study in my free time, – said Emma with feigned sadness.
– Well, it’s up to you. Right, I’m off to work, – John said briskly, heading to the hallway.
Emma listened as the front door clicked shut, indicating John had left for work.
She picked up her smartphone and dialed a familiar number.
– Hello, John’s gone to work, so we can head to the spa treatments, – Emma chirped happily.
– Hi, see you at eleven in our café. We can have breakfast there too before we head out, – Jane, John’s mum, suggested.
– Agreed, see you then, – Emma replied, ending the call.
After a bit more of a lie-in, Emma got up to freshen up. When she married John, she’d feared his mum wouldn’t accept her.
Emma had little in the way of qualifications, just basic schooling and incomplete vocational training.
She wasn’t keen on working and lazy about housework. Not exactly a catch, and without a dowry.
Surprisingly, Jane saw Emma as an ideal prospect.
Jane, being shrewd and authoritative, saw the potential for Emma to become an obedient ally, thus better influencing her son through her.
Jane figured that an undereducated, unemployed young layabout would cling to John for dear life.
Her aim was to befriend Emma, ensuring she was an ally, not an opponent.
Jane knew her son wouldn’t live long with a lazy partner, so she taught Emma some shrewd tricks.
First, always know when John will be home from work. Second, just before he arrives, create the illusion of bustling activity.
And most importantly, have freshly made food ready on the table.
Since Emma wasn’t much of a cook and too lazy to learn, she either got food from Jane or ordered takeaway from a café.
– How’re you doing? Spill the beans, – Jane asked without preamble.
– Same old, same old. Today, he suggested I take some time to relax, – Emma replied with a slight smirk.
– Have you mentioned my wish to have a break at a retreat yet? Best hurry, those packages might sell out soon, – Jane said businesslike.
– Not yet, but I’ll start pressuring him today. I think within a week, I’ll persuade him to buy, and we could give it for your birthday, – Emma replied, gritting her teeth.
Emma didn’t like spending her husband’s money on others rather than herself.
But she couldn’t cross Jane, knowing she held too many secrets about her.
If Jane ever exposed her, Emma could kiss her carefree life goodbye.
Emma managed to get home half an hour before John’s return.
She popped a ready-made pizza in the oven and placed a packet of flour on the kitchen counter, smudging some on her shirt.
She stashed homemade dumplings from Jane in the freezer. As the front door opened, Emma hit the washing machine’s start button, filling the air with a gentle hum.
– You’re back? Just in time; the pizza’s done, – Emma exclaimed and hugged John happily.
– Aren’t you a star? Love you, – said John, grinning as he changed out of his work clothes.
After dinner, John did the dishes, and they settled in to watch their favorite series.
During the show, Emma broached the subject of a retreat. She convincingly argued how Jane, at her age, deserved a restful therapeutic break.
Emma earnestly tried to fulfill Jane’s task, even showing John a few retreats Jane had pre-approved.
John glanced at the prices and frowned. The package was as much as his month’s wage, so he didn’t buy it immediately, but promised to think about it…
They say secrets always come out. A few days later, John left work early.
Unlocking the front door, he was met with loud music thumping from the bedroom.
Puzzled, he veered to the kitchen, expecting to find Emma there.
Passing the bathroom, he overheard a conversation. Emma was talking to someone on her mobile.
Intrigued about the topic and the person, John pressed his ear to the door.
Emma was chatting with his mum on speakerphone, and he could hear everything clearly.
– Jane, I told you, give me a week, and John will buy that package for you, – Emma grumbled, barely hiding her irritation.
– It’s already the fourth day, if you haven’t noticed! I don’t need a daughter-in-law who makes me do everything! – Jane retorted.
– It’ll happen! If worst comes to worst, I’ll get a credit card and buy the package myself, leaving John to settle the bill, – Emma assured her.
– Just remember, it’s best to be friends rather than foes, – Jane stated calmly.
– I’m aware. Anyway, I’ve still got food to order and chores to simulate. Goodbye, Jane, – Emma said, ending the call.
John was floored by the revelation. He realized he was being deceived by both his wife and mother.
Quietly shutting the door, John left the apartment and wandered to a nearby café.
He needed to mull things over. He didn’t want a divorce, though he was furious; nor did he want a life built on lies.
He decided to teach both his mum and wife a lesson by turning the tables on them.
That evening, John returned home acting as if nothing had happened.
– John, I’ve got a credit card and bought your mum a holiday package. I thought it was the least I could do since she’s done so much for us, – Emma stated, leaving out details.
– A noble gesture, given how much she supports you, – John said, smiling.
Emma missed the sarcasm, delightedly messaging Jane about securing the package.
Days later, John was nowhere to be seen. For the first time in their marriage, Emma grew anxious and began calling him.
– Where are you? I’ve made us dinner and am waiting to eat with you, – Emma reproached.
– I’m at my hotel room window, gazing at the sea, – John replied contentedly.
– You’re joking, right? – Emma tittered nervously.
– No, no joke. I overheard your scheming with mum, – John said calmly.
– What scheme? – Emma was shocked by his words.
– No need to hide it. I’ve realized you weren’t exactly a chef before our wedding yet suddenly became one overnight.
– I just…
– I told you, no need for excuses. The holiday package you bought for my mum – you’re paying for it. So find a job before I return from holiday. I’ve done enough for you two; now it’s my turn to relax, – John said coldly and hung up.
When he returned after two weeks, he found that neither Emma nor his mother was speaking to the other.
Emma felt let down by Jane for refusing to cover the holiday costs, and Jane resented Emma for revealing their secrets to him.
