“Your wife ruins all our celebrations,” declared the mother to her son.
“Lily suggested we all meet tomorrow at a restaurant or café,” Harry eagerly shared with his mother over a video call.
“That’s a good idea, but Lily should pick the place in advance so we don’t end up switching venues again during the ordering process,” requested Mary Richardson calmly.
“We’ve already chosen, no need to worry. A new place has opened up nearby, and we’ll give it a go tomorrow,” Harry continued, chatting away without a care.
“New, you say… Alright, send me the address and let me know what time your father and I should arrive,” Mary agreed with an air of resignation.
“Consider it done,” replied Harry before ending the call.
Soon, Mary received a message from Harry with the address and time. She had two daughters-in-law and a son-in-law, and she had decent relationships with all of them, except for Lily.
Mary didn’t meddle in Lily’s life, nor did she offer unsolicited advice; instead, she tried to keep her distance and interact as little as possible. This was because Lily lacked dining etiquette and had no sense of tact.
A couple of months earlier, the family had gathered at a restaurant, and rather than enjoying the food and conversation, they ended up dealing with Lily’s whims.
Lily found fault with the dishes, the server’s lack of a smile, and the limited menu. The latter complaint even led to changing restaurants several times in one evening.
And even then, she found something to criticize. She ordered a salad and requested it without onions.
“Here’s your salad, just as you ordered, no onions,” announced the waiter, placing the dish in front of Lily.
“And what’s that on top?” she asked with a dissatisfied look, pointing her manicured nail at a sprig of dill.
“A sprig of dill for garnish,” the waiter responded, confused.
“Did I ask for dill in my salad?” she continued, pursing her lips in annoyance.
“If you’d like, I can remove it. There’s no dill in the salad itself,” offered the waiter, thinking he had found a reasonable solution.
“Take away the whole salad; my appetite is ruined… just bring me my milkshake,” Lily demanded arrogantly, turning her gaze to the window.
Lily’s whims were fulfilled without objection from the staff, but naturally, the evening’s atmosphere was ruined. She sat sulkily while her relatives ate and chatted, making dining out with her a chore.
Family gatherings fared no better. Lily’s temperamental ways soured every meal.
She even managed to cause a scene at Harry’s aunt’s funeral.
“Who made these pancakes? They’re like rubber!” she exclaimed during the wake.
“Sweetheart, you don’t need to shout about it, just don’t eat them, that’s all,” Mary tried to calm Lily down as she noticed disapproving glances from relatives.
“What else is there anyway? I cook better for my dog. Even the drinks and juice are cheap. Ugh,” Lily grimaced with distaste.
“We’re here to pay respects, not to dine, so please show some respect and stop complaining,” said Mary quietly.
“That’s just it! We’re here to pay respects, and there’s nothing decent,” Lily muttered sadly.
It seemed the issue was swept under the rug, but only for the time being.
Later, several relatives called Mary, indignantly relaying how Harry’s wife had complained to them about the food.
Mary felt embarrassed and vowed never to bring Lily to such events again.
As Mary’s birthday approached, Lily and her husband planned to attend the family celebration. Knowing this, Mary informed everyone she was feeling unwell and postponed the celebration indefinitely. She knew Harry was scheduled to go on a business trip for a few days at the end of the month. She planned accordingly.
As soon as Harry called his mother from another city, she began sending invitations to the other children. Naturally, no one informed Lily about the upcoming family gathering.
Mary’s birthday was a joyful event, free from disgruntled and offended guests. There were no complaints about the food or drinks. For the first time in two years, she enjoyed time with her children.
The happiness, however, was short-lived.
Someone at the party posted photos on social media, which inevitably found their way to Lily.
“Hello, Mary Richardson, did you celebrate your birthday?” Lily asked, her voice tinged with hurt.
“Yes, it was already delayed by a few weeks,” Mary replied, not denying it.
“And why wasn’t I invited?”
“Well, with Harry away for work, you’d have been bored by yourself…”
“I’m never bored with you all. Why didn’t you wait for Harry to come back?” Lily asked suspiciously.
“Because your sour demeanor ruins every celebration!” Mary blurted out, regretting it immediately.
“What?! I ruin them? I thought you were a kind woman, but you’re a snake,” Lily sobbed before ending the call.
A few hours later, Harry called his mother to scold her.
“Why do you treat my wife like that? What did we ever do to you?” Harry demanded.
“You’ve done nothing, but Lily constantly ruins celebrations, and you never set her straight,” Mary decided to be frank.
“How does she ruin them?” Harry asked, surprised.
“With her whims and complaints, you can’t even have a decent meal at a restaurant or home with her. She’s always complaining and dissatisfied,” Mary finally expressed.
“She’s just straightforward and honest, unlike you, and she treated you like a mother.”
“Straightforwardness and rudeness are different. If she wants to be like a daughter to me, she should behave accordingly, not like a spoiled brat!”
“Okay, I’ll keep an eye on her and explain how to behave. But in return, promise to always invite Lily to family gatherings,” Harry suggested unexpectedly, calming down.
“Alright, but that’ll be on your head. We’ll test it at the next gathering,” Mary agreed reluctantly.
Of course, Lily didn’t change, though she tried to hold back and avoid making scenes, but it didn’t go over well. Mary could only sigh and try to ignore her daughter-in-law’s antics. Mary didn’t want to fight with Harry anymore, so she chose the lesser of two evils.
