Tired of letting her cold and uncaring mother-in-law ruin her husband’s birthday, Lila hides Carol’s birthday present from Bill to spare him the heartache and disappointment that usually accompany gifts from his mother. But when Lila’s secret is revealed, a series of events unfolds.
I could see my husband, Bill, was nervous. His birthday was approaching, and every year, his mother’s gift felt like a slap in the face.
Bill sat on our worn couch, his shoulders tense.
A man sitting on a sofa | Source: Midjourney
“Do you think she’ll really care this time?” he asked, trying to sound nonchalant.
I sighed, placing my hand on his. I didn’t know what I was supposed to say. I knew I should reassure him, but my husband’s relationship with his mother was complicated.
“Maybe,” I said. “But remember, we’re celebrating your birthday, not his. We’ll have a good time no matter what, darling.”
A couple holding hands | Source: Midjourney
Bill smiled at me, but it didn’t reach his eyes. I knew how much he wanted to feel loved and appreciated by Carol, but she had always failed to show it to him. It wasn’t just about gifts. It was about feeling.
Bill had told me the story a long time ago. He was her mother’s son from her first marriage, and their relationship was strong, but things took a turn when Carol met her second husband, Adam.
Things got even worse when Bill’s younger brothers were born. Suddenly, Carol only had eyes for Adam and their sons, making it clear to Bill that he was no longer a priority in her life.
A mother and her sons | Source: Midjourney
“Okay,” he said. “This year will be different.”
Deep down, I knew nothing would change. Carol was so set in her ways that nothing would ever make her realize her mistake.
Two days before his birthday, a small package arrived. Bill and I weren’t home, so our neighbor, Tom, received it.
A package on a table | Source: Midjourney
“Hey, Lila,” he said. “I just got home and there was a delivery for you. I signed for it, so just pick it up later.”
“Thanks, Tom!” I replied. “Please send me a picture?”
Moments later, Tom texted me a picture of the package. It was a wrapped box with a note on it that read:
Maybe this will help you stay on your toes!
A woman holding a phone | Source: Midjourney
I knew right away it was a message from Carol.
Not again. Not another gift that would only remind Bill how indifferent his mother was. I stared at the photo, my stomach knotted with a mixture of anger and sadness.
How could she have been so blind to the consequences of her actions?
Close-up of a woman frowning | Source: Midjourney
“What is this? What are you looking at?” Bill asked me as we walked through the grocery store, the cart wiggling between us.
“Nothing important,” I replied. “Just one of the girls from work.”
A shopping cart in a sunlit grocery aisle | Source: Midjourney
I texted Tom back:
I’ll come pick it up soon, thanks!
Tom’s response was not long in coming:
Of course! Don’t worry.
That evening when we got home, I told Bill I was going to run an errand while he made dinner.
A man in the kitchen | Source: Midjourney
“I just need to pick up something from Lisa’s across the street,” I said. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
“Sure, honey,” he said, stirring some chicken in a pan.
I left the house, quickly closing the door behind me. I wondered how I was going to explain the situation to Tom. I ran to Tom’s driveway, hoping the interaction would be quick.
Tom opened the front door with a smile.
Close-up of a pan of food | Source: Midjourney
“Hello,” he said, as if he’d been waiting for me all afternoon. “Come in.”
I walked into his house, my eyes immediately falling on the package on the table.
“What’s so secret about this package?” he said jokingly, approaching me as I inspected the note. “Why did you want to come and get it yourself? You know I could have brought it in and had a drink with Bill.”
A man standing in the doorway | Source: Midjourney
“It’s from Carol, Bill’s mother. Every year, she always sends Bill a horrible birthday present. And it always wrecks him.”
“What do you mean?” Tom asked. “Not classy enough?”
“Not at all,” I replied. “It’s always something thoughtless and cold. That’s why I want to see what’s in there. If this is what she usually does, then I’m keeping it away from Bill.”
A woman talking to a man | Source: Midjourney
Inside the package was a single pair of socks.
“She’s ridiculous,” I said out loud.
Tom looked at me wide-eyed.
“What’s wrong with her?” he asked, shaking his head.
A pair of black socks in a box | Source: Midjourney
The day before Bill’s birthday, we were having cocktails at home, and I decided to tell him about the package. I knew he was expecting something from his mother, and I didn’t want it to put a damper on the day.
“Honey,” I said. “Your mom sent a package, but we were out, so Tom got it. He said we could pick it up later; he’s out for the day.”
My husband’s face lit up.
An excited man | Source: Midjourney
“It doesn’t matter, my dear,” he said. “We have enough fish to fry for tomorrow.”
And that’s what we did.
I had planned a perfect birthday afternoon for Bill. We invited a few friends and I went all out with the food and cake.
A birthday cake with candles | Source: Midjourney
The best part was that everyone who came brought thoughtful gifts that showed Bill how much he meant to each of us.
My husband was happier than I’d seen him in a long time. Hearing his laughter and the joy in his eyes was a stark contrast to the usual disappointment he faced on his birthday.
A few days later, it was as if Tom had forgotten our arrangement. He was standing at our front door, the package in his hand. His breath smelled faintly of alcohol, which explained it.
“My dad was just as bad at choosing gifts,” he said as he walked in. “This is from your mom.”
A man holding a package | Source: Midjourney
Bill chuckled, his curiosity piqued. “All right, let’s see what we have.”
When Bill opened the package and took out the socks, his expression changed from curiosity to disappointment.
“Seriously?” he muttered, the hurt evident in his eyes.
An upset man with his head leaning near a window | Source: Midjourney
I put my arm around him.
“I didn’t mean for this to ruin your birthday. I’m so sorry, darling,” I said.
Bill took a deep breath.
“I understand, Lila. I know how my mother can be. It’s routine now,” he said.
I didn’t know how to tell my husband that I wanted to protect him and that I had tried to give him a happy birthday before his mother’s gift.
A sad man looking down | Source: Midjourney
But I could see that the disappointment persisted. It wasn’t just the socks, but also his mother’s constant neglect.
Unfortunately, Bill’s brother Mike was also at our house and he heard the whole conversation.
“Why are you making such a big deal about it?” he asked me. “It’s just a gift.”
“Just a gift?” I retorted. “Don’t you see the picture? Really? Every year she goes out of her way for you and Sam, but that’s all Bill gets?”
A man sitting on a sofa with a bottle | Source: Midjourney
Mike shrugged, “He’s older. He doesn’t need expensive things.”
“But he never got good presents, even when he was your age,” I retorted. “It’s not about the money, Mike. It’s the idea behind it.”
From there, things quickly escalated. Mike, being the good momma’s boy that he was, called their mother and told her everything.
A woman with her hands on her head in frustration | Source: Midjourney
Soon, my phone started buzzing with messages. My mother-in-law, Carol, was furious.
How dare you hide my present, Lila? You’re a horrible girl. You’re spoiled and mean.
And it didn’t stop there!
In the family group chat, Carol yelled at me, calling me toxic and accusing me of ruining her relationship with Bill. Her brothers intervened, siding with their mother, saying I had no right to interfere.
A woman on her phone | Source: Midjourney
“I don’t intend to let that happen,” I said to Bill, as he sipped his beer.
I typed a long message, detailing all the years of thoughtless gifts Bill had received compared to his brothers.
I wanted my husband, your son, to be able to celebrate his birthday without being hurt or disappointed. He deserves to feel special too.
A man holding a glass of beer | Source: Midjourney
The response was brutal. They kicked me out of the chat group, and Bill left shortly after.
Carol sent me a private message later, again calling me toxic and blaming me for driving a wedge between Bill and his family.
But I knew the truth: my husband was suffering long before I arrived.
One evening, as we were walking around our neighborhood, Bill turned to me.
A couple walking in a park | Source: Midjourney
“You know, I’ve been thinking. Maybe it’s time to create some new traditions. Traditions that don’t include waiting for a package from my mom.”
“I’d love that. How about we start planning something special for your next birthday?” I asked.
Bill smiled.
“How about a road trip? Just the two of us?”
A couple on a road trip | Source: Midjourney
What would you have done? Was I wrong to defend my husband?
If you liked this story, here’s another one for you.
My boyfriend brought his mom’s food to eat at my birthday party
When Gabi planned an intimate birthday dinner for her loved ones, her boyfriend, Jamie, expressed his intention to dine alone with her. Forced to give in, Jamie arrived at the party with his own dishes prepared by his mother. Feeling hurt and betrayed, Gabi taught him a lesson.
I’m an introvert by nature. It’s one of the things that made me who I am. So, for my birthday, I just wanted to spend a weekend with my loved ones.
A woman holding a cupcake with a candle | Source: Pexels
I lit candles around the house, made tea, and started cooking. I wanted everything to be perfect. I knew my parents were going to bring the birthday cake, but I wanted to prepare the meal.
I wanted everyone to feel at home and loved, so I carefully planned my menu, making sure everyone I invited had something they loved to eat.
A person holding a lit candle | Source: Pexels
“Are you sure you don’t want me to take you out to dinner, Gabi?” my boyfriend, Jamie, asked me the night before while we were having coffee.
“Yes,” I replied. “I want to cook for all of us. Besides you and my parents, it’s just Nicole, Jenna, and the boys. Just the closest people.”
Read the full story here .
This work is inspired by real events and people, but has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the story. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, or to actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims regarding the accuracy of events or character portrayals and are not responsible for any misinterpretations. This story is provided “as is,” and the opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
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