The Mystery of the Promised Gift
In the spacious dining room of a restaurant in the heart of London, the wedding of Emily and James was a lively celebration filled with laughter and music. Guests toasted the happy couple, who shone with joy at the centre of attention. When it came time for gifts, Emilys parents went first, handing over an envelope stuffed with pounds. Next came Jamess mother, Margaret, with a bouquet of roses. Leaning toward the newlyweds, she whispered, “My real gift will come after the wedding.” “What do you mean?” asked Emily, puzzled, glancing at her husband. “No idea,” James replied, laughing. But Emily couldnt have guessed the game her mother-in-law was playing.
Even before the ceremony, Margaret had dropped mysterious hints. “I dont want to give you just any little thing,” shed say. “On the wedding day, expect nothingbut afterward, prepare for something grand!” “No rush,” Emily replied awkwardly. “Mum, were just happy youre here,” James tried to reassure her. “I wouldnt show up empty-handed to my sons wedding,” Margaret declared firmly. “But dont mention this to the rest of the family.” “Deal,” James agreed, though Emily doubted her mother-in-law would keep her word. She knew Margaret wasnt well-off, but the wedding had been paid for by the couple themselves, without asking for help. Emilys parents, despite their modest means, had saved up fifteen thousand pounds for the newlyweds. On the big day, Margaret brought only the roses, overshadowed by toasts and dancing. Yet she stole the spotlight with her speech, lingering on lengthy wishes for happiness like a star demanding applause.
“Youve no idea what Ive planned,” Margaret murmured at the end of the night, her eyes twinkling with secrecy. “Itll be a surprise that leaves you speechless but not just yet.” “Its fine, dont worry,” James said, squeezing his wifes hand. “Im actually curious now,” Emily admitted, masking her discomfort. “Do you know something I dont?” “I swear I dont,” James shrugged. “But the gift doesnt matter. Whats important is us being together.” Emily nodded, but curiosity gnawed at her. She tried prying hints from her mother-in-law, who only replied with cryptic smiles: “If I tell you, itll ruin the surprise. Just wait!”
Months passed, and the gift never arrived. What had once been a joke became a thorn in Emilys side. Eight months after the wedding, she finally brought it up. “Oh, all you care about is money!” Margaret snapped, her voice shaking with feigned offence. “You never ask how I am, if I need help!” “If you need anything, just say,” Emily replied, startled by the outburst. But Margaret fell silent, playing the victim and later complaining to her son about his wifes “lack of respect.” “Leave my mum alone,” James pleaded. “Shes already made a sceneenough.” “I only asked out of curiosityshe built up all this expectation!” Emily argued.
From then on, Emily avoided Margaret, speaking only when necessary. This only made things worse. “When she thought Id give her expensive things, she was all smiles,” Margaret lamented to James. “Now that shes realised shes getting nothing, she wont even look at me!” “Thats not true,” James defended. “Then explain her behaviour!” Margaret insisted. “Since that talk, its like Ive got the plague. She wont even visit!” When Emily heard, she sighed: “Your mums never happy. First, my interest annoyed hernow my distance does. Tomorrow shell complain because I breathed wrong!” “She thinks we only want things from her,” James muttered, embarrassed. “Exactly,” Emily retorted. “My parents always bring somethinghomegrown fruit, cakeswhile she turns up empty-handed and still takes leftovers!” “Are you saying my mums selfish?” James snapped. “Show some respect. Shes the only mother Ive got.” “Fine,” Emily cut in. “But if she wants respect, she should lead by example.”
The subject became taboo, but the tension lingered. Margaret, as if stoking the fire, criticised Emily over everything. To others, though, she spun a different tale: “I do everything for that couplegive them expensive gifts, even considered giving her my great-grandmothers family ring! And this is the thanks I get!” Listeners, moved by her flawless performance, believed every word.
On their first anniversary, Margaret revived the promise. “Get ready for an unforgettable surprise!” she announced when invited to a quiet dinner. “No need,” Emily tried to downplay. “Ill decide whats needed,” Margaret shot back with a sharp smile. James, hearing of it, bristled: “Why do you always challenge my mum? If she wants to give something, let her!” “Exactly,” Emily retorted. “The wedding gift still hasnt arrivedwe dont need another.”
They agreed, finally, to avoid more fights. At the celebration, Emilys parents brought hand-embroidered tablecloths and linen bedsheets. Friends gifted crystal glasses. Margaret arrived with an oversized card, delivering a speech that dragged on for twenty minutes. She assumed, of course, that this counted as her contribution. “If you bring up gifts again, well argue,” James warned on the way home. “Wasnt planning to,” Emily lied.
But the peace didnt last. The next month, Margaret demanded an expensive mobile phone for her birthday. “Are we really giving in?” Emily questioned. “She needs it, and we can afford it,” James reasoned. “Sure,” Emily said flatly. “But remembermy mums birthdays next month. Gifts should be equal.” James calculated the costs, resigned. In the end, Margaret got a basic model and flew into a rage. She blamed Emily for “manipulating” her son, vowing revenge for her daughter-in-laws “petty spite.”
