I thought I was a great wife when I organized a dinner party to celebrate my husband Alex’s 35th birthday. But a few minutes before the guests arrived, he announced that he was canceling the party to go to the pub to watch the game. What happened next? Let’s just say I had the last laugh.
Six years of marriage should teach a man a little gratitude, but not Alex. Every year I put my heart and soul into his birthday, only for him to take it for granted.
This time his ingratitude reached a new level.
Six years. That’s how long Alex and I were married.
Don’t think that our relationship is bad. Alex can be charming when he wants to be, and we’ve spent great times together. But there is one trait that drives me crazy.
It’s his belief that everything by default belongs to him.
For example, last Thanksgiving Alex decided that we should have dinner for both families. One morning at breakfast, he announced it as a kind of revelation:
“Hey, Claire, I think we should invite everyone to Thanksgiving this year.”
“That’s fine,” I said, ”but how do we divide up the duties?
He shrugged his shoulders, as if to suggest I stand on my head.
“You’re much better at it. I’ll be in charge of… well, the drinks, for example. Just make it memorable, okay?
I should know better, but I agreed anyway.
I prepared a turkey, side dishes and even two cakes for the big day. And what did Alex do? He brought a refrigerator full of beer into the living room. And that was all.
After dinner, when everyone was raving about the food and the decor, Alex decided it was time to take credit.
“I’m glad you enjoyed it,” he – he said, “I wanted it to be special this year.
I thought I was mistaken.
“Really?” I asked. “What was supposed to be special: the bean casserole or the decoration?”
Of course, she ignored me.
Last year, for his birthday, I created a personalized photo album for him, filling it with pictures of our travels and special moments. But when he looked at it, he said:
“Oh, where’s the real gift?”.
It wasn’t just the words that hurt. It was his audacity.
On his 35th birthday, Alex outdid himself.
“Claire, this year I want to organize a big, refined birthday dinner,” he said, ”Invite family, friends, everyone.”
I didn’t want to agree, but decided to give him another chance.
For two weeks I carefully planned. The menu included chicken stuffed with spinach, potatoes with rosemary, an exquisite cheese dessert and a three-layer chocolate cake with edible gold flakes.
On the day of the party, I got up early to make sure everything was perfect. The house was sparkling clean, the table was decorated with exquisite napkins and hand-written cards with guests’ names on them.
And Alex? He walked into the kitchen, looking through his phone and didn’t even look at what I had done.
Not bad,” he muttered, opening the refrigerator. And then he added:
“But you don’t have to finish.”
How so?
I’m going to the pub with the guys to watch the game. To tell everyone that something happened.
I froze.
“Are you giving up your own dinner?” I asked.
It’s no big deal, Claire. They’ll figure it out.
This was the final blow.
I decided not to cancel the party. Instead, I took the food and went straight to the pub where Alex was.
When I went inside, I saw that he was sitting with his friends, unaware that I was there. I started arranging the food on a nearby table.
Gradually, the aroma of the food attracted the attention of everyone at the bar. Finally Alex turned around and saw me.
Claire! What are you doing?” – he hissed.
You decided to leave me with dinner at home, so I brought it here,” I replied.
In the meantime, our families walked through the door. Seeing all this, Alex’s mother came up to him and asked:
“What’s going on here, Alex?
It’s … complicated, mom,” he muttered.
“Let me explain,” I interjected. “Alex decided that the game was more important than the dinner I prepared for him. So I brought dinner here!”
Eventually everyone ate my food and the pub turned into a real party. I wrote on the cake:
“Happy birthday to my selfish husband.”
Alex changed after this incident. He now thinks twice before making demands.
And what about me? I realized that I won’t allow myself to be treated like that again.
