“Your wifes always ruining our celebrations,” my mum declared to James, her voice halflaughing, halfscolding.
“Hey Mum, Marina said shed love to meet up tomorrow at a restaurant or a café,” James beamed into the video call. “Sounds good, but let Hattie pick the spot herself this time, so we dont keep changing plans at the last minute,” Margaret suggested calmly.
“Weve already sorted it, dont worry. Theres a new place that opened up near us well try it tomorrow,” James replied, all easygoing.
“A new place, huh? Fine, just send us the address and let us know what time you and Dad should be there,” Margaret said, resigned.
“Consider it done,” James said, then hung up.
Mom soon got a text with the address and the time. Shes got two daughtersinlaw and a soninlaw, and things usually run smoothly, except for Hattie.
Margaret never meddles in Hatties life; she actually keeps her distance. The trouble is Hattie doesnt know how to behave at a table and seems to have no sense of tact.
A few months back theyd all gone out to eat, and instead of a pleasant evening, they were stuck listening to Hatties endless complaints. One minute she didnt like the dish, the next she thought the waiter didnt smile properly, then she whined about the menu being sparse. Because of the last gripe, they ended up swapping restaurants a couple of times that night.
Even then she found something to nitpick. Hattie ordered a salad and asked for no onions.
“Your salad, just as you requested, without onions,” the waiter said, placing the plate in front of her.
“Whats that on my salad?” Hattie asked, pointing with her manicured nail at a little sprig of dill.
“Just a garnish,” the waiter replied, puzzled.
“Did I ask for dill on my salad?” she pressed, pursing her lips.
“If youd like, I can take it off; theres no dill inside the salad itself,” he offered, thinking hed solved it.
“Take the whole salad awaymy appetites ruined. Bring me a milkshake instead,” Hattie snapped, turning dramatically toward the window.
They obliged, and nobody on staff seemed to mind. Of course, the atmosphere went downhill.
Hattie sat there with her lips pursed and a hurt expression while the rest of the family ate and chatted, making any outing with her feel like a punishment. Even family gatherings werent free of her dramas; her petulance and fickleness poisoned every meal.
She even managed to cause a scene at her aunts funeral.
“Who made these pancakes? Theyre rubbery!” she shouted loudly during the wake.
“Sweetheart, you dont have to make a fussjust dont eat them,” Margaret tried to calm her, noticing the disapproving looks from relatives.
“Well, what am I supposed to eat? I could cook better for my dog, and the booze and juice are cheap anyway. Ugh,” Hattie complained, grimacing.
“Were here to remember her, not to eat, so please show some respect and stop complaining,” Margaret said softly.
“Thats the point! We were invited to remember, but theres nothing to remember!” Hattie muttered sadly.
It seemed the awkward moment was over, but it wasnt.
Later a few relatives called Margaret, fuming about how Jamess wife had behaved and complained about the food. Hattie felt embarrassed and swore never to bring her to such events again.
Her birthday was coming up, and Hattie and James were due to show up for the family feast. Knowing this, Margaret announced she was feeling unwell and postponed the celebration indefinitely. She knew James was due to leave on a work trip at the end of the montha perfect window for her plan.
Margaret had a clever scheme to celebrate her birthday without Hattie. As soon as James called his mum from the other city, she started sending out invitations to the other children, deliberately leaving Hattie out of the loop.
The birthday went ahead in a cheerful setting with no grumbling guests. No one had to listen to critiques about food or drink, and for the first time in two years Margaret managed to relax with her kids.
But a moment of happiness turned sour the next day. Someone posted photos from the party on social media, and Hattie saw them.
“Hello, Margaret, did you have a birthday bash?” Hattie asked, her voice tinged with hurt.
“Yes, we did. It was a bit delayed, but we finally got around to it,” Margaret replied, not denying it.
“Why wasnt I invited?” Hattie demanded.
“James was away on business, and we thought youd be bored on your own” Margaret tried to explain.
“Its never boring with you, so you mustve thought Id be left out. Why didnt you wait for James to come back?” Hattie shot back, suspicious.
“Because because his wife ruins every celebration with her sour face!” Margaret blurted, then instantly regretted it.
“What? I’m the one ruining things? I thought you were a good woman, and youre a snake,” Hattie sobbed, slamming the phone down.
A few hours later James called his mum, his tone sharp.
“Why are you treating my wife like this? What have we ever done to you?” he demanded.
“You havent done anything, but Hatties constant complaining spoils every gathering. You cant even sit at the table with her without drama,” Margaret explained.
“How does she spoil them?” James asked, baffled.
“With her endless nitpicking. You cant go to a restaurant or even sit at home without her griping about everything. Shes always dissatisfied,” Margaret finally vented.
“Shes just being straightforward and honest, unlike you. She treated you like a mother, didnt she?” James retorted.
“Straightforwardness isnt the same as rudeness. If she wants to be like a daughter, she should behave properly, not like a petulant child!” Margaret snapped back.
“Alright, Ill keep an eye on her and show her how to behave. In return, promise youll always invite Hattie to the celebrations,” James said, softening his tone.
“Fine, but only if you take responsibility. Well see how it goes at the next gathering,” Margaret agreed, though her heart wasnt in it.
Of course, Hattie didnt change. She tried to keep her temper in check, but it never really worked. Margaret had no choice but to shrug it off and try not to notice Hatties outbursts. She didnt want to argue with James any more, so she settled for the lesser of two evils.
