*”Your wealth should be reflected in your gifts,”* snapped the mother-in-law.
*”Youre better off than Emily, so your presents ought to match,”* she grumbled.
*”I dont have a clue what to get Mum,”* mused William, slumping onto the sofa beside his wife.
Charlotte merely shrugged in response. Picking a gift for her mother-in-law had always been a minefield.
Tensions with Margaret Whitmore had simmered from the very beginning.
William had understood his mothers stance all too well, and after a quiet discussion with his wife, theyd agreed to keep their distance.
No obligations, no expectations. The occasional phone call and rare family gatherings were the extent of their interactions.
This year, though, Margaret had decided to throw a birthday party, inviting half the familyincluding the young couple.
*”Actually, Mum said shed be happy with anything,”* William recalled suddenly.
*”She always says that,”* Charlotte muttered darkly, *”then turns her nose up at whatever we bring. Your sister could hand her a paperclip, and shed gush over it!”*
She remembered every cutting remark Margaret had ever made about their gifts.
*”Remember Mothers Day? That luxury skincare set we got her? She wept and accused us of calling her old and ugly!”* Charlotte sighed. *”The only things she ever liked were gold or gadgetsanything with a price tag she could flaunt.”*
*”Maybe I should just call and ask what she wants?”* William hesitated.
*”Suit yourself,”* his wife replied, shaking her head.
Opting for the easy route, William dialled his mothers number.
*”Darling, I dont need a thing. Just having you there will be gift enough,”* Margaret demurred.
*”Youre sure, Mum? You wont mind?”* he pressed.
*”Of course not! Id be thrilled with any little token,”* she trilled. William took her at her word.
*”Mum says we can get her whatever,”* he told Charlotte.
His wife eyed him sceptically. She didnt trust Margarets promises one bit.
Still, William insisted on choosing the gift himself, and Charlotte relented.
*”How about a robot hoover? Saves her lugging that ancient thing around,”* she suggested, tallying their budget.
The couple agreed. They bought Margaret a £900 gift and arrived at the party in high spirits.
The birthday woman greeted her son and daughter-in-law with a beaming smileuntil she spotted the hoover box.
*”Whats this?”* she sighed irritably. *”William, just take it to the spare room.”*
Charlotte stared, stunned by the cold dismissal.
Moments later, Williams sister swept in with her husband, flinging her arms around Margaret.
*”Mum, this is for you!”*
*”Oh, darling, youve outdone yourself!”* Margaret cried, clasping the gift to her chest.
Curious, Charlotte craned her neckonly to see Emily had given her mother a cheap £20 toiletry set.
She exchanged a baffled glance with William, whose face darkened with hurt.
For hours, he bit his tongueuntil Margaret began gushing over Emilys gift yet again.
*”Mum, a word?”* he said tightly, steering her aside.
*”Whats wrong?”* she asked, feigning innocence.
*”You told us to get you anything, then sneered at our gift while praising that tat!”* he snapped.
Margaret scoffed. *”You earn more than Emily. Your presents should reflect that.”*
*”So our gifts are worthless unless they come with a receipt?”* William shot back.
*”Oh, dont be dramatic,”* she sniffed. *”Emilys just more thoughtful.”*
*”Thoughtful? Its a £20 set from Boots!”*
*”At least she pays attention!”* Margaret snapped. *”With your salaries, you couldve booked me a spa weekend!”*
William gaped at her. *”You think money grows on trees?”*
His outburst drew Emily and Charlotte to the doorway, frozen in shock.
Emily leapt to their mothers defence. *”She didnt want a hoovershe needed a humidifier! Hers broke last week. If you bothered to ask, youd know!”*
*”I did ask!”* William snarled. *”This is a joke. No more giftsno more anything! Were done!”* He grabbed Charlottes hand. *”Lets go.”*
Margaret crumpled into sobs as Emily comforted her. The couple left, faces set in grim resolve.
True to his word, William never bought another gift. To spare themselves the drama, they simply stopped attendingcutting ties to avoid the poison altogether.
