I spent hours decorating the house and cooking up the best dishes for the celebration. I even ordered a beautiful anniversary cake that was so gorgeous I almost didn’t want to cut it!
Anyway, so the guests started coming in and everything was going well.
They chatted, enjoyed the food, played games, and thanked us for inviting them. Then, once everyone left, my MIL called me into the living room and handed me an envelope.
“What’s this?” I asked with a smile.
“Just a little gift from my side,” she said as she stood up to leave. “It’s only for you, okay? It’s not for my son.”
“Oh, thank you,” I said in a cheerful tone.
Then, she hugged Edward and me and left with a smile on her face.
“That’s strange,” I said to Edward once she left. “Your mom didn’t make any mean remarks today. I’m surprised!”
“Oh, she might have spared you because it’s our anniversary,” Edward laughed.
“By the way, what’s that?” he asked while pointing towards the envelope in my hand.
“Your mother said it’s a gift for me,” I said. “It better be something nice.”
“For you?” Edward chuckled. “You’re one lucky woman, Ray!”
Once we finished cleaning the kitchen, I sat on the bed with the envelope, ready to open it.
“I’m opening your mom’s gift!” I called out to Edward who was in the shower.
“Good luck, babe!” I heard his muffled voice from behind the bathroom door.
I expected a few dollar bills or grocery store coupons inside the envelope, but what Laura had given me was something far beyond my expectations. My smile faded as I pulled out a piece of paper from the envelope.
When I unfolded it and read the first line, I couldn’t help but stare at the paper with my eyes wide open. My mother-in-law had sent me a bill for all the “expenses” she claimed to have incurred while raising my husband. I’m not even kidding.
Here’s a snippet of the list she sent:
Diapers — $2,500
School supplies — $1,200
Sports equipment — $1,100
College tuition — $25,000
Emotional support (yes, this was actually listed) — $10,000
“Nurturing a loving son for you'”— priceless (with a smiley face)
The list went on and on, and the more I read, the more my eyes twitched. She even added a little note at the end.
Since you’re enjoying the benefits, you can help me recover the costs.
“What the heck?” I said to myself. “How could she even think of doing this? She’s asking me to pay her for raising such a wonderful husband?”
That’s when Edward stepped out of the bathroom.
“What happened, babe?” he asked after looking at my face. “Is everything alright?”
“Your mother needs help, Edward,” I handed the bill to him. “Serious help.”
I watched Edward read the bill carefully, expecting him to react like I did, but he just brushed it off as a joke.
“I’m sure Mom’s just playing around,” he chuckled. “She can’t be serious.”
“She sent me a bill totaling $50,000, and you think this is a joke?” I said, my tone serious.
Edward shrugged his shoulders.
