Your gifts should reflect your wealth, the motherinlaw retorted.
Youre richer than Sophie, so your presents ought to match, she grumbled.
I honestly have no idea what to get Mom, Laurent said, slumping next to his wife on the couch.
Elodie merely shrugged. Picking a present for her motherinlaw had always been a headache.
Relations with Valérie Dupont had been strained almost from the start.
Laurent quickly grasped his motherinlaws stance; after talking it over with his wife, the couple chose to keep their distance.
No one owed anyone anything. Their interaction was limited to occasional phone calls and, if the mood struck, brief family gatherings.
That year Valérie decided to celebrate her birthday and invited much of the family, including the young couple.
Actually, Mom said shed be happy with any gift, Laurent recalled suddenly.
She always says that, then turns picky, Elodie muttered, remembering past incidents. Your sister can give her anything, but not us!
She could perfectly recall Valéries criticism of every present they had ever offered.
Remember March8? We gave her that pricey cosmetics set. How did she react? With tears and accusations that we thought she was old and unattractive, Elodie sighed. The only things she liked were gold or techanything she could pricecheck.
Maybe I should call her and ask what she wants? Laurent hesitated.
Do whatever you like, his wife replied, shaking her head.
Seeking the easy route, Laurent dialed his motherinlaw to find out her wish.
My dear, I need nothing. Just come, thatll be my gift, Valérie replied shyly.
Are you sure, Mom? You wont be upset, will you? Laurent pressed.
Of course not! Id be delighted with any trinket, she laughed. Laurent decided to trust her words.
Mom said we can give her whatever we want, he told Elodie.
Elodie looked at him skeptically; she didnt fully trust Valéries assurances.
Nonetheless, with Laurent insisting on picking the gift himself, Elodie gave in.
I suggest we get her a robot vacuum so she wont have to lug a hose around, she proposed after reviewing their budget.
The couple agreed, bought a 1,000 present for Valérie, and headed to the birthday feeling calm.
The celebrant greeted her son and daughterinlaw with a smile that turned sour the moment she saw the box containing the vacuum.
Why? she grumbled, sighing. Son, put that in the bedroom.
Elodie stared at her motherinlaw, shocked by the reaction.
Soon after, Laurents sister arrived with her husband, threw her arms around their mother and exclaimed, Mom, this is for you!
Thank you, darling! You couldnt have guessed better! Valérie cried, hugging her.
Curious, Elodie wondered what had delighted their mother so much.
To her surprise, Sophie had given her a modest cosmetics set worth about twenty euros.
Elodie exchanged a puzzled glance with Laurent, who had also seen his sisters gift.
From his expression, she understood that he was deeply disappointed by his mothers response to their present.
Laurent stayed quiet for hours, his anger simmering, until Valérie began praising her sisters gift again, at which point he snapped.
Mom, can I talk to you? he asked, pulling her aside.
Whats wrong? his wife asked, coming over. Something the matter?
Its not right, Mom! I asked you about a gift. Do you remember your answer? he accused.
I do
Then why this reaction to our present while you keep raving about a cheap cosmetics set? Laurent continued, annoyed. Dont pretend Im making things up.
I wont lie. Youre richer than Sophie, so your gifts should be up to par, Valérie snarled.
And what do you think were giving you? Junk? Should we attach a receipt to each present to make you happy? Laurent asked, brow furrowed.
Oh, thats enough, she cut, clearly wanting to end the argument. What can I do if I liked Sophies gift more?
So youre ignoring the price of ours? Laurent retorted sarcastically. If you want to know, its a thousand euros!
That much? Valérie exclaimed, feigning surprise.
She quickly found a way out of the awkward situation.
You know why I value my sisters familys gifts more? Because they give according to their means, whereas you give carelessly, she declared abruptly.
Mom, are you serious? Laurent buried his face in his hands.
Do I look like Im joking? With your income, you could have gotten me a spa weekend, she replied, straightening proudly.
Laurent, stunned by his mothers words, stared at her unblinking for a few seconds.
Do you really think Elodie and I have money falling from the sky every day? he shouted suddenly.
His outburst froze his wife and sister in the doorway, stunned.
Sophie quickly grasped the source of the turmoil and defended their mother.
Mom didnt want your robot vacuum; she wanted a humidifier. Hers broke three days ago. If you paid any attention to her life, youd know that, she replied.
I asked her about the gift! Laurent snapped, clenching his teeth. Are you mocking me? From now on, no more gifts! Were trying to please you, and you criticize us! The robot isnt enough; you want a humidifier! Sorry we let you down! Lets go! he shouted, turning to Elodie.
Valérie collapsed in tears while Sophie comforted her, and the couple left with solemn faces.
Laurent kept his promise to his mother: to stop buying anything and avoid feeling foolish, he decided to skip future family events altogether, sparing himself any further stress.
A Late Evening in the Town Supermarket: Irène Sat Weeping at the Checkout, Exhausted by Fatigue, Injustice, and Isolation After a Sleepless Night
