Cassie wished her fiancé would give her the ideal outfit she had fell in love with weeks prior as a birthday present. Rather, her future mother-in-law entered the room wearing it. Not only was what transpired unpleasant, but it also revealed a terrifying reality that made her doubt every aspect of the guy she planned to wed.
My birthday was celebrated with everyone I cared about packed into the apartment Sean and I shared.
Mom prepared me a chocolate cake with so much frosting that it hurt my teeth to look at it, and my sister had put up twinkling lights.
I was looking at Sean across the room when he gave me that lazy, arrogant wink that used to make my knees go weak. Something was still aroused, but tonight it seemed… different. Charged. As if he was anticipating something.
All week long, he had been behaving oddly, avoiding inquiries about my party and giving me smug smiles. I assumed he was preparing something noteworthy.
I had been trying not to get my hopes up, but I had a sneaking suspicion that he was going to give me the dress—the one I had been eyeing for two months—as a birthday present.
At that moment, the front door opened.
“Sorry, I’m late!” a voice that was familiar said. “I had to find parking.”
My attempt to greet Sean’s mother was cut short when I saw that she was wearing the outfit of my dreams.
I just stared at Linda as she moved through the crowd, stuck in place.
When I originally spotted the dress, Sean hadn’t even wanted to go inside the boutique.
“What’s the point of looking at things we can’t afford to buy?” he’d replied.
Nevertheless, I pulled him inside without realizing how soon his remarks would backfire.
I had informed him, “This is the one,” as I admired the neckline in the dressing room mirror and ran my hands down the silky, baby blue fabric.
He had remarked, “You look amazing,” “But, darling, it costs $200. Remember that we’re creating a budget?
As I put the garment back on the rack, I felt a little heartbroken. After all, we were saving for the wedding.
But that didn’t stop me from considering it.
Over the previous three weeks, I had sent Sean dozens of images of it from the internet.
I would add, “I want it so badly,” too.
He would constantly nod and smile. “Yeah, it’s a nice dress.”
I had persuaded myself that his contemptuous behavior was a charade and that he intended to give me the garment as a birthday present, but suddenly… I was at a loss for what to believe.
I gasped, “Oh my God,” as I walked up to Sean’s mother. “That’s the exact dress I wanted!”
I didn’t mean for the words to come out that loudly. Linda was about to give me a hug when she stopped smiling.
“Oh, really?” Her voice was unsure as she said. “I had no idea, dear.”
She looked at Sean, who was approaching us with the same smile he had been sporting all night.
She went on, “Sean gave it to me last week,” “He said I deserved it, and that I must wear it to your birthday.”
I had the impression that I was submerged. Conversations around me went on, but I felt cut off from everything.
“Time for a gift! Sean appeared next to me with a small wrapped package and said, “Happy birthday, babe.”
He had a big, proud smile, the type you get when you believe you’ve done something really smart.
With numb fingers, I picked up the box.
Tucked within under tissue paper was a $50 gift card to Sephora.
Even though I adore cosmetics, I was unable to fake a grin as I stood there staring at that gift card while Sean’s mother spoke with my family in my ideal gown.
What’s happening? What have I been missing? As I withdrew to the corner of the room, those questions kept repeating in my mind.
As I watched my birthday celebration go on around me, I sat in the ancient armchair that Sean and I had purchased at a thrift store when we first moved in together. I attempted to make sense of what had just transpired, but my confusion grew as I gave it more attention.
At one point, my sister approached with a worried expression on her face. “You alright? You appear somewhat pallid.
I lied and forced a smile that seemed like it would split my face in two. “Just tired,” I said.
The remainder of the evening flew by. A game of charades was initiated, and cake was consumed. Linda asked Dad about his new job and gave my sister praise on the décor.
It was almost midnight by the time the final visitor had departed and we had piled the dishes in our small sink.
Humming as he wiped down the counters, Sean was in a good mood.
He said, “Great party, right?” “I think everyone had fun.”
It was more than I could handle. He wanted to talk about how wonderful the party was, and I was upset and perplexed. For whom?
“Why did you give my dream dress to your mom?”
He made no hesitation. “Because I wanted to humble you.”
I was hit hard by the words. “What?”
He remarked, “You got so obsessed with that dress,” and he smiled casually at me again. “I thought it would be a good test before we get married, to see how you act when things don’t go your way.”
“A test?” I was shocked by what I had just heard!
I wasn’t paying attention when he began to defend it. I strolled right by him on my way to our bedroom.
In the doorway came Sean. He observed me folding things, but it wasn’t until I began putting everything in my old college duffel bag that he seemed to realize I was leaving.
His question was, “Seriously?” “You’re leaving?”
“Yes,” I replied without turning around. “Guess your test had an unexpected result, huh?”
That was the end of it. I drove to my sister’s place and slept on her couch for the next week after shutting the door behind me.
My phone rang precisely one week after I thought it was over. On the screen was Linda’s name.
She said, “I need to talk to you,” in a tremulous voice. “It’s about your party, and the dress.”
We got together in a downtown coffee cafe. Linda appeared smaller than she had during my birthday celebration, and she carried a shadow of remorse with her. Away from the other patrons, she had selected a table in the corner.
“Sweetheart,” she began, leaning in my direction and looking at me gravely. “I owe you an apology.”
I encircled my coffee cup with my hands. “You don’t have to say sorry. This was done by Sean.
“He did, and I’m sorry to say it’s worse than you think.” She inhaled nervously. Sean informed me that you had chosen that dress for me. He stated you wanted me to wear it to your party since you spotted it and thought it was ideal for me.
My heart thumped. “What?”
“He told me you asked him to surprise me with it.” With every word, her voice grew progressively smaller. “I realized something wasn’t right when I saw your face that evening and you mentioned that it was the outfit you wanted. You appeared so hurt and perplexed. I therefore asked him for the truth.
She stopped and used a tissue from her purse to wipe her tears.
She muttered, “He acknowledged that he had lied.” “To keep you grounded, he said. His remarks. I… It’s unbelievable that the child I reared would harm you in that way. To us both. I’m embarrassed to say that he’s my son.
Suddenly, the coffee shop felt too small. It’s too hot.
Linda added, “I brought you something,” and she took a shopping bag out from behind the table.
When I opened the bag, I was astounded. The dress, with a ribbon bow on top, was meticulously folded, pressed, and cleaned inside.
Firmly, “I don’t want it,” she declared. “You own it. It was always meant to belong to you.
My eyes were suddenly and unexpectedly filled with tears, as if they had been waiting for this very time.
“I wish I had been aware of this foolish plan of his. I would have prevented him. She clinched her jaw and met my gaze. “I already think of you as a daughter, so it pains me to say this, but you should not go back to Sean,” Linda said. “He doesn’t deserve you… or any other woman.”
I reached across the table to hold her hand and said, “I won’t go back to him,” but that didn’t mean we couldn’t stay in contact.
I swear I saw tears in Linda’s eyes when she smiled.
She answered, “I’d like that,” and took my hand, giving it a light squeeze.
Knowing that I deserve someone who encourages me rather than challenges me, I carried my dress home that day. Someone who provides presents with love rather than deceit.
