Kate was thrilled about spending her first Christmas with her son, John, and his wife, Liz. However, things took an unexpected turn when Liz criticized her cooking and John remained silent. Would this ruin the holidays?
Ever since she got married, Kate had always been the one to prepare meals for family gatherings and major holidays like Christmas. However, after her husband passed away, she lost her passion for cooking. Nowadays, she barely cooked enough to get by.
But during the holidays, especially when her son John came for his annual roast dinner, Kate’s culinary skills would shine again. This year, though, tensions ran high in the kitchen.
It was the first Christmas with Liz joining the family. Previously, when they were dating, Liz would spend the holidays with her own parents. Kate understood and respected her decision because family is everything during the holiday season. Regardless, she was eager to see how Liz would blend in with their family for the day.
Kate woke up early to start preparing the Christmas meal. She knew it would be an early dinner with numerous side dishes and delectable desserts to follow. She stuck to their family tradition—a roast chicken as the centerpiece, accompanied by roasted potatoes, gravy, and an array of other dishes that John loved.
But Liz wasn’t thrilled about the menu.
As Kate put the finishing touches on the chicken, Liz walked into the kitchen, phone in hand, and scrutinized her cooking. Liz’s expression indicated she found something displeasing. Kate tried to ignore her, despite already toiling away in the kitchen.
Then, Liz uttered a line that cut through Kate like a knife. “Hey, Kate,” she said, “maybe we should order food. Not everyone wants what you’ve cooked. I’m not sure if everyone even enjoys your cooking. Christmas is supposed to be enjoyable for everyone, including the food!”
Kate was completely caught off guard by Liz’s words.
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed John leaning against the archway, nibbling on a carrot. He avoided eye contact, gazing outside the window. Kate held back her tears and bit her lip in silence.
The guests had arrived and were scattered around the house. Kate didn’t want to put a damper on the dinner, even though Liz’s words had deeply wounded her. As dinner was served, the table groaned under the weight of the delicious food. Everyone, including John, enthusiastically dug in and showered Kate’s cooking with praise.
John addressed the table, seeking validation. “The food’s great, right? Everyone’s enjoying it?”
His uncle chuckled and helped himself to another serving of roasted potatoes. “Why wouldn’t we enjoy your mom’s food?” Kate’s brother interjected.
“Because Liz was worried that Mom’s dishes might ruin the dinner. She suggested ordering in,” John explained.
“Nonsense!” Kate’s brother exclaimed, drowning his potatoes in gravy.
John looked at his mother and smiled. In that moment, Kate realized that John’s silence wasn’t meant to hurt her. He was waiting for the right time to teach Liz a lesson and humiliate her in front of their family.
Liz turned red, clearly embarrassed by John’s comment. Everyone directed their gaze towards her. Kate couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for her. It was her first Christmas with their family, and things weren’t going as planned.
Later, while Kate was in the kitchen, tidying up and loading the dishwasher, Liz walked in.
“Kate, I’m sorry,” Liz apologized. “I was completely wrong to have said what I did. I’m sorry, please forgive me.”
“What do you want me to forgive?” Kate asked, still hurt by Liz’s words.
Although she felt remorseful, Kate couldn’t shake off the pain.
“I only said that because John loves your cooking. He always talks about how you make all these special dishes for him. I can’t even make a basic mac and cheese without him telling me yours is better. When I saw all the delicious food and smelled the amazing aromas in this kitchen, I panicked.”
“Liz, you should know that a boy and his mother’s food have a special relationship,” Kate chuckled, trying to ease the tension. “I can teach you how to cook just like me. My mother taught me everything I know.”
“Really?” Liz asked. “Even after I’ve been so horrible?”
“Yes,” Kate replied with a softened smile.
She then led Liz to the Christmas tree, ready to give her a special present.
Despite still being hurt, Kate was grateful that Liz’s comments weren’t driven by malice. Liz felt threatened by John’s bond with Kate’s food, instead of establishing her own connection through her own cooking.
Kate could teach her.
If you were in the same situation, what would you have done? Would you have remained silent until the truth came out, like Kate? Or would you have retaliated immediately?
