I thought my MIL was trying to embarrass me. Then a woman I’d never met walked into her birthday dinner, said my husband’s name, and he went completely still. What she revealed next made the shoes the least disturbing part of the night.
Advertisement
Three days before my mother-in-law’s birthday dinner, she called me with a strange request.
“Rachel, one small favor. Please don’t wear heels on Saturday.”
I thought I’d misheard her.
“Why?”
“Just wear flats. It’s my birthday. Humor me.”
That was it.
No explanation.
My MIL and I had never been especially close, but we’d never had the kind of relationship where she dictated my shoes either.
That evening, I told Daniel.
“Doesn’t this seem weird to you?”
He barely looked up from his phone.
“It’s Mom’s birthday. Just humor her.”
So I did.
Saturday night, I left the heels I’d planned to wear at home and put on flats.
I regretted it the moment we walked into the restaurant.
Advertisement
Daniel’s sister was wearing heels.
So were both his cousins.
His aunt had on a pair of red ones.
Even my mother-in-law was wearing black heels with her dress.
I looked at Daniel.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Before he could answer, his mother walked over.
Her eyes dropped to my feet.
Then she smiled.
“Good. You listened.”
Something about the way she said it bothered me.
Before I could ask what exactly I’d just proved, she took my arm.
“Come on. I want you beside Daniel tonight.”