Chapter 2

"Gotta run, I still need to pick up Willa and her husband. We're having dinner at my place tonight. Gonna throw a proper birthday party for my mom," Nicole said.

I couldn't take it anymore.

I clicked on the gift, returned the tiny digital gift I'd just received to her in the group chat, and sent two messages.

I said: [No need to go out of your way for me. I've already gone back to Ashenville.]

[I'm just a greedy, stingy, and petty person. From now on, I won't be going to the city to take advantage of my daughter anymore.]

As soon as my message went up, the group chat was flooded with question marks.

Nicole grabbed the gift in a heartbeat, then started grilling me non-stop.

She said: [Seriously, Mom? You're way too sensitive. Just a couple of jokes and you're already saying you'll head back to Ashenville? And you even sent the gift back. Don't tell me you're mad because it was just a tiny digital gift?]

[It's dinner time, can you chill for a sec? Willa and the other guests are already on their way. Hurry up and get the food ready, and make sure to wash extra fruit. Don't let them think you're stingy.]

[If I'd known you'd care so much about me mentioning you took the gift, I wouldn't have said anything in the group chat.]

[It was just a bet I made with my husband. I told him you're awkward and care too much about pride, that you'd never accept birthday gifts or money from us. He didn't buy it and said you'd definitely take it. Well, looks like he called it.]

Seeing things getting heated, the relatives started chiming in, trying to calm things down.

[Alright, let's all take it easy. Come on, it's just mother and daughter. How bad can it get?]

[Let's all compromise a little; keeping the peace at home is what matters most.]

Even Talon, who hardly ever said a word in our family group chat, finally spoke up.

[Mom, my folks and the relatives came over just to liven things up for you. Do me a favor and don't hold it against Nicole, okay?]

I let out a cold, bitter laugh inside.

They made it sound so sweet, all "it's for me, it's for my birthday."

But did any of them ever stop to think who was always the one busting their ass every time there was a birthday at home?

Up before sunrise, hitting the market, scrubbing the whole place, then spending the whole afternoon chopping veggies and cooking. And when everyone's done stuffing their faces, guess who's left with a mountain of dirty dishes?

And just when I finally get the kitchen spotless, and the guests finished their card-play and head out, I was still stuck tidying up and mopping the floors before I could finally crash.

And what about everyone else?

Willa and her husband just showed up as guests. They acted like the chores were invisible and never lifted a finger.

Nicole and Talon were busy entertaining guests, so they didn't have time to help out either.

So who was left? Me, the unpaid, easygoing mom everyone loved to order around.

After a whole day of hustling and chores, I ended up aching all over and needed days just to feel normal again.

Let someone else deal with this stupid birthday. I was done.

After all the mess in the past, I made sure to talk to Nicole and Talon a whole week ahead of time.

"This year, don't make it a big deal. No crowds, no fuss. Just the four of us having a simple dinner is enough," I told them.

They agreed without asking any questions, so I figured everything would be fine.

But this morning, right before Nicole headed out with the kids, she hit me with a "surprise" that the whole Jackson family was coming over tonight to celebrate my birthday.

When she saw I wasn't happy, she immediately got all huffy.

She said, "Mom, why are you being so difficult? They're all eager to come over. I can't just tell them, 'Sorry, my mom doesn't want you here,' right?

"And come on, it's the weekend! Willa and her husband just got back from their trip to Eryndor, and the family hasn't even had a proper get-together yet. What's wrong with a little gathering? Stop acting like family is such a hassle just because you want things easy."

Her words just made me even more pissed off.

I said, "If you're so enthusiastic. Why not do what you did for Willa's birthday? Just reserve a private room at a restaurant so everyone can actually enjoy themselves."

Nicole frowned, her face full of disbelief.

She said, "Mom, do you have any idea how much it costs to book a private room at a restaurant? We're talking a thousand dollars! Are you really gonna pay for that? Cooking at home only sets you back a few hundred, and honestly, homemade is always better anyway.

"Come on, stop comparing yourself to Willa all the time. You and her are in totally different situations... Plus, you never care about showing off, so why blow cash for nothing?"

I couldn't even get a word out.

Nicole and Talon are both living off steady paychecks. With the mortgage, car payments, and kids to take care of, they're already stretched thin.

I could never bring myself to ask them to book a restaurant for my birthday.

My whole pension ended up going to them anyway, so I didn't even have any spare cash for myself.

In the end, I had no choice but to host the family dinner at home, scrambling to the market to haul back a ton of groceries.

Nicole sent me the menu herself, and I had to run around to two different markets just to track down everything she wanted.

Crabs for her father-in-law, sea cucumbers for Willa, lamb chops for her sister-in-law... She even made sure to include the sticky ribs for Willa's social butterfly friend. She didn't miss a thing. Every single dish was spelled out.

Funny thing was, not a single dish on that menu was something I actually wanted to eat.

Honestly, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed.

Still, I reminded myself how hard things were for Nicole, married so far away. If she kept her in-laws happy, at least they wouldn't give her a hard time.

So I just kept quiet.