Liz turned red from his comment as everyone stared at her.
I’ll admit that I felt bad for her. It was her first Christmas with us, and already, it wasn’t looking promising.
Later on, when I was in the kitchen again, packing the dishwasher and emptying dishes of food, Liz came in.
“Kate, I’m sorry,” my daughter-in-law said. “I was so wrong to do what I did.
I am sorry, please understand.”
“Understand what?” I asked her.
I did feel bad, yes. But I was still hurt.
“I only said that because John loves your food.
He always talks about how you make all these special things for him.
I can’t make a basic mac and cheese without him saying yours is better.
I looked at the food, smelt all the delicious smells from this kitchen, and panicked.”
“Liz, you should know that a boy and his mother’s food is a relationship in and of itself,” I laughed, trying to diffuse the tension. “I can teach you how to cook just like me.
My mother taught me everything I know.”
“Really?” she asked. “Even after I’ve been so horrible?”
“Yes,” I said with a softening smile.
Then, I led her to the Christmas tree, ready to give Liz her present.
I still think the whole thing hurts me, but I’m grateful she didn’t say what she said for a nasty reason. Liz felt threatened by John’s relationship with my food instead of fostering a relationship with Liz’s cooking.
But I can teach her.
If the same thing had happened to you, what would you have done?
Would you have been silent until the truth came out, like me?
Or would you have retaliated immediately?
