My MIL Ordered Me a Dress Four Sizes Too Small for Her Party, Saying, ‘It’s Time for You to Lose Weight’ – Karma Didn’t Take Long to Catch up with Her

I stared at the phone.

“And I am not going to lose four dress sizes in two weeks.”

“Well, perhaps this will finally motivate you.”

I didn’t answer.

She kept going.

“My son has always taken care of himself. The least you could do is make an effort too.”

“An effort?”

“Jennifer, don’t turn this into drama. Eat less. Walk more. You’ve had months.”

“Months?”

“When was the last time you actually looked at yourself?”

I hung up.

Simon came home about an hour later.

I was sitting on the couch feeding our daughter when he noticed the box.

“Is that Mom’s famous anniversary dress?”

I looked at him.

“Your mother ordered it four sizes too small.”

He froze halfway through taking off his jacket.

“By accident?”

“No.”

His face changed immediately.

So I told him everything.

The laughter.

The comment about losing weight.

The suggestion that I needed to make myself more attractive for him.

Simon sat beside me and rubbed his face.

“Jen…”

“Don’t.”

He looked up.

“Please don’t tell me she’s just being your mother.”

His hand dropped.

Because for years, that had always been the excuse.

Clara criticized my cooking?

“That’s just Mom.”

Clara questioned the way I decorated our house?

“Ignore her.”

Clara made some cutting remark at dinner?

“She doesn’t mean anything by it.”

Simon always supported me.

Privately.

And suddenly, that distinction mattered more than it ever had before.

“I’m not wearing the dress,” I said.

“Of course you’re not.”

“I’ll buy another one.”

“We’ll buy another one,” he corrected.

I looked down at our sleeping daughter.

Simon followed my gaze.

Then he said quietly,

“I should’ve stopped this years ago.”

I didn’t answer.

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