MIL Back Again; Steals Thunder

Ah, another story about my MIL.

Last week was our 5-year wedding anniversary. I wasn't expecting anything special, but my husband and I had plans to eat dinner at a fancy-schmancy restaurant on the weekend. We were intending to use the gift certificates we had received from someone last Christmas.

Anywho, just after I got home on Thursday night, the night in question, I received a very rare phone call from my MIL. She said she would be dropping something off in a few minutes. I assumed that it had something do with our anniversary, as in the years past, she has always left something on our doorstep.

Let's see, one year, I believe it was the red-bean rice stuff, which my husband loves, but I refuse to make. Honestly, I don't remember the other gifts, but I know she has always acknowledged the day in some way.

So, this time, she dropped off a bag, but did not come into the house. As usual, she refused to come past the genkan (so Max was really peeved about that. He thought Grandma had come over to play with him!), and she came and left in a whirlwind.

I opened the bag to find a bouquet of flowers and a cake. The cake had one of those little signs which says "Happy Wedding Anniversary" on it. Touching. It suddenly occurred to me that I, myself, should be giving Suk some kind of gift, but I had not prepared anything. Oh well. (He is getting an iPod for Christmas, so I am doing my part, at least.)

Then, a couple of hours later, I get a phone call from Suk. He wants to come home early to eat dinner together and celebrate our anniversary. How rare! He informs me that he is stopping at a bakery in Ginza to pick up ... you guessed it ... a cake.

Now, I did not mention the fact that his mom had already dropped off a cake. I was just so flattered that he had thought ahead, and that he was actually going to get a cake BEFORE getting on a train. There's a first time for everything, and to be perfectly honest, I would much rather receive a cake from my husband on our anniversary than from my MIL. I did not avoid telling him just so I could eat 2 cakes. That was the LAST thing I wanted.

Suk came home and was quite proud of himself for getting the cake. I made a Japanese-style dinner, and after eating, it was time for dessert. I let him know that his mom had brought over a gift and he should open it. Guess what! A cake!

Guess what his reaction was?

Anger.

Somehow, all of this became my fault because now we would have to eat TWO cakes. Well, I was thinking, but did not say, that it was quite strange that his mom brought over flowers and a cake. I mean, isn't that supposed to be HIS job as the husband? Does she think he is married to her? Does she think that giving us romantic gifts is appropriate?

Immediately, Suk called his mom to thank her for the gifts and tell her how delicious the cake was. But, as soon as he got off the phone, he tore me a new ass because I had been so "selfish" not to tell him. And then, he said we would have to eat BOTH of cakes and how terrible that is.

While eating the cake from her, I asked him if he even likes this kind of cake. "No!" Well, me either. As soon as that cake was eaten, he opened up the box of cakes he had brought from Tokyo. There were 4 pieces in there, and he demanded that I eat at least one of them and save the other for breakfast.

I tried to tell him about how my stomach has decreased in size and I really can't eat as much as I used to. I am so full. Please don't make me eat this, but the look on his face told me to just shut up and eat it.

Then, he said in a sarcastic tone (inherited from me, I am sure), "You should just be happy that my mom remembers our anniversary every year. So, what did your parents give us for our anniversary?"

"A card with $20 in it. Remember?"

"Oh."