Initially, Ava dismissed the disappearance of her favorite ensembles as a case of forgetfulness. However, she later discovered that her mother-in-law was covertly selling them online, referring to them as “cheap-looking.” This Thanksgiving feast will have a lasting impact on the family’s memory because of how chaotic it was to live together while the house was being repaired.

Before she moved in with us while her apartment was being cleaned up, I had the impression that I got along well with Diane, who is my mother-in-law.

Small things, such as discussions about why I added basil to my beef stew or the “best” technique to sweep the oak floors, were the beginning of the conflict.

I made an effort to be a good host, but Diane made it difficult for me to do so. When I returned home from my part-time work one day, I saw that she had reorganized everything that was stored in the kitchen cupboards. Additionally, she continued to hang the laundry outside to dry, despite the fact that I had ordered her not to do so.

She remarked that the pleasant aroma was caused by the fresh air.
I responded by saying, “That is exactly why you should use the scented dryer sheets,” but she refused to listen to me.

When I vented to Ryan over dinner one night, he replied, “It’s no surprise that you’ll clash sometimes because you’re both stubborn and like doing things your own way… so it’s not surprising that you’ll clash.” To add insult to injury, Mom will be returning to her home in a few weeks now. It won’t come to an end.”

“This seems like it will go on forever,” I mumbled.

Following that, my garments began to disappear.

It all started with a blouse that was see-through. Despite the fact that I had planned to wear it to a work party, I discovered that it was missing from my closet.

“Diana, have you happened to notice my blouse?” As I was making my way down to the basement to check on the laundry, I called. “Is it the one with the frills, the purple one?”

Which one is the one that appears to be a curtain? Diane was in the living room when I walked by, and she emerged with her head poking out. “No, Ava, I have not even seen it yet.”

I was never able to locate the blouse, and the problem of missing clothes continued to worsen. My favorite silk top, which Ryan had given to me for our anniversary, was the next item to be removed, followed by my tight jeans, then my bright pink sundress, and finally, my beloved silk top.

There was a moment when I thought I had misplaced them. The whole contents of my closet were emptied and reorganized three times. With each passing moment, I became aware of the absence of a different item, such as my most beloved bra, my fishnet tights, or a gray skirt.

But what is the true surprise? It was by complete and utter chance that I discovered what was happening to my clothing.

In the middle of the night, I was unable to fall asleep and was browsing through Reddit. I happened to come across a post on that platform that displayed MY CLOTHES, and the caption that accompanied it made me quite angry: “Clearing out my DIL’s tacky closet.” Would anyone be interested in purchasing garments that a married woman has no right to wear?

I was on the verge of choking on my herbal tea. The username could have been “DianeTheThief” because there is no other person who could have been the one to use it.

At this point, it appears that the woman who had been staying in my home for three months, eating my food, and picking at my cooking was stealing my clothes.

“No way,” I muttered as I scrolled through the comments on the other posts.

Some individuals expressed interest in purchasing the garments, while others made derogatory remarks about my sense of style. She had responded to some of them with statements such as “My poor son doesn’t know how to tell her these outfits are wrong” and “She dresses like she’s still a teenager.”

As a result of my fists being so tightly squeezed, one of my false nails fell off. Initially, I had the intention of storming into the guest room and demanding that my clothes be returned to me, but then I thought of a better idea.

Due to the fact that Thanksgiving was approaching, Ryan and I were going to be hosting both of our families this year. There were a total of twelve individuals present, comprised of Ryan’s older sister and one of his aunts.

I was mumbling something to myself as I took screenshots of Diane’s post on Reddit. “Revenge goes great with turkey and sauce,” I said.

As I smiled and put my phone down, I began to fall off to sleep.

I was generous enough to let Diane take command of the Thanksgiving lunch and use recipes that she had inherited from her family. While I was hurriedly putting the finishing touches on my plan to give her a lesson, it kept her occupied.

In the end, I set the table in accordance with Diane’s specific tastes. By the time everyone came, it appeared to be in perfect condition. As we sat down, Ryan gave my hand a gentle squeeze under the table, most likely thinking that I was finally beginning to approach his mother.

What if he had known?

Having finished filling everyone’s plates, I stood up with a glass of wine in my hand. I made the announcement, “I would like to make a toast.”

I started off by saying, “To family, and in particular to Diane, who has been such a… presence in our home over the course of the past few months.” The table was filled with a few chuckles. “She has opened my eyes to the importance of being kind to others and sharing with them.”

Diane brightened, most likely thinking that I had finally taken in all of her never-ending lectures on the need of community and generosity. It was at that moment that I reached beneath the table and retrieved the garbage bag that I had concealed earlier.

I followed by saying, “In point of fact, she has generously distributed all of these garments to the women’s shelter in town,” while “accidentally” allowing the bag to tear open.

Her favorite wool sweater, her designer pants, and — whoops — was that her beautiful lingerie slipping across the floor? Diane’s favorite wool sweater and designer pants were all spilling out.

Diane sprayed her wine like a fountain while maintaining her gaze fixed on the garments, all of which I had selected because I was aware that she cherished them.

The silence came to the table. Chloe, Ryan’s sister, paused in the middle of her bite. Finally, Ryan’s cousin Lauren began clapping, which came as a complete surprise.

“You are so kind, Aunt Diane! I am so grateful to you!” Lauren yelled out in surprise. “You are constantly bringing up the topic of assisting the community. What a generous act it is of you to give away your fancy clothing!

Diane’s apparent generosity was praised by other individuals, who joined in the applause. While I observed, her expression went from one of bewilderment to one of horror to one of wrath. I was aware that she was unable to talk without disclosing her deeds.

It was the scenario that was ideal.

Diane pushed food around her plate and avoided making eye contact during the remainder of the meal, which resulted in a pleasantly tense atmosphere.

When we were all together as a family, I had never seen her so quiet. The majority of the time, she would be the focus of attention, telling stories about Ryan’s childhood or dropping hints about potential grandchildren.

Immediately following dinner, Diane surrounded me in the kitchen.

It was either because she was angry or because she had consumed three glasses of wine while she was eating dessert. Her face was red.

At the same time that her hands were shaking and she was gripping the counter, she yelled, “How dare you embarrass me like that?” I think you’ve gone too far, Ava. Well, that’s just too far.”

While I continued to load the dishwasher, I made sure to take my time with each dish. Who am I to dare? This is a strong statement coming from someone who stole my items and attempted to sell them online while calling me trashy.

“What is it? I… It’s not clear to me what you can imply.

At that moment, I halted, took out my phone, and presented her with a screenshot of the post she had made on Reddit. The color left her face, and her jaw did not move.

To put it simply, those garments were very flashy—”

I interjected by saying, “Those garments belonged to me.” I moved my finger to the following screenshot. This includes every single comment you made as well as every single attempt you made to sell my items.

I continued by saying, “And let me be completely clear: my home, my clothes, and my choices.” I no longer have the authority to make decisions for me. As you know, Diane, actions have repercussions. Remember to keep that in mind the next time you find yourself considering going beyond the boundaries.

When I woke up the following morning, I discovered all of my missing clothes put nicely outside the entrance of my bedroom. Every piece was present, from the blouse that was see-through to the top that was made of silk.

The message was unambiguous, thus there was no need for a note.

After I had picked everything up and placed them back in my closet, I proceeded to spend an hour going through my older clothing and organizing it.

By the time Diane arrived for breakfast, I had already arrived at the door with the donation bag that I had collected.

She inquired in a low voice, “Are you going to the shelter?”

It is true. When it comes to my own garments, specifically the ones that I am willing to donate.

She then shocked me by adding, “I’m sorry, Ava,” after she had nodded her head. I made a mistake.”

At the entrance, I hesitated with my bag in my hand. I am aware that you were.

Her hands were twisted as she groaned and said, “It’s just…” “Some of those garments appeared to be quite daring, and I was concerned about what other people would think of them. With regard to you, Ryan, and our entire family together. On the other side, I handled everything incorrectly. “This will not occur once more.”

“No,” I concurred, “it won’t happen.”

I was unable to suppress a grin as I made my way to the shelter driving. Occasionally, a brief lesson in public might teach someone about the importance of limits. In the event that Diane ever attempted something similar to this again? To tell you the truth, I still had those screenshots from Reddit saved on my phone.

On the off chance.

We had, for the time being, established a tenuous ceasefire. Over the course of the subsequent weeks, I experienced a decrease in judgments, an increase in respect for personal space, and, remarkably, not a single comment regarding my dress choices.

At times, a courageous action is required in order to restart a relationship.