My sister-in-law had always held a grudge against me, but this time she crossed a line that ruined my Christmas. While everyone else was distracted, she cranked up the oven temperature, turning my beautiful turkey into a charred mess. My heart sank. But just as she reveled in my misery, karma struck back in an unexpected way.
I never imagined I’d find myself at the center of a Christmas Day debacle, yet here I was. Josh and I had been married for six months, and I knew his family’s holiday traditions were a big deal—immense, in fact. Every ornament had to be perfectly placed, every dish had to be traditional, and every detail meticulously arranged.
“Sam, quit fussing with the tablecloth,” Josh said, placing his hands gently on my shoulders. “Everything looks perfect.”
I smoothed my apron for the umpteenth time. “I just want it to be right. This is our first time hosting Christmas dinner.”
“And it will be great!” he assured me with a kiss on my temple. “Remember how we met at the office Christmas party? You organized everything, and it was amazing!”
I smiled at the memory of that night two years ago, when I was the new marketing director and he was the CFO who couldn’t take his eyes off me.
Our relationship had been a whirlwind—two years of dating, a romantic sunset proposal, and a stunning summer wedding that even his sister couldn’t criticize.
“Your sister hates me,” I muttered, rearranging the silverware once more.
Josh sighed. “Alice doesn’t hate you. She’s just… passionate about family traditions.”
“Passionate is an understatement,” I said, glancing at my phone. “They’ll be here in an hour, the turkey’s in the oven, and everything is on schedule. I’m so nervous.”