Lucy moved in with her son Connor and daughter-in-law Eve after the passing of her husband, Ron. Unprepared to live alone, she stayed with them until she felt ready.
The rent from her house, which she had chosen to send to Connor, was her way of showing gratitude. With Connor working long hours as an IT technician, Lucy spent most of her time with Eve, who was a housewife.
Connor assured his mother that she would be comfortable on the first floor, saying, “This way, you won’t have to worry about climbing stairs,” while helping with her luggage.
Initially, everything was smooth. Eve was exceptionally kind, preparing meals and cleaning up, and she refused Lucy’s offers to help. But as time went on, Lucy found herself doing most of the household chores, and her old knees were starting to feel the strain.
A few days before Christmas, Eve, who was watching TV, called Lucy over. “Lucy,” she said, “Once you finish the laundry, please go out and buy groceries for tonight and for the Christmas dinner. We’re expecting nine people. I’ll give you the money before you leave.”
Lucy was taken aback. They had always shopped together, but this time, Eve’s tone was more of an order than a request. It became clear to Lucy that staying with them was turning her into a servant rather than a guest.
Determined to teach Eve a lesson, Lucy used her skills from her large family background to prepare a feast for Christmas. The house was soon filled with the wonderful aroma of the dishes she had made.
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