Sophia, her closest work friend, hugged the birthday girl. «God, you look stunning!» she exclaimed, examining Olivia’s dress. «Like a sea goddess!»
After the colleagues, the other guests streamed in. High school friends with husbands, distant relatives, college buddies. Olivia greeted each with a sincere smile, led them to tables, thanked for congratulations.
At the start of seven, Linda Carter appeared. She entered uncertainly, looking around, clearly feeling out of place amid the luxurious interior. She wore a dark blue dress of simple cut, hair in a neat bun, minimal makeup on a face marked by years of hard labor.
«Mommy!» Olivia hurried to meet her, hugging. «You look wonderful!» Linda Carter smiled embarrassedly.
«Bought a new dress at the department store. Not too plain for this place?» «It’s perfect!» Olivia assured her, taking her arm.
«Come, I’ll seat you next to me.» Mom pulled a small box from her bag. «Here, honey, not gold, of course, but from the heart.»
Inside was a silver bracelet with a tiny angel pendant. «To protect you,» Linda Carter explained. Olivia’s eyes stung.
She knew this gift cost her mother several months of saving. «Thanks, Mommy!» she whispered, fastening the bracelet on her wrist. «I’ll never take it off!»
By eight, the hall was almost full. Only Margaret Wilson was missing, and her absence felt like the calm before the storm. «Where’s your mom?» Olivia asked Ethan as waiters began serving appetizers.
He shrugged. «Said she’ll be any minute. You know she loves dramatic entrances.»
As if in response to his words, the doors swung open, and Margaret Wilson entered. She wore an evening dress in deep burgundy, embroidered with beads, a massive necklace on her neck, and a high hairstyle with a jeweled clip. She paused at the threshold, allowing time to appreciate her outfit.
«Ethan dear!» she exclaimed, opening her arms. Ethan jumped up immediately, leaving Olivia, and hurried to his mother. He hugged her, kissed her cheek, took her elbow.
«Mom, you look amazing!» he said admiringly. «New dress?» «Yes, specially for this event,» Margaret Wilson purred, letting her son lead her through the hall.
Wanted to match the level. Passing tables, she nodded to acquaintances, greeted those she knew, ignoring the rest. Her gaze slid over Linda Carter, lingered for a fraction of a second, and moved on, as if she were a piece of furniture.
Approaching Olivia, Margaret Wilson barely touched her lips to her cheek. «Happy birthday, dear! Hope you didn’t forget my special menu? I’m on a diet.» «Of course,» Olivia replied, feeling her facial muscles tense in an effort to keep smiling.
«I arranged everything.» Margaret Wilson went to the table and, without waiting for an offer, chose the chair next to the one marked for Olivia. «Ethan dear, sit next to me!» she commanded her son, patting the adjacent chair.
Ethan nodded, not even glancing at his wife, and sat between his mother and one of his friends. Olivia had to sit on the other side of her mother-in-law, squeezed between her and her own mother. Margaret Wilson immediately began inspecting the hall like an experienced auditor.
She adjusted the tablecloth, shifted a glass a millimeter aside, shook her head examining the flower arrangement. «Interesting choice of flowers,» she said loud enough for neighboring tables to hear. «In our time, serious events ordered orchids.»
Olivia took a deep breath. «I like freesias and eustomas. They’re delicate and elegant.»
«Of course,» the mother-in-law replied, «everyone has their taste. By the way, the menu here is outrageously expensive. Ethan showed me the list.
Are you sure you can afford this?» Ethan, engrossed in chatting with a buddy, didn’t even notice this jab. «I work and can afford a good party once a year,» Olivia replied firmly. Margaret Wilson smiled.
«Of course, just worried about your budget. You still need to save for an apartment.» Olivia and Ethan had been living in a rental apartment for two years, saving for a down payment on their own home.
Margaret Wilson knew well that mentioning this was a sore spot. Fortunately, at that moment, the musicians started playing, and the host announced the start of the party. Olivia smiled gratefully at him.
Timely. Waiters served cold appetizers, champagne flowed into glasses. The host, a young man in a suit with a bow tie, introduced himself as Alex and announced the first toast to the birthday girl.
«Dear guests! Today we gathered to celebrate the milestone of beautiful Olivia. Thirty years is the age when a woman blooms in full force, retaining youth and gaining wisdom.» Guests applauded, raising glasses.
Olivia smiled, feeling the tension gradually release. The evening was just beginning, and she could simply enjoy the attention and warmth of friends. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Margaret Wilson scrutinizing the separate plate of salad brought to her.
«Is this with salmon?» she asked the waiter. «I asked for trout. Salmon has too high a glycemic index for my diet.»
The young waiter glanced confusedly at Olivia. «I’ll check in the kitchen, ma’am.» «Please,» Margaret Wilson cut off, pushing the plate away, «and bring me mineral water without gas.
Not from a bottle, but from a pitcher with ice and a lemon slice.» Linda Carter, watching this scene, quietly said to Olivia. «Don’t pay attention, honey.
Enjoy your party.» Olivia gratefully squeezed her mother’s hand. Linda Carter was her quiet harbor, always calm, never creating problems, supporting without extra words.
After appetizers, the first congratulations began. Colleagues presented Olivia a certificate for spa treatments and a bouquet of roses. Sophia, speaking on behalf of the office, gave a touching speech about what a wonderful person Olivia is and how lucky everyone is to work with her.
High school friends gave a set of expensive cosmetics and an album with school year photos, evoking a bout of nostalgia in Olivia. Ethan sat next to his mother, occasionally leaning to her, whispering something and laughing. He hardly looked at his wife, as if her birthday was just an excuse to meet friends and mom.
When hot dishes were served, Margaret Wilson pulled pills from her purse and demonstratively laid them next to her plate. «Digestive enzymes,» she explained to her table neighbor. «At my age, you need to watch health carefully, though some,» she threw an expressive glance at Olivia, «somehow think at 30 you can eat anything.»
Olivia stayed silent, enjoying the tasty sea bass fillet. She wasn’t going to spoil her mood over her mother-in-law’s jabs. After the hot course, the host announced a dance break.
Musicians played a slow composition, and Ethan, after an expressive look from his mother, finally remembered his marital duties. «Shall we dance?» he offered Olivia, extending his hand. They went to the center of the hall.
Ethan placed his hands on her waist, Olivia on his shoulders. They moved to the music’s rhythm, but between them was like an invisible wall. Ethan looked somewhere over her head, his thoughts clearly elsewhere.
«Do you like the party?» Olivia asked, trying to connect. «Yes, everything’s fine,» he replied mechanically. «Mom’s pleased too, though she says the meat is dryish.»
Olivia pursed her lips. «And how’s the meat for you?» «Normal,» he shrugged. «I’m not picky, you know.»
After the dance, Ethan quickly returned to the table to his mother, who immediately started telling him something, gesturing actively. Olivia stayed on the dance floor, and soon her friends joined her. They danced to upbeat melodies, laughed, and for a while Olivia forgot about the tension hovering at the table.
Returning to the guests, she saw Linda Carter sitting alone, watching the fun with a soft smile. Margaret Wilson had moved to a neighboring table where Ethan’s friends sat, animatedly telling them something, occasionally glancing towards Olivia and her mother. «Everything okay, Mom?» Olivia asked, sitting beside.
Linda Carter nodded. «Of course, honey. Wonderful party, you look so beautiful today.»
Olivia hugged her mother. «Thanks for coming. I know it’s hard after your shift.»
«What are you saying?» Linda Carter shook her head. «For you, I’d move mountains.» At that moment, Ethan approached them.
«Olivia! Mom wants to give a toast. Come to the table.» Olivia and her mother returned to the main table.
Margaret Wilson was already standing, holding a glass of champagne. She waited until Olivia sat and gestured for the musicians to quiet down. «Attention, dear guests!» she proclaimed in a ringing voice.
«Today is a special day, a milestone. And I, as the mother of our birthday girl’s husband, want to say a few words.» Guests fell silent, turning to her.
Ethan looked at his mother with admiration, preparing his phone for recording. Olivia tensed. Something in her mother-in-law’s voice made her inwardly shrink.
She felt her mother’s hand cautiously cover hers under the table. Margaret Wilson scanned the hushed hall and smiled. That special smile Olivia had learned to recognize as a harbinger of trouble.
«Life is amazing,» the mother-in-law began, raising her glass higher. «You never know what twists of fate await around the corner. Take my son.
From a good intellectual family, with excellent education, working at a prestigious company, suddenly meets…» She paused, as if choosing words. «…a girl from a completely different world. And falls in love so hard he loses his head.»
A light whisper ran through the hall. Olivia felt blood rush to her face. «Olivia,» Margaret Wilson continued, looking straight at her, «became part of our family…
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