Carol’s home was always straight out of a holiday catalog.
Every Christmas, she transformed it into a winter wonderland, with themed trees in every room, garlands strung across the railings, and lights glittering in perfect symmetry.
I’ve been married to Eric for three years, and spending Christmas at Carol’s has become a tradition for us. This year, I was determined to leave a positive impression.
My two girls from my former marriage, Lily and Mia, adored Eric and his family.
Carol adored Ben, my toddler son with Eric as if he were the golden child. What about Lily and Mia? It was different. She wasn’t intentionally unkind, but the way she ignored them hurt.
This year, I wanted to make it memorable. I knew Carol preferred things to match, so I chose festive sweaters for all three children. Red, green, and white, with small reindeer on them. I wanted us to appear like a unit when we arrived.
My heart sank as we entered Carol’s house.
Everyone wore the identical red and green patterned pajamas. Carol. Her husband. Eric’s brother, wife, and children. Even the dog had a matching plaid scarf around its neck.
Carol’s face brightened up as she spotted us, and I recognized the spark in her eyes. It was the phony, syrupy friendliness I had grown to expect.
“Oh, dear!” she exclaimed, hands fluttering to her chest. “Didn’t I tell you about the pajamas? You must’ve missed the text. How unfortunate.”
Carol waved her hand toward the corridor, her gaze already shifting to Ben. “Oh, there’s my sweet boy!” she cooed, picking him up. “Are you ready for photos, Benny? Grandma can’t wait to take some pictures with her little Christmas angel.”
Mia frowned. “Are we gonna be in the pictures?”
“Of course,” I said quickly. “We’re family too.”
I looked to Eric, hoping that he’d say something to reassure the females. Carol, however, returned before he could.
“You know,” she said casually, “the bathroom’s down the hall if you want to freshen up Ben. Photos are starting soon.”
After a few minutes, Ben was clean and cheery again. I adjusted my sweater, took one last look in the mirror, and walked back out.
Then I saw them.
Lily and Mia sat side by side on the couch, heads bent and cheeks smeared with tears.
“Grandma said we should go home.”
“She said the picture is only for people who match,” Lily mumbled, her voice cracking. “And we don’t have pajamas, so… we don’t fit.”
“Carol,” I said, my voice shaking as I stood up.
“Are you seriously sending my daughters away because they’re not wearing clothes you didn’t tell us about?” I demanded, my voice rising.
“I would’ve loved for you to join us, dear. I must’ve forgotten to text you. Such a shame.”
“But don’t worry—I brought pajamas for Eric and Ben. At least they can fit in.”
Before I could say anything, Eric intervened. “Why didn’t you tell my wife and daughters about the pajama plan?”
“Oh, don’t be ridiculous, Eric,” Carol scoffed and waved her hand dismissively. “I thought I texted her. Maybe it slipped my mind. It’s not a big deal.”
Eric made a step forward. “You think it’s fine to humiliate my wife and daughters? You think I’ll stand here, dress Ben up, and pretend like none of this happened? Not happening, Mom.”
“Eric, don’t,” one of his siblings said softly. “Let it go. “It is Christmas.”
“No,” Eric replied firmly. “This isn’t about Christmas. It’s about basic decency. You all saw what just happened. Is anyone else okay with this? Because if you are, I’d really love to hear it.”
He picked up Ben, who was looking wide-eyed at the tense scenario, and nodded to Lily and Mia. “Let’s go.”
Carol had finally found her voice. “Eric, you’re being ridiculous!” she yelled. “You’re really going to leave over pajamas?”
Eric turned back to her. “No, Mom. I’m leaving because of how you treat my wife and daughters. You should be ashamed of yourself.”
As Eric drove back, he offered me a tired smile. “No one messes with my family.”
That evening, back at home, Eric installed the camera in their living room. The youngsters sat close together on the couch, still wearing their colorful sweaters. Eric threw an arm around Lily and Mia, and I cradled Ben in my lap.
The photograph was not flawless. Ben’s sock was missing, and Mia’s hair was a little untidy. But the grins were genuine, filled with love and compassion. Eric captioned it: “Family isn’t about matching outfits. It’s about love and respect.”
