As their usual Sunday routine — Kristen and Gary spend their morning doing chores at home before heading to the grocery store to plan for the week. But when Gary gets a phone call from his friends, he bolts — leaving Kristen to fork up the $650 bill and find her own way home. Who is more important to Gary, and what can Kristen do to teach him a lesson?
For as long as I’ve been married to Gary, we have had a set Sunday routine. We wake up, have brunch and then hit the grocery store. It’s been this way for the past two years — it’s how the system runs smoothly.
Two plates of food on a table | Source: Unsplash
So, it’s a Sunday morning. I make us brunch while Gary sorts out the outside — mowing the lawn and so on.
“Are you ready?” Gary asked, as he came into the kitchen fresh from a shower.
“Yes,” I said. “Don’t forget to take the shopping bags.”
A lawn mower outside | Source: Unsplash
We get to the store, and my husband and I have a ball of a time. We walk the grocery store per aisle, making sure that we got everything we needed — and then some. We were both foodies, so cooking together was our love language.
Until Gary’s phone rang, and I saw a different side to my husband.
A shopping cart in a grocery store | Source: Unsplash
We were just about to start unloading our cart at the checkout when Gary’s phone erupted with a loud ring.
“Sorry, Kristen, but I’ve got to take this,” he muttered, stepping aside to answer. “You can start checking out, though.”
So I began to unload all of our groceries — the meat, the veggies, the fruit, not to mention the junk food and drinks that we had stocked up on, too.
Moments later, Gary returned, looking both agitated and excited.
A man using his phone | Source: Pexels
“Listen, I have to run,” he said, glancing at the groceries as the checkout guy went about scanning them.
“Where do you have to go?” I asked.
“The guys are waiting for me. We’re going to have some beers, barbecue, and watch the game together,” he said.
Gary put his hands in his pocket, and looked toward the exit.
A person holding beer with firewood in the background | Source: Pexels
I thought that he was waiting for us to finish at the grocery store, then drop me off at home before taking off to his friends.
“I’ll see you later,” he said.
“What? Now?” I asked, puzzled. “But we’re about to check out!”
“I know, I know,” he said hurriedly, swinging the car keys. “But I can’t miss this, Kristen! It’s a big deal, you know that the guys and I barely hang out.”
A man holding car keys | Source: Unsplash
“How am I supposed to get all of this sorted out and get home? You’re getting a cab?” I protested, my eyes darting between Gary and the growing line behind us.
“What? No! I’m taking the car. But I’ll call you a cab!”
He hastily began to place items on the conveyor belt.
“Okay,” he said. “I’ve got to dash!”
And with that, he was gone.
A man walking away | Source: Pexels
“Do you need help with these?” the checkout guy asked. “We have people to help with these things.”
I nodded. I couldn’t believe that Gary had actually left me at a grocery store, just to go and drink with his friends.
“That will be $650, ma’am.”
A cashier at check out | Source: Unsplash
Of course, Gary had left without leaving any cash behind. It wasn’t that I relied on him for money — it’s just that we usually did this type of thing together. And $650 wasn’t what I had expected our grocery trip to come to.
I paid and wheeled the heavy cart outside. I stood looking at the parking lot, hoping that by some miracle, Gary would still be there.
That he would be waiting for me.
An upset woman looking down | Source: Unsplash
That he would have finally realized that he was wrong to leave me for an insignificant moment with his friends.
I deserved better.
After a few minutes, a cab drove by. The driver got out and helped me pack all of our groceries into the trunk, and we took off for my home.
A yellow cab | Source: Unsplash
The more I thought about it, the angrier I got with Gary.
What on earth could have possessed him to leave me alone? I felt hurt and disrespected. I hated everything about the way I felt. My husband had never made me feel this way before.
I got home and unloaded all of the groceries. I was in a foul mood by then. So, I made a cup of tea and took it to my bubble bath. I needed to relax before thinking about how to get back at Gary.
A cat among grocery bags | Source: Unsplash
As I was sitting in my bath, sniffing the calming scent of lavender, I decided that I would cook myself a fancy dinner with all the ingredients I had bought.
“Two can play at this game,” I thought, shuffling around the house in my socks and pajamas.
I put on some music and I began to cook — I prepared an elaborate feast, grilled chicken, roasted vegetables, couscous, and the works. All of our favorites.
A bubble bath with tea and a book | Source: Pexels
The kitchen smelled heavenly, and I was in the zone. While waiting for the oven, I set the table meticulously for one — my resolve hardening.
If there was one thing I knew about my husband — he would always check my social media, especially when he was away from me.
So, I took photos while I cooked, and posted them on my socials.
A woman cooking | Source: Pexels
My stories were always perfectly captured, and I usually shared my cooking online. Shortly after I posted every story, Gary would ‘like’ it — and every time he did that, I knew that my plan was working.
Sure enough, my husband would be with his friends — drinking and snacking and watching whatever game they said they were going to. But Gary wouldn’t eat there, not when he knew that I was cooking at home.
For good measure, I sent him a photo of my plate saying:
Dinner is fantastic tonight, wish you were here! xx
A person taking a photo of food | Source: Pexels
Later that night, Gary returned to a clean kitchen without leftovers. I was lounging comfortably with a glass of wine and a book — the evidence of my solo feast neatly packed away at the back of the fridge.
“Hey,” he began uncertainly, after he walked in and out of the pristine kitchen. “The house smells incredible. Did you save me some dinner?”
A glass of wine on a table | Source: Pexels
I shook my head, a slight smile playing on my lips.
“Actually, no,” I said. “But you missed a great meal. Everything was so fresh!”
Gary’s face fell as he glanced around to the dining table, as if hoping that there would be a plate of dinner for him.
“I didn’t have dinner,” he admitted.
“Oh? Why not?” I asked, crossing my legs.
A man sitting and covering his eyes | Source: Unsplash
“Because I saw your stories and I thought that there would be dinner for me, too,” he said.
I remained silent. My husband knew exactly what he had done wrong. I just needed him to admit it.
“Kristen,” he said. “I’m sorry I left you at the store like that. It was a last-minute thing with the guys and I didn’t know what else to do. I wanted to be with them, I guess. And I knew that you could handle it.”
Gary walked to the fridge and returned with a beer. He opened his mouth to start talking again.
I raised a hand, stopping him mid-excuse.
A cold beer bottle | Source: Unsplash
“Gary, when you choose your friends over me, it’s more than just leaving me to handle the bills or whatever. It’s way more than that. You left me behind so that you could drink beer. You made me feel second to a barbecue. Today, I wanted you to experience coming home expecting a warm meal and finding nothing.”
“You did this on purpose?” he asked, shocked.
“It’s not just about food,” I continued. “It’s about the people you prioritize.”
A woman sitting on a couch | Source: Pexels
“I never looked at it that way,” he said. “I’m really sorry.”
Our conversation that night was long and honest — Gary needed to be reminded of the fact that we were a team and that we did everything together regarding our home. But it turns out that I also needed to be reminded that we could have our lives, too.
“Get out sometimes,” he said. “Go out with your friends, and leave me to take over the house. You’re allowed to escape the routine, too.”
A group of friends having a picnic together | Source: Pexels
When we went to bed that evening, I felt bad. I had never denied my husband food before, but there was a lesson to be learnt here.
Gary needed to know that he couldn’t leave me stranded in a grocery store without a car. Or without offering to help. Beer and barbecue did not qualify as an emergency.
“You’re right,” he said as he brushed his teeth. “I need to get my priorities straight.”
I’m not sure if Gary learned his lesson, but I do think that making him buttered toast and tea for dinner was a step in the right direction.
Buttered toast with jam | Source: Unsplash
I Came Back for Christmas Without Warning and Discovered My Kids in the Car – Their Story Had Me Racing Into the House
After months away, I thought surprising my family on Christmas Eve would be perfect. Instead, I found my sons huddled in our car, claiming their mother was “busy with some man” inside. As my mind raced with dark possibilities, I knew our quiet Christmas reunion was about to turn disastrous.
The windshield wipers fought a losing battle against the snow as I guided my car down our neighborhood street.
A man driving through snow | Source: Midjourney
After three months of endless business trips, I was finally heading home on Christmas Eve. The dashboard clock read 7:43 p.m. — perfect timing to surprise Sarah and the boys.
“Just wait till they see what’s in the trunk,” I muttered, thinking about the pile of carefully wrapped presents I’d collected during my travels.
Three months was a long time to be away, but I’d ensured each gift was special enough to help make up for my absence.
A man smiling while driving | Source: Midjourney
The model rocket kit for Tommy, the art supplies for Jake’s budding interest in painting, and the vintage jewelry box I’d found for Sarah in that tiny antique shop in Boston.
As I turned onto our street, the Christmas lights from neighboring houses cast colorful shadows across the fresh snow. Our house stood out immediately; Sarah had outdone herself this year with the decorations.
Streams of white icicle lights draped from the eaves, and illuminated reindeer “grazed” on our front lawn. But something seemed off.
A house decorated for Christmas | Source: Midjourney
The garage door was slightly open, maybe eight inches off the ground, letting out a thin strip of light.
“That’s weird,” I said to myself, frowning.
Sarah was always meticulous about security, especially when I was away. She’d triple-check the doors and windows before bed, a habit that had reassured me during my extended absences.
I pulled into the driveway and killed the engine.
A car parked in a driveway | Source: Midjourney
That’s when I noticed Sarah’s car was there, and two small shapes were bundled up in the backseat. My heart dropped as I recognized Tommy and Jake, bundled up in their winter coats, sitting perfectly still.
I jumped out of my car, my dress shoes crunching in the fresh snow as I rushed over. Tommy, my nine-year-old, saw me first and his eyes went wide.
“Dad!” he whispered loudly, rolling down the window. “You’re not supposed to be home yet!”
Two warmly-dressed boys in a car | Source: Midjourney
“What are you two doing out here?” I demanded, looking between them and the house. “It’s freezing!”
Jake, my seven-year-old, leaned forward, his breath forming little clouds in the cold air. “Mom said we had to stay out here. She’s doing important stuff inside.”
“Important stuff?” I repeated. “What could she possibly be doing that would make her send you two out here, in the cold?”
A man standing beside a car in a garage | Source: Midjourney
Tommy mumbled something I couldn’t make out and looked away, a guilty expression on his face.
“I dunno, Dad,” Jake replied. “She’s busy with some man and said we had to wait out here til they’re done.”
The words hit me like a punch to the gut.
“What man?” I asked. “And how long have you been out here?”
An irate man in a garage | Source: Midjourney
“I dunno,” Tommy shrugged, adjusting his Spider-Man beanie. “Maybe twenty minutes? Mom said we absolutely couldn’t come inside until she came to get us. She was really serious about it.”
My mind raced through possibilities, each worse than the last.
Sarah had been acting strange during our last few phone calls, distracted and evasive when I asked about our holiday plans. I’d chalked it up to stress, but now… I glanced at the door leading inside from the garage. Was Sarah cheating on me?
A concerned man | Source: Midjourney
The thought lodged in my mind like a thorn. I couldn’t imagine Sarah being unfaithful to me, and on Christmas Eve no less, but I also couldn’t shake the idea that something underhanded was happening inside my house.
“Come on, boys,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “We’re going inside.”
“But Mom said—” Jake started to protest, his lower lip trembling slightly.
“Now,” I interrupted.
A man speaking to a child | Source: Midjourney
They exchanged worried looks but climbed out.
The garage entry door creaked as we entered. The house was unusually dark, save for a faint glow coming from the direction of the living room.
My heart pounded in my ears as we moved through the kitchen. I could hear muffled voices ahead: a man’s low laugh, and Sarah’s familiar giggle.
“Stay behind me,” I whispered to the boys, my hands clenching into fists as we approached the living room.
A concerned man in a house | Source: Midjourney
The voices grew clearer, and I glimpsed movement through the partially open door. My wedding ring felt suddenly heavy on my finger.
I took a deep breath, steeling myself for whatever I was about to find. With one quick motion, I pushed the door open wide.
“SURPRISE!”
The room exploded with light and sound.
People in a living room | Source: Midjourney
Dozens of familiar faces beamed at me — my parents, Sarah’s family, our neighbors, and even some colleagues from work.
A massive “Welcome Home” banner stretched across the fireplace, and a mountain of presents surrounded our Christmas tree. The air smelled of mulled cider and Sarah’s famous sugar cookies.
Sarah rushed forward, throwing her arms around my neck.
A couple hugging | Source: Midjourney
“Got you!” she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “You should see your face right now! You look like you’ve seen a ghost!”
I stood frozen, my brain struggling to catch up with reality. Behind me, Tommy and Jake burst into giggles.
“We did good, right, Mom?” Tommy asked proudly, bouncing on his toes. “We stayed in the car just like you said!”
A happy boy | Source: Midjourney
Sarah laughed, squeezing them both. “You were perfect! Your dad had no idea! And you didn’t even complain about the cold.”
“The man…” I started, still processing everything. “I heard a man’s voice…”
“That would be me,” my brother Mike stepped forward, grinning. “Someone had to help set up the sound system for the party. Though I got to say, bro, you look like you were ready to throw down just now. Should I be worried?”
A smiling man | Source: Midjourney
The tension in my shoulders finally released, replaced by a wave of relief and embarrassment. Sarah must have read it on my face because she pulled me close again.
“Mike told us your plan to surprise us by coming home early,” she whispered in my ear, her perfume familiar and comforting. “So I decided to beat you to it. Merry Christmas, honey.”
“You evil genius,” I murmured, finally finding my smile. “How long have you been planning this?”
A woman with a mischievous grin speaking to her husband | Source: Midjourney
“Since I found out about it,” she admitted. “I figured you needed something special to come home to.”
The rest of the night passed in a blur of laughter, food, and countless retellings of how they’d pulled off the surprise.
My mom couldn’t stop hugging me, her eyes misty every time she looked my way. Dad kept clapping me on the back, while the boys eagerly shared their role in the deception with anyone who would listen.
Family and friends celebrating Christmas Eve together | Source: Pexels
“And then we had to sit really quiet in the car,” Jake explained to his cousins for the third time, gesturing dramatically. “Like ninjas on a secret mission!”
“The hardest part was not texting you about it,” my mother admitted later, as we helped ourselves to Sarah’s holiday punch. “Every time we talked, I was afraid I’d slip up and mention something about the party.”
“I can’t believe everyone kept the secret,” I said, watching Tommy show his grandpa the proper technique for dunking sugar cookies in hot chocolate.
A couple sitting together | Source: Midjourney
“Well, we all missed you,” she replied softly. “This was our way of showing you.”
Later, after the guests had gone and the boys were in bed, Sarah and I sat on the couch, watching the Christmas tree lights twinkle.
The house still hummed with the afterglow of the party — empty cups on the coffee table, wrapping paper scraps under the tree, and the lingering warmth of having been filled with loved ones.
A couple having a conversation | Source: Midjourney
“I can’t believe you got me that good,” I admitted, pulling her closer. “When I saw the boys in the car and heard about the ‘mystery man’… my mind went to some dark places.”
She laughed softly, intertwining her fingers with mine. “I almost feel bad about that part. Almost. But you have to admit it made for a pretty unforgettable homecoming.”
I thought about the presents still in my car trunk, the ones I’d carefully selected to make up for my time away.
A smiling thoughtful man | Source: Midjourney
They seemed almost silly now, compared to what Sarah had given me tonight — this reminder of how much I was loved, and how many people had come together just to welcome me home.
“Yeah,” I agreed, kissing the top of her head. “Unforgettable is definitely the word.”
The snow continued falling outside our window, but I barely noticed the cold anymore. After months of hotel rooms and conference calls, I was finally where I belonged.
Snow falling in a suburban area | Source: Pexels
Sarah stirred beside me, yawning. “We should probably clean up the rest of this mess.”
“Leave it for tomorrow,” I said, pulling her closer. “Right now, I just want to sit here with you and enjoy being home.”
She smiled, resting her head on my shoulder. “Welcome home, love. Merry Christmas.”
Here’s another story: I was suspicious when my controlling MIL demanded we use her special Christmas tree for our first time hosting the family gathering. However, her lack of decorating demands threw me off guard — until we plugged it in and discovered the true reason she was so insistent about that tree.
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
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