Hey love, let me tell you what went down last week, just like Id be chatting over a cuppa.
Youll never earn love that way, Stan shook his head.
After twentyodd years of marriage, do I still have to earn love? Olivia shot back, eyebrows raised. Really?
Youre a smart woman, arent you? Stan said, frowning. Isnt it obvious what I meant?
When a bloke tells a lady shes smart, Olivia replied, he usually means the opposite!
Right, youve got it all wrong again! No manipulation here, and youre the one in the wrong, not me! Stan protested.
Exactly, in this particular spot, Olivia said, smiling. So, whats the situation?
Youre exhausted after work and need a break, and I, as your understanding wife, shouldnt just stand there but also bring dinner to the sofa?
Stan, youre talking to me like Im a tyrant! he clenched his lips. But honestly, cant you see Im knackered?
I get that youre tired, Olivia nodded. But you can still hobble to the kitchen youre not a cripple or on your deathbed!
Oh, so youll only serve me food if Im that low? Stan huffed. Do you want me to become an invalid or, heaven forbid, something worse?
Less talk, more action, Olivia said, pointing toward the kitchen. Its right over there.
Come on, Olivia! Dont you get it? Im a normal bloke, Im wiped out!
Stan, stop trying to sweettalk me! Olivia raised her voice. Im exhausted from work too, and I dont feel like ferrying trays everywhere. Youll end up asking for salt, ketchup, sour cream, mayo, extra bread, whatever you like. Everythings in the kitchen, just grab it and youre happy!
Stan shook his head. Thats not how you win my love. He shuffled toward the kitchen like a swan thats seen better days.
Actor! Olivia snorted, settling more comfortably into the armchair.
She waited. She really waited. She imagined the outcome, and then
Olivia! Whats that supposed to mean? Stans voice echoed from the kitchen.
Olivia didnt even bother getting up. Not a muscle twitched.
Olivia! Stan burst into the room. Whats that?
The pots in the fridge, the plates drying on the rack, the microwaves still on the counter, she said calmly.
Honestly, thats a dead end! Stan muttered through clenched teeth. Its useless!
For the record, Olivia smiled sweetly, Im worn out from work too. She gave him a little nod.
Stan stared at her for a minute, cursed under his breath, and trudged back to the kitchen.
It couldve turned into a fullblown family drama, but the next day wed planned a visit to the Smiths.
Olivias mum, Linda, wanted to get the family together because, Its been ages! The reason was flimsy theyd postponed a dozen times before, but this time she was serious.
Mrs. Laura, who was Stans motherinlaw, also wanted a catchup, just to chat.
So Stan decided hed complain to his motherinlaw. Maybe the motherinlaw can straighten her daughter out!
He barely waited for the formal part of the gathering to finish before the sweets were coming out, then blurted out:
Laura, I understand everything, but somethings off with your daughter!
Ill tell you straight the changes are heading toward divorce territory! Youd better watch out, because life throws all sorts of curveballs!
Lord, whats happened? Laura gasped, clutching her chest.
Yesterday I got home from work, deadtired. I bring home the money for the family, and the weeks been a nightmare. I was drained! I asked Olivia to feed the man of the house, and she just pointed at the fridge and didnt move a muscle!
Lauras eyes widened shock, outrage, despair, horror.
Olivia took that look in stride, almost detached.
Look, I didnt want to bring this up, Olivias brother Colin interjected, but somethings off with Olivia. Im a Sunday dad, you know? My exwife Anna is a proper mess no shame, no conscience! She only lets me see Zoe on weekends, once a month. Im on my own, paying child support. No time to clean! I asked Olivia for help, and she never refused because she knows where Im at. Then she points me to the broom, throws a rag at my feet and tells me not to get sloppy!
Shes got a cold, apparently, their son piped in, I just asked her to iron my shirt for a date, and she handed me the iron and a YouTube tutorial on how to iron. I took it without a fuss.
Olivia took both complaints without a flinch.
Her mum, though, got a bit worked up.
Olivia, whats this? Laura exclaimed, exasperated. You were such a good girl kind, polite, helpful! Im ashamed of you!
And Im not ashamed of myself! Olivia replied firmly.
Even sunshine has its spots. Patience used to be a virtue, now people see it as a weakness. Everyone complains, Why endure so long? Why put up with it? I wouldnt have tolerated it! Yet burning bridges whenever its convenient is lauded.
But dialogue, solving problems with words, is still praised.
Delicacy was Olivias nature. She was raised to think every person is a world of their own, and imposing your standards on someone else is either foolish or disastrous.
To really get someone, you have to stand in their shoes, see through their eyes, think as they think, and only then judge.
Following that, Olivia saw a friend whod stolen her boyfriend. It hurt first love and all that. She first put herself in the boyfriends spot:
He wanted more, I wasnt ready, and Karen was not only ready but wanted it. If Kevin were ten years older, hed have his hormones in check. His move was logical.
Then she imagined the friends view:
She comes from a big family, always short on cash, parents making her look after the younger siblings. Kevins rich, an only child, a ticket out of a chaotic home, a chance at a good life.
Thats just one example; there were plenty. She never gave up at the first hurdle, always trying to understand what drove peoples actions.
At work, when Olivia was set up or framed, she often proved she was right and set things straight. She never blamed the offender, just found the reason. Every reason, unless its madness, has a legitimate place and can justify the behaviour.
For Stan, Olivia became a treasure a pearl, a priceless diamond. Most of his flaws were forgiven, chalked up to little annoyances. Not every bloke knows how to compliment or court a lady, Olivia admitted. So I wont toss him just because he didnt bring flowers or open the door. And Ill move my own chair in a restaurant if I have to that way Im comfortable.
She also understood that Stan wasnt much for tidying; his mum always did it. He couldnt cook, couldnt handle the washing machine basically, he knew nothing about running a house. She realized not all men are handy.
Shed ask him to do things, show him how, but most of the time she did it herself.
She also gave him slack when he didnt show much fatherly flair toward little Dennis. Science backs him up men usually start getting into their kids around three years old; before that, theyre clueless and even scared of the screaming bundle in the cot. Thats why Stan got irritated when Dennis cried, or when Olivia spent more time with the boy than with him. Its fear and jealousy, plain as day.
When the marriage hit the tenyear mark, Olivia accepted that Stan had grown cooler. The habit stuck, and were not lads with raging hormones anymore!
She also got why he needed nights out with the mates workhome balance, a change of scenery.
She wondered, though, would she understand if he ever had a sidewoman? The answer was clear there was no such thing for him, so no need to mull over it.
Life wasnt just about Stan. Their son Dennis followed his dads footsteps, preferring videogame battles over chores. Olivia realized Dennis saw his dad as a role model, which made sense.
Then there was her brother Colin, younger but a complete opposite he loved noise, drama, stirring things up to feed off other peoples energy. As kids, Olivia often cried over his antics, but later she saw it was jealousy and a need to control emotions. His marriage was a shortlived sprint; his wife was fiery, they fought for years, then split. Their little daughter Zoe now lives with her dad only on weekends.
Colin, like most men, wasnt great with household tasks. Hed ask Olivia to tidy his flat and cook something decent before a weekend visit, because hed rather order pizza.
Their mum, Linda, was the classic mums the word figure. When she asked for help, her children couldnt say no. She wasnt demanding; she could clean and cook herself, but she invited Olivia over mostly for company, not chores. Olivia gladly stayed, chatting while they both tidied and cooked.
No one expected a drama, but Olivia finally said a firm No. She explained:
Im not ashamed of myself, but I was a bit foolish for trying to fix everything for you, thinking youd appreciate it because you love me. I didnt notice you never really noticed me.
The room fell silent; everyone was used to her staying quiet. Then she kept going:
Im not a girl anymore, and its too late to rewrite my whole life. From now on, Ill do only what I want.
Want to feed Stan after work? Ill cook, set the table, wash the dishes. Dont want to? Stan, you know where the fridge is! Youre old enough to feed yourself, and so is Dennis, whos seventeen now. You can handle cooking, cleaning, ironing if you want a crisp shirt.
She turned to Colin:
If I feel like hanging out with my niece, Ill swing by and tidy up your place. If not, figure it out yourself or hire a cleaner just not me!
And Mum, she added, you can meet a clean apartment and treat yourself to something tasty, instead of making me do it all.
Olivia saw the sour faces around the table and knew they didnt like what shed said. She didnt want to be everyones convenience any more. She wanted to be convenient for herself.
Im heading home, she announced, rising. If you dont like the new rules, Im not calling anyone, and you dont need to ring me.
Stan and Dennis came back only for their things. Colin stopped calling. Linda phoned just to call her selfish.
Selfishness isnt about thinking only of yourself, Olivia said, its expecting everyone to think of you first, then yourself later. Think about that.
Maybe Olivia hadnt planned such a radical shift, but life steered her that way. A new life for a new Olivia a happy one, all because she finally said No.
