That’s when she decided to teach him a lesson—quietly and with flair.
The next day, she brought Ben grocery shopping and filled the cart with filet mignon, truffle oil, and imported cheeses. When the total rang up, his jaw dropped. “You can’t ask for steak on a ramen budget,” she told him.
That night, she turned their dining room into a five-star experience. She served minuscule portions on their best china: a single scallop for the appetizer, a sliver of steak atop a dab of mashed potatoes for the main course, and a dramatic “deconstructed chocolate mousse”—which was really just an empty bowl for dessert.
Ben was stunned. Carol quietly made herself a sandwich. The kids grabbed snacks from the pantry. Meanwhile, she slipped away for a well-earned bubble bath.
The next morning, Ben was up early making breakfast and packing lunches. “Let’s just stick to your tacos tonight,” he said, humbled.
Lesson learned: Respect isn’t automatic—it’s earned. And sometimes, it comes served with candlelight and a single parsley leaf.