Nobody called to ask where they were because Susette told everyone they were visiting her family instead.
Nadia’s parents weren’t even family, and Susette had still gotten to them.
My mother-in-law had mentioned wanting to come to the family Christmas, and Susette told her that Wesley’s mother is very particular about keeping Christmas small.
Nadia didn’t find this out until she decided to ask her own mother.
When I laid it all out, the pattern was obvious.
Susette had been pruning the family tree for years.
Anyone who might challenge her or shift attention away from her version of Christmas got quietly removed.
She never screamed at anyone or threw them out.
She just made one gentle, concerned phone call where she’d explain why it was better if you didn’t come, and then told everyone else a different story about why you weren’t there.
Nobody ever found out because nobody ever compared notes until now.
Here’s where my job came in handy.
I run a catering company.
I have a commercial kitchen, a full set of professional equipment, supplier accounts with three different food distributors, a staff of 12, and I personally cook for 200 people on a regular Tuesday.
If there was one person in this family qualified to throw an alternative Christmas dinner, it was me.
But I didn’t want to make it a competition.
I didn’t want drama.
I just wanted to cook dinner for my family, my actual family, not Susette’s curated version of it.
I started planning in February.
That might sound early, but anyone in the events business will tell you that early planning is the difference between a great event and a disaster.
I wasn’t booking a venue or hiring staff.
I was doing this at my house, but I wanted it done right.
Nadia and I talked about it and decided to frame it simply.
We were hosting Christmas this year.
Open invitation to everyone. No strings attached.
Just come eat and be with family.
I didn’t make a big announcement.
I called people individually, starting with the ones Susette had pushed out.
Uncle Pete was the first call.
“You don’t have to ask me twice,” he said.
Aunt Viv cried.
Actually cried on the phone.
“You’re sure? You really want me there?”
“Viv, I’m making a 22-pound turkey and my grandmother’s cornbread stuffing. You’d better be there.”
Tanya said she was in before I even finished the sentence.
Drew said he’d bring his new girlfriend.
Marcus said he’d drive down from Connecticut.
Frank and his wife said they’d been hoping someone would do something like this for years.
Then I called the harder numbers.
I called my dad first.
Don picked up and listened while I explained that Nadia and I were hosting Christmas this year and that everyone was welcome.
“That’s a lot of work, Wesley.”
“Dad, I do this for a living.”
“Your mother is going to have opinions about this.”
“I know, but I’m doing it anyway. I’d love for you and Mom to come.”
He said he’d talk to Marilyn.
I knew what that meant.
He’d mention it. She’d react, and he’d retreat to his recliner, but the invitation was made.
I did not call Susette.
I did not call Garrett.
I figured word would get to them soon enough.
It got to them in about 72 hours.
Garrett called me on a Friday night.
He sounded nervous.
“Susette heard you’re hosting Christmas.”
“I am.”
“She’s upset, Wes.”
“Okay.”
“She feels like you’re trying to steal Christmas from her.”
I almost laughed.
“Garrett, I’m cooking dinner at my house. I’m not stealing anything.”
“She said you’ve been calling people and telling them not to come to hers.”
“I haven’t told anyone not to go to hers. I’ve invited people to mine. What they do with her invitation is their business.”
He didn’t have a response to that.
He asked if I’d invited our parents, and I said yes.
He asked if I’d invited Uncle Pete, and I said yes.