She opened the Christmas gift that first year. It was so easy to shop for her then, she had nothing.
The heavy box said "Le Creuset" and that brand of cookware was just what she wanted.
But they were blue. She had wanted red.
He watched her face as she unwrapped the blue corkscrew opener and she would never use as she didn't drink. "I know you wanted red. but I have always liked blue the best."
She kept the glittery paper between them as she opened the expensive blue bean pot that would stay high out of reach, along with the useless fish pan.
She should have tried to smile more. It won't have killed anyone.
"
"If you don't like them you can always retry them', he said his voice becoming more angry.
No she couldn't. He had purchased them in another state and had already submitted the receipt to his company. So she just thanked him again.
The Dutch oven she used often. Until he broke the knob of it's top and left cabbage simmer dry to burn it's bottom beyond use.
She will figure out a way to buy her own for her little kitchen and any dishes for him will be served cold.