“Who Dressed Better?” My Mother-in-Law Told Me to “Don’t Dress Up” at the Family Halloween Party—Then Showed Up in the Same Outfit as Me and Reached for a Gift with My Name on the Tag

2. The Moment She Walked In
We arrived together at the country club, the air filled with laughter, autumn scents, and the faint shimmer of orange lights.

As we stepped inside, the chatter dulled.
People turned, murmured, smiled.

And there she was — my mother-in-law — standing near the buffet, radiant under the chandelier.
Wearing my exact outfit.

Same beige silk.
Same cut.
Same pearl earrings I wore at my wedding rehearsal.
Even her hair, usually pinned in a tight bun, now fell in soft curls like mine.

Someone laughed.

“Oh my! You two look like twins!”
Another chimed in, “Who wore it better?”

She chuckled, looping her arm through my husband’s.

“I told her not to bother dressing up, but I suppose we think alike!”          Continue reading…