For years, there were three spoons on their dinner table.

They were only two people.

Her husband noticed this only after their daughter moved out.

“Why three?”

She looked at the table.

“Three what?”

“Spoons.”

She counted.

“Oh.”

Then she took one away.

The next evening, there were three again.

He said nothing.

A week later, he asked again.

She sighed.

“Your daughter used to sit there.”

“I know.”

“So?”

“So nothing.”

She served dal.

He ate quietly.

Years earlier, their daughter had always complained that her mother gave her too much rice.

She had moved away, married, found a job, and started complaining that her mother didn’t give her enough when she visited.

Some things changed.

The spoon didn’t.

One Sunday, their daughter arrived unexpectedly.

Her mother set the table.

Three spoons.

Her husband smiled.

“Now it makes sense.”

The daughter looked at the table.

“Why are there only three?”

Her father laughed.

“Your mother has been keeping your place.”

“For how long?”

He looked at his wife.

She was already serving the rice.

“Don’t ask unnecessary questions,” she said.

The daughter smiled and sat down.

Read this when someone keeps a place for you without saying they are waiting.