“Keep it a secret.”
I hung up, opened my laptop, and muttered to myself.
“Time to teach Ashley a lesson.”
***
By six o’clock, our backyard was full.
The replacement cake had arrived just fifteen minutes earlier. I’d barely managed to hide it before the first guests appeared.
Keep it a secret.
Richard looked genuinely happy. “Claire, this is incredible.”
“Wait until dessert.”
“There’s more?”
“There’s always more.”
Ashley arrived wearing a designer dress and carrying the cake box. “Dad!”
I’d barely managed to hide it.
“There’s my girl!”
She hugged Richard, then glanced at me. “Your precious cake has arrived.”
“Thank you, sweetheart,” Richard said.
“Just wait until you see it.”
“Something special?” I asked.
Wait until dessert.
Ashley smirked. “You have no idea.”
Ashley disappeared into the kitchen with the cake.
When she returned, I asked, “Everything okay?”
“Perfect.”
“Need any help?”
Your precious cake has arrived.
“No! I’ve got it.”
I glanced toward the kitchen. “And the cake?”
“Ready for its big moment.”
So was mine.
***
At eight, she started gathering everyone. “Time for cake!”
You have no idea.
Richard raised his glass. “Before that, I want to thank my beautiful wife.”
Ashley rolled her eyes. “Speech later, Dad. Cake first!”
Richard laughed. “Someone’s impatient.”
“Trust me. This is worth seeing.”
“Claire planned every little detail herself. Even the cake!”
Ready for its big moment.
She positioned herself beside the table, phone raised.
Richard picked up the knife. “Ready, darling?”
“Whenever you are.”
He pressed the blade into the frosting.
Something yellow rolled onto his plate.
Claire planned every little detail herself.
Then another. And another.
Richard frowned. “What is that?”
“A duck?” someone asked.
He lifted the knife. Three more tumbled out.
“Why are there toys in my cake?”
Something yellow rolled onto his plate.
Ashley burst out laughing. “Oh, Dad! Keep cutting!”
I quickly moved the plates aside before anyone could take a bite. Thankfully, Richard had only made the first cut.
“Are those ducks?” Richard asked.
Ashley burst out laughing. “Surprise!”
A duck?
She pointed her camera at me.
“Look, Dad! Claire finally threw a party worthy of her nickname! Remember Ducky? Guess she’s better at children’s birthdays!”
A few guests laughed uncertainly..
Richard looked confused. “Ashley, what is this?”
Surprise!
“Oh, come on! It’s hilarious!”
“You ruined your father’s birthday cake, Ashley. What’s funny about that?”
She moved closer, recording my face.
“Relax, Claire! It’s just a joke. Now smile for the camera!”
“Put the phone down, Ashley. You’ve had your fun.”
Guess she’s better at children’s birthdays!
She leaned closer. “Happy birthday to your marriage, sweetheart.”
I swallowed my anger and smiled.
“That’s adorable, Ashley. Actually, I have a surprise for you, too.”
Her laughter stopped. “What surprise?”
“Something I prepared especially for you.”
Come on! It’s hilarious!
I walked into the house.
When I returned carrying a large pink gift box, Ashley’s expression changed.
“What’s that?”
“Your present.”
“It’s not my birthday.”
I have a surprise for you, too.
“Consider it an early gift.”
I placed it in front of her.
“Since you love surprises so much, why don’t you open yours?”
Several guests moved closer.
Ashley laughed nervously. “What’s this supposed to be?”
I prepared especially for you.
“Open it.”
She pulled away the ribbon and lifted the lid.
Then she stopped smiling. “What the hell is this?”
Richard stepped closer. “Ashley? What’s wrong?”
She tried to close the box.
What’s this supposed to be?
I gently stopped the lid. “Oh, no, sweetheart. You wanted an audience.”
And I turned the box toward the guests.
***
The idea hadn’t come from nowhere.
The night before, Richard asked me to help organize financial paperwork.
“My accountant keeps questioning these charges,” Richard said, showing me his statements.
You wanted an audience.
“Three thousand dollars on clothes? Four thousand yesterday?”
“Ashley. She has an additional card.”
“Without a spending limit?”
He sighed. “Apparently.”
“And you’ve spoken to her?”
The idea hadn’t come from nowhere.
“More times than I’d like.” Richard stared at the statements. “There’s something else I need to tell Ashley. I’ve been putting it off for months.”
“About her spending?”
“Partly. But I’d rather explain it to her myself.”
He picked up a white envelope from his desk.
She has an additional card.
“Actually, I’ve already prepared something for her.”
“What’s inside?”
“Something she needs to know. But I want her to hear it from me.”
He slipped the envelope into his jacket.
“All right. I won’t interfere.”
There’s something else I need to tell Ashley.
“Can you prepare a spending summary for my accountant?” Richard asked.
“Of course.”
“Just don’t confront Ashley.”
“Richard, I’m helping with paperwork.”
“Promise?”
I want her to hear it from me.
“I promise.”
After Margaret’s warning, I called her again.
“Margaret, I know exactly what I want on that cake.”
“I’m listening.”
“Can your decorator print receipts on edible frosting sheets?”
Just don’t confront Ashley.
“Of course. What kind of receipts?”
“I’ll send you the images. Just make sure the largest purchase is on top.”
“Anything else?”
“No. That should be enough to teach someone a lesson.”
What kind of receipts?
I removed account numbers and other private details, leaving only amounts and purchase categories.
I knew displaying Ashley’s spending publicly was harsh.
But she’d chosen a public humiliation.
And I was finished protecting her hypocrisy.
Teach someone a lesson.
***
