Chapter 1 - THE ANNIVERSARY CAKE
At 9:27 p.m., the waiter brought me another glass of wine.
“Your cake will be ready in three minutes, ma'am.”
I smiled.
“Thank you, Oliver.”
He looked surprised.
“You remembered my name.”
“Of course.”
I'd spent twelve years remembering the names of people my husband considered unimportant.
Waiters.
Receptionists.
Assistants.
The people who actually made things work.
Oliver glanced toward the table across the restaurant.
Daniel was laughing.
Rebecca had one hand resting on his wrist.
My husband looked happier than he had in months.
I took a slow breath.
“Oliver?”
“Yes?”
“Would you mind bringing the cake to their table first?”
He blinked.
“I'm sorry?”
I smiled.
“Tell them someone sent them a surprise.”
Oliver looked at me.
Then at Daniel.
Then back.
Understanding dawned.
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely.”
At 9:30, the lights dimmed.
A soft piano melody began.
Oliver emerged from the kitchen carrying a white cake.
Eight inches.
Elegant frosting.
Three words written in red icing.
HAPPY DIVORCE TO ME.
Daniel looked up.
Rebecca laughed.
“Oh, how cute. Someone's celebrating a divorce.”
Then Oliver stopped beside their table.
“Compliments of the lady at table fourteen.”
Daniel frowned.
“What lady?”
Oliver turned.
And pointed directly at me.
I raised my wineglass.
Daniel's face went white.
Rebecca's smile disappeared.
For several seconds, neither moved.
Then Daniel stood so quickly his chair scraped across the floor.
“Sarah?”
I smiled.
“Happy anniversary, darling.”
The restaurant went quiet.
Daniel looked at the cake.
Then at Rebecca.
Then at me.
“Sarah, this isn't what it looks like.”
I laughed softly.
“Really?”
He swallowed.
“Let me explain.”
I set down my glass.
“You have two minutes.”
Rebecca leaned back.
Her expression changed.
Then she smiled.
The same smile she'd worn ten years earlier when she'd admitted sleeping with my boyfriend.
“Oh, Sarah.”
Her voice was sweet.
“You always did love making a scene.”
I looked at her.
Then smiled.
“And you always did love taking things that didn't belong to you.”
Rebecca's smile vanished.
Daniel stepped forward.
“Sarah, please.”
I stood.
“No.”
He froze.
I picked up my purse.
“You told me you were having dinner with your boss.”
He swallowed.
“I was.”
I glanced at Rebecca.
“Congratulations on the promotion.”
A few people laughed.
Daniel looked furious.
But I wasn't finished.
“Enjoy the cake.”
Then I turned toward Oliver.
“Could you box up my steak?”
He nodded immediately.
“Of course, ma'am.”
I smiled.
“I'm going to need dinner.”
May you like
And with that, I walked out of the restaurant.
Leaving my husband, his mistress, and a cake neither of them wanted to cut.
