one woman asked, reaching for a crab cake.
Before I could answer, my mother appeared.
“Oh, that’s Wendy, my other daughter. She’s helping out tonight.”
The woman smiled politely and turned away. My mother didn’t notice. She never noticed.
At one point, Derek approached me with Sophie squirming in his arms and Oliver tugging at his jacket. Hey, can you take them? Megan and I need to mingle. Not would you mind? Not thank you, just can you take them? Like passing off luggage.
I took them. I fed them dinner in the kitchen. I wiped Sophie’s face when she spilled juice on her dress. I told Oliver three stories to keep him from running into the living room and disrupting the party.
When I finally emerged, dessert was being served. I hadn’t eaten anything all day. No one had thought to save me a plate.
The announcement came at 9:00, right after my mother’s tiramisu was served. My father stood up, tapping his champagne glass with a fork. The room fell silent. 30 faces turned toward him with expectant smiles.
Patricia and I want to thank you all for being here tonight, he began, his voice warm with rehearsed charm. 40 years of marriage, four decades of building this family, this life, this home.
My mother beamed beside him. Megan reached for Dererick’s hand. I stood near the kitchen doorway, still holding a dirty dessert plate.
“And to celebrate this milestone,”
my father continued.
“We have a surprise announcement.”
He paused for effect. My mother’s eyes sparkled.
Next week, we’re taking the whole family to Hawaii. One week at the Four Seasons in Maui, a second celebration, just the Dixons.
For Complete Cooking STEPS Please Head On Over To Next Page Or Open button (>) and don’t forget to SHARE with your Facebook friends.
