It was Megan.
“Hey,” she said softly. “Are you okay?”
I turned toward her, trying to keep my voice even. “So this whole party… it wasn’t about me, was it?”
Her smile faltered. “I didn’t know Mom was going to do it like that. She told me she was going to ‘make an announcement,’ but I didn’t think she’d hijack your birthday.”
“Did you even want a big announcement tonight?”
She hesitated. “I mean… it was exciting. I didn’t expect that reaction.”
I nodded slowly. “Well, I didn’t expect to pay for my ambush either.”
She looked down. “I’m sorry, Kristen. I really am.”
I left it at that. There was no use yelling. No point in dragging Megan into it more than Sharon already had.
Later that night, after most of the guests had left and the cleanup crew had started folding up chairs, I found Sharon in the corner chatting with her friend Gail.
“Can we talk?” I asked, my voice low but firm.
She looked mildly surprised but waved Gail off.
“Well?” she said.
I stepped in closer. “You humiliated me. You turned my birthday into a promotional gig for Megan’s pregnancy.”
She blinked like she didn’t understand the problem. “Sweetheart, your birthday happens every year. But this? This is once-in-a-lifetime. A baby! After everything Megan’s gone through!”
I clenched my jaw. “So that justifies using me? My money?”
She scoffed. “You’re being dramatic.”
I didn’t reply. I just turned and walked back toward Eric, who stood awkwardly by the car.
“Ready?” he asked.
I nodded.
We drove home in silence. Milo was already asleep in the backseat. The only sound was the faint hum of the road beneath us.
When we pulled into the driveway, I turned to Eric.
“I’m done,” I said. “I’m not doing this anymore. If this is how your family treats me, I’m out.”
He nodded slowly, eyes filled with regret. “You’re right. I should’ve said something. I’m sorry.”
He took my hand and squeezed it gently. “From now on, we set boundaries.”
The next morning, I woke up to a notification on my phone.
Venmo Request: Sharon B. – $275.00 for party balance.
I stared at it, half-laughing in disbelief. Then I hit “Decline.” And then I blocked her.
A week passed. Two. No word from Sharon.
Then one day, I got an email from a local event planner. The subject line read: “Final Invoice — Megan’s Baby Shower.”
I clicked on it, confused.
There it was — same venue, same catering company. And in the billing section?
Client Name: Kristen B.
My mouth dropped open.
I immediately forwarded the email to Eric, then called the planner to inform her there’d been a mistake. She apologized profusely and said Sharon had insisted it was “under control.” I told her firmly to remove my name and send the updated invoice directly to Sharon.
Needless to say, I didn’t go to that baby shower.
These days, I keep my distance. Sharon still posts family updates online like nothing ever happened. Eric visits occasionally, but he no longer pressures me to come along. Milo doesn’t ask about Grandma much, and honestly, I’m okay with that.
I’ve learned something important.
You can bend over backwards to keep peace with people, but if they don’t respect you, no amount of good intentions will change that.
So this year?
I booked a cabin in the woods. Just me, Eric, Milo, and silence.
No guest list. No speeches. No surprise announcements.
Just peace.
And cake.
A big one.
With candles.