For Marissa’s birthday, everything was just right: her family was present, she prepared her own cake, and she was in the familiar surroundings of her own house. Nevertheless, when her daughter purposefully ruins the dessert in front of everyone, the shocking reason that she blurts out raises suspicions about a person who is seated in the room.
It was intended to be one of those warm and happy evenings where everything is just right. My name is Marissa, and my 35th birthday was supposed to be one of those magical occasions. I have always enjoyed being the host. When you fill a house with people you care about, the sounds of their voices rising above one another, the clinking of plates, the chatter, and the bursts of laughter that go through the rooms are all very reassuring. The disorder, the sensation that the walls themselves are leaning in and embracing everyone who has gathered under my roof, is something that I enjoy.
The home was completely occupied that evening. During that time, my husband, Daniel, was present, along with our two young daughters, Sophie and Leah. It was my parents who had arrived, as well as Daniel’s mother and father. A group of people, including my brother Marcus, his wife Vanessa, and their twin children, Caleb and Tessa, arrived. The fact that Nora, an old friend of mine from high school, was able to make there is what gave the event a sense of completion.
As she set her dish of roasted potatoes down on the counter, my mother said, “It smells like heaven inside here.”
“That’s because I’ve been in here slaving all day,” I taunted using a dish towel to wipe my hands. “I’ve been in here all day.”
In his haste to replenish the breadbasket, Daniel was able to sneak past me, and his hand briefly touched my back. My equilibrium was always restored by those seemingly insignificant actions.
As we crammed thirteen people around the dining table, our shoulders came into contact with one another, and the candlelight on the wine glasses made them sparkle. A playlist of retro songs from the early 2000s was playing in the background, and the air was filled with the aroma of chicken seasoned with rosemary and squash that had been baked. At regular intervals, the music would pause for a commercial break.
You really need to have purchased premium! When the song stopped in the middle of the chorus, Nora yelled out while giggling.
The cake, however, was the thing that I had been looking forward to the most, despite the fact that I enjoyed the commotion, the laughter, and the food.
It was a vanilla sponge cake with two layers, topped with a mountain of fresh strawberries, and coated in a cream cheese frosting. Even though it was from my kitchen, which was a little bit messy, picture appeared to be something that had been taken from a glossy magazine. In order to bake it while the home was still quiet and the girls were still sleeping, I had gotten up before anyone else was up. The air was filled with the promise of a promise, and the smooth hum of the mixer and the aroma of vanilla had filled it.
The shackles of sleep were still on Sophie when she staggered into the room. Her eyes were rubbed while she spoke, and she said, “I wanted to help, Mama.” She had a hard time keeping the wooden spoon in her hand, but I let her to stir regardless. I had the impression that birthdays were all about the messiness of the counters, the little hands sneaking bites of batter, and the ways in which memories were baked into the layers.
As the afternoon wore on, I had finished frosting the cake. During the time when they believed I was not looking, Sophie and Leah were sitting on stools and stealing berries. Laughing, I let them to have a few of them.
Dinner came and went in a whirlwind of cheerful talk and the sound of cutlery clinking together. Because of the booze and the laughs, my cheeks were on fire. In the end, Daniel turned down the lights and carried out the cake while everyone sang, their voices colliding in that off-key way that only families are able to manage.
I told Leah, who was already reaching for a raspberry, “Not yet, sweet pea,” as she was reaching for it. “First, take pictures, and then have as much cake as you want.”
But just as I was about to blow out the candles, I felt Sophie’s small hand tugging hard at my wrist. I leaned forward to blow them out.
“Mommon! ” “Mommy, you are not allowed to consume that.”
She spoke in a piercing and urgent tone. With her wide eyes, she fixed her gaze on the cake as if it were alive.
Dearest, what exactly do you mean by that? I inquired, astonished by the question.
“You just can’t,” she mumbled with ferocity, squeezing her fists even more tightly.
From the opposite side of the table, Daniel’s voice could be heard. “Where is the cake knife, Marissa? Come on!” I could not locate it.”
I let out a sigh, excused myself, and made my way to the kitchen in order to retrieve it. Sophie’s face was pale, and her lips were shaking when I turned around to look at her. I dismissed it—she was only six years old. Children were unable to cope. Perhaps the amount of attention is excessive.
On the other hand, it occurred when I got back.
Sophie made a rapid dash forward and, with a single abrupt motion, pushed the cake off the table.
The diner was filled with the reverberation of the crash. The platter cracked when it fell to the ground. It was coated with frosting all over the tiles. There was a flow of berries in every way. The room was filled with gasps. My father’s chair made a harsh scrape on the back.
It’s Sophie! “I am speechless,” Daniel yelled. What in the world would you do? Why would you do that?
I was at a loss for words as I stood there staring at the chaos.
“I have just prevented your deaths! Her little chest heaved as she yelled out, “Every single one of you!”
All of a sudden, there was complete silence. Each of the twins halted, their eyes widening.
After that, I knelt down over her. Who or what did you save us from, baby? Despite my best efforts to maintain a calm tone, my voice was shaking.
Her tiny hand shook when it was placed in mine. As she gazed around the table, her eyes darted from one person to the next before settling on one individual, and that one was Vanessa.
In a hushed voice, Sophie pointed to her aunt and said, “From her.”
All of the heads turned. Vanessa quickly blinked her eyes and then let out a little cry of laughter. “I am completely clueless about what she is talking about.” However, she refused to look into my eyes.
“Sophie,” I pleaded in a faint voice. What did you see? Please tell us.
Her lips were bitten. “Just before dinner, I was hiding in the pantry,” she said. Aunt Vanessa was seen removing a little jar from her luggage and using it to sprinkle various ingredients on the cake. She incorporated it into the icing and then re-added the berries so that no one would notice the difference. Then, Uncle Marcus entered the room. When she did what she intended to do, he inquired about it. “And Aunt Vanessa remarked…”
Her speech was really shaky.
“Don’t worry about it,” I hushed. The phrase “Say it”
The words “She said the cake will be the death of us” were spoken by Sophie, whose voice was small yet could be heard across the entire room.
I felt a chill run down down my spine.
Vanessa laughed with a piercing tone. “That is really absurd! It wasn’t meant to be taken literally.”
“And then, what was it that you added to the cake?” It was Daniel’s demand.
There was a pause from Vanessa. Marcus was totally silent as he looked down at the table.
“Add some salt and pepper. It’s possible that some sand from the outside,” she mumbled in the end. “There is nothing alarming. Simply put, I intended to undermine it.
“Why is that?” It was a whisper.
Her composure began to waiver. Why is that, Marissa? Because it’s always you. It’s your home. What you eat. The perfect family for you. After that, there is the heritage! In addition to the family home, you will receive the heirloom jewelry. Marcus and I were given leftovers. You receive accolades from everyone, while I remain invisibly seated there. For a change, I just wanted you to be stripped of your privileged position.
Her tone was acrid, harsh, and imbued with a sense of envy.
Stumped, I stared at her in silence.
At long last, I was able to say, “You still said it.” “That it would be the end of our lives. And you did it with the knowledge that our children would consume it as well.
It was a joke, she yelled out in a huff.
My father said in a solemn tone, “Some jokes have teeth about them.” In addition, they bite.
The tone of my mother’s voice was icy. I beg you, Vanessa, to stop pretending that this is about scraps. There is Marissa who looks after us. Both she and Daniel are present. They put up a lot of effort. In spite of the fact that you might mock about golden daughters, it is not luck. It requires a lot of work.”
After a long time, Marcus rose up and placed his hand on Vanessa’s arm. “We ought to leave.”
They were accompanied by their twins, who were bewildered and clinging to their party favors. Nobody made any attempt to stop them. There was a silence that was heavier than the broken platter that was lying on the floor when the door had closed with a snap.
With shaky hands, I got down on my knees and started retrieving the cake that had been damaged. While Daniel was kneeling next to me, he was softly picking up pieces of broken pottery.
I cuddled up on the couch with Sophie tucked against me shortly after the guests began to leave, which was many hours later. In the upper level, Leah had already fallen asleep, her toy unicorn firmly grasped in her hand.
I leaned down close to Sophie and kissed her hair as I whispered, “You were so brave tonight.” You had faith in yourself, even when it was difficult to do so. You were a shield for us.
Not only did she not respond, but she also moved closer to me, her petite body warming up against mine.
As soon as the next morning arrived, the kitchen appeared to be in a state of hangover, with plates heaped high and frosting spread across the counter like bruises. Daniel was washing the dishes while standing at the sink.
“Coffee?” he inquired in a low voice.
Yes, if you please.” I spoke with a faint voice.
In silence, we sipped our drinks for a bit.
My final statement was, “I am so sorry that she had to witness any of that.” At the age of six, Daniel. Instead of worrying about whether or not her aunt wants to poison a cake, she ought to be concerned about crayons.
With the mug in his hand, he removed a stray hair from my face and then set it down. “It’s possible that she realized something else. She is able to have faith in what she observes. that her opinion is significant. In addition, that we will be there for her whenever she raises her voice.
I took a deep breath. When it comes to her childhood, I do not want bravery to be the price she pays.
“Perhaps it isn’t a price,” he suggested in a soft voice. Possibly, it is a present.
He mustered up a smirk of a smile. Breakfast consisting of pancakes? I assure you that there will be no berries.
It was a wobbly but genuine sound that made me giggle. “There are no berries.”
Once again, the day that lay ahead appeared to be feasible; it was woven together with routines of the kind that are the foundation of a strong family. Moreover, as I caught a glimpse of Sophie calmly playing on the rug, I came to the realization that even the most insignificant voices can occasionally have the ability to safeguard the well-being of others.