“Dad, she’s been talking about that desk for weeks.”
“But a tablet would’ve cost more.”
Eventually, I opened my own workshop.
“So? Since when does the price decide how special a gift is?”
I smiled. She had a point.
By the following evening, that tablet would be the least important thing in our house.
Sophie’s birthday barbecue was wonderful.
All seven children came home, along with her school friends and several neighbors.
I couldn’t afford both.
When she unwrapped the desk, she screamed.
“DAD! YOU FINISHED IT!”
“Unless you’d prefer another pair of socks.”
She hugged me so tightly I nearly fell backward. “This is better than the tablet!”
“You don’t have to say that.”
Sophie’s birthday barbecue was wonderful.
“I’m not saying it for you!”
“Can we put it in my room tonight?” Sophie asked.
“After the party.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
This is better than the tablet!
She grinned. “Then I’ll do my homework at it tomorrow. Even math.”
“Now that’s a serious compliment.”
Then someone knocked. I opened the front door.
Vanessa stood on the porch wearing a cream designer coat and enormous sunglasses.
Rob stood behind her holding several shopping bags. “Daniel! Surprise!”
I’ll do my homework at it tomorrow.
“How did you know about the party?”
“Rachel posted about it. I thought it was time for a reunion.”
“After ten years?”
“People change. Besides, everyone loves a good reunion story.”
“What do you want, Vanessa?”
Daniel! Surprise!
“To visit my daughter. Surely that’s allowed.”
“You haven’t visited her in ten years.”
“Must we discuss that on her birthday?”
She walked past me.
“Goodness, you still have the same furniture!”
I thought it was time for a reunion.
“Some of us like keeping things.”
“Rob, bring the presents.”
Sophie appeared from the kitchen carrying cake.
She froze. “Mom?”
Vanessa smiled. “Hello, sweetheart!”
You still have the same furniture!
For several seconds, Sophie couldn’t speak.
Then Vanessa embraced her awkwardly. “Look how beautiful you’ve become! You have my eyes.”
“You haven’t seen me since I was two.”
“Well, life gets complicated.”
Sophie glanced at the shopping bags. “Are you staying for my birthday?”
Sophie couldn’t speak.
“Of course, sweetheart!”
“For the whole party?”
Vanessa smiled. “We’ll see.”
Sophie nodded, trying to hide her disappointment.
“Will you come back tomorrow?” Sophie asked.
You haven’t seen me since I was two.
“Let’s not make plans yet, darling.”
“But you know where we live now.”
“Of course I do.”
Sophie glanced at me, then quietly stepped aside.
Rob brought in a new bicycle while Vanessa handed Sophie a wrapped tablet.
Let’s not make plans yet.
“Thank you,” Sophie whispered.
“See? Mommy knows what you deserve. I can finally give you what your father couldn’t.”
“Vanessa, enough,” I warned.
Sophie glanced at her desk. “Dad made that for me.”
“That’s sweet. But now you have something better.”
Vanessa handed Sophie a wrapped tablet.
“Better?”
“Something you actually deserve.”
Sophie’s smile vanished. She reached for her phone.
“Mom, can I show you something I found online?”
I thought Sophie was about to show her mother a birthday photograph. Instead, she opened a secret Vanessa had kept from all of us.
Now you have something better.
“You have hundreds of thousands of followers?” Sophie asked, opening Vanessa’s Instagram.
“People love my lifestyle, darling.”
“Here you say children ruin women’s freedom.”
“I was speaking generally.”
“And that avoiding responsibilities keeps you young.”
She opened a secret Vanessa had kept from all of us.
“That’s advice for my audience.”
“Do your followers know you have seven children?”
“My personal life is private.”
“Then why are you livestreaming my birthday?”
Vanessa hesitated. “I wanted to share our beautiful reunion.”
You say children ruin women’s freedom.
“Did you tell them you abandoned me?”
“They don’t need every detail!”
“So you wanted them to think you were a good mom?”
“Sophie, don’t ruin this!”
I turned.
Vanessa’s phone was propped against a vase, its camera aimed at the presents.
I wanted to share our beautiful reunion.
The red LIVE indicator was glowing.
“You’ve been filming us?” I demanded.
“It’s for my followers!”
