Chapter 1 - MY CAKE
Emma Mercer had been waiting all morning to hold her own birthday cake.
Three candles.
Pink frosting.
Tiny sugar flowers.
Rachel had told her:
“Careful, sweetheart.”
Emma nodded seriously.
She was three.
The cake looked enormous in her hands.
Everyone around the dining table smiled.
Everyone except Diane Mercer.
Diane stood near the end of the table in a burgundy top, arms folded, watching Emma like the child had personally disappointed her.
Emma took one tiny step toward the center of the room.
Diane moved.
Fast.
She ripped the cake from Emma’s hands.
Rachel barely had time to say:
“Diane—”
The cake hit the hardwood floor.
Hard.
Pink frosting exploded across the boards.
One candle rolled under the dining table.
Emma stared down.
Then screamed:
“MY CAKE!”
She burst into tears.
Diane pointed at her.
“I wanted a BOY.”
The room froze.
Diane kicked a broken piece of cake aside.
“Not another girl.”
Emma ran.
Rachel scooped her up instantly.
“She’s THREE!”
Diane rolled her eyes.
Then looked at Emma with open disgust.
“She won’t carry our name.”
Rachel stopped trembling.
Her face hardened.
She shifted Emma securely onto one arm.
Then stepped forward.
The slap cracked across Diane’s face.
Diane staggered.
Mark saw it.
He charged.
Before Rachel could move, Mark slapped her across the face.
Emma screamed:
“MOMMY!”
Rachel stood completely still.
Still holding her daughter.
Mark’s chest rose and fell.
“JUST WAIT.”
Rachel looked at him.
Then at Diane.
May you like
Then down at Emma.
And something inside her marriage ended before the birthday party did.
