The rest of the reception passed in a haze of forced smiles and polite conversation. Only Dave’s steady presence at my side kept me grounded.
It wasn’t until we were alone in our hotel room that night that I finally let the tears fall.
“I can’t believe she did that,” I cried. “It’s such a small thing, but it feels huge.”
Dave pulled me close, his arms strong around me. “It’s not small. It was your accomplishment… and she stole it.”
“Why does she do these things?”
“Mom’s always defined herself by how others see her. She can’t understand people who don’t do the same.” He brushed a tear from my cheek. “But that’s what I love about you. You don’t care about appearances. You care about what’s real.”
“I just wanted one day without her drama.”
“I know. But remember what I said? She’s going to regret it. Because karma is real.”
***
The day after the wedding, my phone rang. Christine’s name flashed on the screen. I considered letting it go to voicemail but decided to be the bigger person.
“Hello, Christine.”
“Alice. I need your help.”
I sat straighter. “What’s wrong?”
“Mrs. Wilson called me this morning. She’s hosting that charity gala next week and wants to order a custom cake. From me. She was so impressed with… with the wedding cake.”
I said nothing, letting the silence stretch between us.
“Alice?” Christine prompted. “Are you there?”
“I’m here… just trying to understand why you’re calling me about this.”
“I need… I need the recipe. And instructions for those flower things.”
“The piping technique? Funny, I thought you made the cake.”
“Look, maybe it was more of a… collaborative effort.”
“A collaborative effort?” I laughed. “When exactly did we collaborate, Christine? Was it while I was testing recipes for weeks? Or during the hours I spent learning how to properly stack tiers? Or maybe when I was up until 2 a.m. the night before my wedding, putting on the finishing touches?”
“Alice—”
“Let me know when the orders are ready. I’ll send the guests your way.”
I hung up and Dave found me in the kitchen, staring at my phone.
“Your mom just called. Seems she’s been commissioned to make a cake for the Wilson charity gala.”
Dave’s eyes widened, then he burst out laughing. “Oh my god! What did you say?”
“I told her to let me know when the orders were ready!”
He pulled me into his arms. “Have I told you lately that I married the most amazing woman in the world?”
***
By the end of the week, Christine’s lie had completely unraveled. Unable to produce another cake, she’d been forced to admit she hadn’t made ours, and Mrs. Wilson called me directly.
“I understand you’re the actual baker, Alice. I’d love to commission you for our gala.”
One cake led to another, then another. Within months, I had a small but growing side business, making custom cakes for events around town.
***
When Thanksgiving arrived, we gathered at Dave’s parents’ house. After dinner, Christine silently handed me a store-bought pie.
“I bought this at Riverside Market. Figured I shouldn’t lie about it.”
I accepted the pie with a nod. It wasn’t quite an apology, but it was something.
Later, as guests mingled in the living room, Jim cornered me by the fireplace.
“You know, in 40 years of marriage, I’ve never seen Christine admit she was wrong about anything.”
I glanced across the room, where my mother-in-law was showing Dave old family photos.
“Maybe some things are worth being honest about!”
Jim smiled. “You’re good for this family, Alice. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”
As we drove home that night, Dave reached over and took my hand.
“My cousin Sam just got engaged. He asked if you’d consider making their wedding cake.”
I smiled, squeezing his fingers. “I’d love to.”
“I told him you would… because that’s what you do. You create beautiful things with your hands and your heart… without expecting anything in return.”
I leaned back in my seat, watching the familiar streets of our neighborhood come into view. The truth was, I didn’t need Christine’s approval or anyone else’s validation. I had Dave, who believed in me. I had my hands, capable of creating beauty.
And I had learned something valuable: some people will always try to take credit for your hard work. But in the end, the truth rises like a well-made cake.
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
