My husband gave me only 200 dollars to organize his mother’s birthday party for 30 guests and said, “Make up the difference yourself. You always figure things out.” This time, I did exactly what he asked… and when the family saw the table, nobody could keep pretending anymore.

“What do these mean?”

“Important guests.”

“And the circles?”

“Family who can sit farther away.”

I almost laughed.

Then Rosalind touched my arm.

“A smart woman protects her family’s image.”

I looked at her.

“Brandon works extremely hard.”

“It’s your job to make sure everything runs smoothly.”

There it was again.

My job.

I folded the seating chart.

Then put it in my purse.

“I understand.”

For once, I really did.

PART 5

Back in Anaheim, I requested quotes.

A private dining room in San Diego.

Four thousand eight hundred dollars.

Another venue.

Five thousand three hundred.

A caterer with prime rib and pork loin.

Two thousand nine hundred without alcohol.

A bakery.

Six hundred and forty for the cake.

Florist.

Four hundred minimum.

Rentals.

Another six hundred.

If I gave Rosalind the birthday she wanted, the realistic total was closer to six thousand than two hundred.

I sent none of those quotes to Brandon.

He had already answered the question.

Use your own money.