And I wanted her to have one memory where she felt completely special.
The party itself was simple. Backyard barbecue. Lemonade in glass pitchers. Folding chairs spread unevenly across the patio. My homemade cake leaned slightly to one side because I still couldn’t frost evenly no matter how hard I tried.
My husband moved through the guests quietly, keeping drinks filled and making sure everyone was comfortable the way he always did. On the surface, everything looked warm and peaceful.
But looking back now, I should’ve recognized the warning signs much earlier.
My nephews had been tearing through the house for nearly an hour.
Dylan and Mason—my younger sister Melissa’s four-year-old twins—were supposed to be under my mother’s supervision while Melissa traveled for work. I agreed without hesitation because I trusted my mother.
That was my mistake.
The boys ran wild through every room with sticky frosting-covered fingers and half-empty juice boxes swinging from their hands. They climbed furniture, screamed through hallways, knocked decorations sideways, and nearly tipped over presents stacked beside the fireplace.
