Dorothy moved carefully through her small kitchen, her soft slippers making quiet whispers against the worn wooden floor. The air smelled of warm spices, fresh bread, and roasted vegetables. She adjusted her glasses, which always seemed to slide down her nose, and ran her fingers over the edges of the calendar hanging beside the refrigerator. The corners were curled from months of use. She found today’s date, circled brightly in red ink: “My Birthday.”
A small smile touched her lips. Birthdays had always carried a quiet kind of hope, even when celebrated alone. She busied herself with dinner, her hands moving gracefully as she chopped vegetables, stirred sauces, and set the table with her best dishes. The sound of sizzling meat and bubbling pots filled the kitchen.
Finally, Dorothy placed the pie she had baked earlier on the counter. She picked up a butter knife and spread the frosting carefully, imagining Miley and Ryan tasting it, laughing just like they used to. When it was perfect, she placed it proudly at the center of the table.
She sank into her chair, tired but content. Her fingers found an old photograph resting beside her. It was a picture taken at the lake—her, fifteen-year-old Miley, and eight-year-old Ryan, their faces bright with happiness. But her smile faded as her eyes rested on the torn edge. Someone had once stood there, but their face had been ripped away, leaving nothing but emptiness.
Evening arrived, stretching shadows across the walls. Dorothy glanced at the clock, her heart fluttering. She had been waiting for this night for weeks. She longed to see her children, to hug them, to hear their laughter. But as the minutes passed, silence filled the house like an unwelcome guest.
She walked to the window, pulling the curtain aside. The driveway was empty. No headlights. No footsteps approaching. Anxiety tightened her chest. She grabbed her phone and dialed Miley’s number. No answer. She tried Ryan’s. Still nothing.
“Why aren’t they here?” she whispered, gripping the phone tightly. “Did something happen? Are they okay?”
The sudden ring of the doorbell made her jump. Relief washed over her. They had finally arrived! She hurried to the door, smiling as she pulled it open.
But her smile quickly disappeared. It wasn’t Miley or Ryan. A young courier stood in front of her, holding a neat white box.
“Miss Dorothy?” he asked, shifting on his feet. “This was ordered especially for you.”
Dorothy hesitated before taking the box. “Who sent it?” she asked.
“I’m sorry, ma’am, I don’t have that information,” he replied before stepping back into the night.
Dorothy closed the door and carried the box to the table. She carefully lifted the lid. Inside was a beautifully decorated cake. For a moment, warmth flickered in her chest. Had her children sent this as a surprise?
Then her eyes landed on the message written in careful icing. The warmth drained away instantly.
“We Know What You Did.”
Her hands trembled. Her breath hitched. Cold fear wrapped around her heart. Her past had returned to haunt her.
Without thinking, Dorothy grabbed her car keys and rushed to Miley’s house. Her tires screeched as she pulled into the driveway. Miley’s car was gone. The house was dark.
She ran to the front porch, knocking hard on the door. “Miley! Ryan! Are you home? Please, answer me!”
No response.
Desperate, she pressed her face against the window, trying to see inside. Shadows played tricks on her eyes, making it seem like someone was moving.
“Miley?” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
A calm voice startled her from behind. “Dorothy? Is that you?”
Dorothy turned sharply. Sharon, Miley’s neighbor, stood on her porch, wrapping a sweater tightly around herself.
“Sharon!” Dorothy gasped. “Have you seen Miley? She’s not answering, and I’m worried.”
Sharon’s brow furrowed. “I saw them this morning. They packed up their car. They seemed serious about something.”
“Did they say where they were going?” Dorothy asked, her pulse racing.
Sharon nodded slowly. “Miley mentioned something about the lake. The one from your past.”
Dorothy’s breath caught in her throat. The lake. Memories surged back—sunshine, laughter, but also pain. Without another word, she rushed back to her car.
The drive to the lake felt endless. By the time she arrived, the sun had dipped below the horizon, casting an eerie glow over the water. She parked next to Miley’s car. Her heart pounded as she stepped onto the old wooden dock.
The gazebo stood at the water’s edge, just as it always had. But someone was inside.
Dorothy’s breath hitched.
A man sat at the wooden table. His hair was gray now, his face lined with age, but his eyes still held the same deep sadness.
“Hello, Dorothy,” he said softly. “It’s been a long time.”
Her stomach twisted. “Robert?” The name felt foreign on her tongue.
He nodded. “The children called me. They wanted answers.”
Dorothy clenched her fists. “How dare you come back after all these years?”
Before Robert could answer, a voice rang out behind her. “We deserve the truth, Mom.”
Dorothy spun around. Miley and Ryan stood there, their faces hard with anger and pain.
Ryan spoke first. “You lied to us. You said Dad disappeared. But that wasn’t true, was it?”
Dorothy’s voice trembled. “I was protecting you—”
“Stop lying!” Miley’s voice cracked. “Just tell us the truth!”
Robert stood, his voice firm but filled with regret. “Enough. It wasn’t your mother who lied. It was me.”
Miley and Ryan stared in shock.
Robert lowered his gaze. “I left. I was drowning in debt. I was scared. Your mother begged me to stay, but I couldn’t. I packed my things and walked away. She never wanted you to know the truth—that your father was weak.”
Silence fell over them, thick and suffocating. Then, Miley’s shoulders slumped. “Oh, Dad…”
Tears welled in Robert’s eyes. “Every single day, I’ve regretted that choice.”
Miley turned to Dorothy, her voice breaking. “Mom… we’re so sorry.”
Ryan nodded. “Can you forgive us?”
Dorothy’s heart ached. She stepped forward and pulled them into her arms. “Always.”
Robert hesitated, watching them. Dorothy turned to him, her expression softening. “If you’re truly ready, maybe we can find a way forward. Slowly.”
Robert’s eyes shone with gratitude. “Thank you.”
As the evening settled around them, the lake seemed to exhale, releasing years of buried pain. Dorothy’s birthday had been filled with heartache, but also healing.
And for the first time in a long time, she wasn’t alone.
