That silence answered me.

“Your father’s birthday is the last family dinner I’ll finance,” I said.

Chris released a weary breath.

“We’ll talk when you’ve calmed down.”

“Come to bed.”

“I mean it.”

He walked away regardless.

I remained at the table, staring at the missing money while the secret plane tickets waited inside my desk.

He had no idea that he had spent part of our marriage.

The —following morning, I met my best friend Jenny for coffee.

She knew something was wrong before I even sat down.

“Chris took money from our anniversary account,” I said. “He used it to cover another family dinner.”

“Without asking?”

I nodded.

“Did you tell him about the tickets?”

“No. I needed him to understand the betrayal before I showed him what it cost.”

“And did he?”

“He told me to go to bed.”

Jenny listened quietly.

“That every time he says paying is easier, he means easier for everyone except me.”

“Then stop making it easy.”

I folded the napkin between my fingers.

“I already have.”

Before Henry’s birthday dinner, I stood before the mirror fastening my earrings.

Chris struggled with his tie behind me.

“Tonight, the checks are separate by household,” I said.

His hands froze.

“I’m telling you now so you can tell them before anyone orders.”

“Can we not make Dad’s birthday about money?”

“I’m trying to make it about your father. Your family turns every dinner into a free buffet.”

Chris sighed. “I’ll talk to Serena.”

“You want me to announce that my wife won’t pay?”

“I want you to tell the adults that they’re responsible for their own households.”

He tightened his tie.

“I’ll handle it.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means I’ll take care of it.”

“I’ll speak to them when we arrive.”

“Before they order?”

“Yes.”

He grabbed his jacket.

“I know how to speak to my family.”

It was not a real answer, but it was the final opportunity I gave him.

Henry, my father-in-law, was already seated when we reached the restaurant.

He hugged me.

“You didn’t need to choose somewhere this fancy, Natalie.”

“I didn’t,” I said.

Henry glanced toward Serena. “I thought so.”

Serena waved from the center of the table. “Come on, Dad. It’s your birthday.”

Tarryn, Chris’s mother, kissed my cheek and asked about my job.

Neither she nor Henry had ever called me a wallet, but they had watched me pay often enough to recognize the pattern.

I looked at Chris.

“Are you going to tell them?”

He adjusted his chair.

“In a minute.”

“Natalie, people are still sitting down. Be reasonable, please.”

He greeted everyone and opened his menu.

That promised minute never came.

The waiter had barely finished distributing menus when Serena lifted a finger.

“Three shrimp cocktails, two bottles of your best red, and extra bread.”

Henry lowered his menu.

“That sounds like a lot.”

“It’s your birthday,” Serena said.

Then she smiled at me.

“Besides, our walking credit card finally got that promotion.”

“I didn’t get a promotion,” I said.

Serena blinked.

“Really? Chris said things were going great.”

I turned toward him.

“Did you?”

Chris kept his eyes on the steak menu.

“She misunderstood.”

Several relatives laughed anyway.

“Are you going to correct the rest?” I asked.

“It’s harmless,” he murmured. “Leave it.”

Serena leaned toward her sons.

“Get whatever you want. Grandpa only turns sixty-five once.”

“Can I get the biggest steak?” one asked.

“Add lobster,” Serena said. “Tonight’s covered.”

I looked at Chris.

Without meeting my eyes, he ordered the ribeye.

“And for you?” the waiter asked me.

“House salad, baked potato, and water.”

Serena laughed.

“At a steakhouse?”

Chris shifted uncomfortably.

“Natalie…”

I stood.

“Excuse me. I’m going to the restroom.”

Instead, I walked directly to the waiter.

“Separate checks, please. We’ll cover Henry and Tarryn, who are seated across from us. No one else.”

He nodded.

“Understood, ma’am.”

I returned to the table with my heart racing.

I ate quietly while Serena ordered another bottle of wine and Chris continued avoiding my gaze.

I was no longer going to protect anyone from consequences they had created themselves.

After the plates were removed, Henry placed his napkin beside his plate.

“This is more than I needed,” he said. “But I’m glad everyone’s here.”

I reached into my purse.

“Chris, I brought something for you.”

He looked at the envelope.

“What is it?”

“Open it.”

He removed the printed airline tickets.

His expression changed immediately.

“They were.”

For one brief moment, he smiled.

“I bought them months ago for our anniversary,” I said. “I was saving for the hotel.”

Chris folded the pages too quickly.

“Natalie, not now.”

“But the hotel money paid for your family’s last dinner.”

Tarryn turned toward her son.

“What does she mean?”

For Complete Cooking STEPS Please Head On Over To Next Page Or Open button (>) and don’t forget to SHARE with your Facebook friends.