Skip to content 
I knew what I needed to do now.
“All right, all right,” Brad said. “No speeches, please.”
“Just one,” I said.
People quieted.
Brad smiled at me, unsuspecting. “Okay then,” he grinned. “Who am I to tell my wife that she can’t shower me with praise on my birthday?”
The guests laughed. I looked at him, then Ellie, then back at him.
“No speeches, please.”
“I’ve spent all day making sure this party was perfect for you,” I said.
My mother-in-law put a hand to her chest like she thought this was about to get sentimental.
“The food, the guests, the decorations. Everything. So I think it’s fair to ask one favor before we cut the cake.”
Brad gave a little laugh. “Okay…”
I turned to Ellie. “Ellie, do you want to show everyone your tattoo?”
Ellie’s eyes widened, then her hand flew to her side.
“Ellie, do you want to show everyone your tattoo?”
Brad frowned. “What’s this about? Why should we all see Ellie’s tattoo?”
“Because it’s such an extraordinary likeness of you, Brad.”
His jaw dropped. Brad glanced between Ellie and me in horror.
“Since she went to the effort of getting your face permanently marked on her body, I figured she might want to show it off to everyone. Or is it just for you?”
A murmur moved through the crowd.
Brad glanced between Ellie and me in horror.
“What?”
“Hold on — did she just say what I think she said?”
Ellie looked like she might be sick.
Brad looked at her, and that was answer enough.
I turned to the guests. “My four-year-old saw it before I did. He pointed at her and told me his dad was there. I wonder if that’s the only thing he’s seen that I missed.”
“Did she just say what I think she said?”