She retrieved an old cookie tin containing receipts for butter, eggs, fondant, gold leaf, and sugar flowers.
I totaled the expenses, then asked how much time she’d spent working.
“Three days. Most of each day,” she replied.
I counted out enough cash to reimburse every ingredient and compensate her labor.
Grandma stared at the money.
“Sweetheart, that’s… this isn’t your bill to pay.”
“Don’t worry about that. Please buy your medication.”
“What about the wedding?”
“I’ll take care of that.”
She squeezed my hand.
“No scene, please. It’s Daniel’s day.”
“I know,” I answered.
But I couldn’t promise there wouldn’t be a scene. The perfect payback was already taking shape in my mind.
I’d previously purchased an engraved silver picture frame for the newlyweds.
While Grandma got dressed, I prepared an itemized invoice using her receipts, including the cost of her labor.
Across the top, I wrote PAID.
Underneath, I added: Reimbursed in full by Grandma’s granddaughter, since the bride declined.
I tucked the invoice beneath the picture frame and tied the ribbon back around the gift.
Ashley would discover it when she opened the box.
But that was only the beginning.
The rest of my plan depended entirely on Ashley’s reaction when she realized I wouldn’t overlook how she’d treated Grandma.
The ceremony took place inside a restored barn decorated with strings of lights.
Daniel cried while exchanging his vows.
Watching him, I wondered whether he had any idea what Ashley had done that morning.
At the reception, Grandma’s cake stood on a wheeled cart beneath the lights.
Every delicate sugar flower remained intact.
