“Thomas,” Brenda said brightly. “Aren’t you going to invite us in?”

I kept one hand on the door.

“How did you know about the party?”

“Hannah posted pictures online. I thought it was time we stopped living in the past.”

I glanced at Craig, who couldn’t quite meet my eyes.

“You should’ve called first.”

“And given you a chance to say no? Come on, Thomas. I’m her mother.”

Before I could answer, Maisie appeared behind me carrying a plate of birthday cake. She stopped when she saw Brenda.

“Mom?”

Brenda immediately opened her arms.

“There’s my beautiful girl!”

Maisie accepted the hug stiffly. I watched her face over Brenda’s shoulder and saw confusion mixed with something I hadn’t seen in years: hope.

“Are you staying?” Maisie asked.

“Of course, sweetheart. I wouldn’t miss your birthday.”

“I mean, will you come back tomorrow? We could have breakfast.”

Brenda glanced toward Craig.

“We’ll figure something out. Let’s enjoy today first.”

Maisie nodded, but I could see the familiar disappointment settling across her face.

Craig brought in the bags. Brenda presented Maisie with a new tablet, then proudly announced that a bicycle was waiting outside.

“Now you can have some of the things you’ve been missing,” Brenda said, raising her voice as several guests approached the patio door.

“Thank you,” Maisie replied.

“Your father did his best, I’m sure, but there’s no reason you should have to settle for less.”

I felt Hannah move closer behind me.

Maisie looked toward the backyard.

“Dad made me a desk. He worked on it for months.”

Brenda gave a little laugh.

“That’s sweet, honey. But a proper tablet will be much more useful than some old furniture.”

Maisie set the unopened box on the coffee table.

“It’s not just old furniture.”

“Don’t be so sensitive. I’m trying to do something nice for you.”

For the first time, I noticed Maisie wasn’t looking at the gifts anymore. She was looking toward the entryway, where Brenda’s second phone stood upright beside a ceramic vase.

The screen was facing us.

And a small red symbol glowed near the bottom.

PART 2: WHAT THE CAMERA DIDN’T SHOW

I crossed the living room and picked up the phone. A livestream was running, with messages appearing so quickly I could barely read them.

Brenda’s smile disappeared.

“Thomas, put that down. I’m recording something for my followers.”

“Did you ask anyone here if they wanted to be filmed?”

“It’s a birthday party. People record birthday parties all the time.”

“Not secretly. And not when there are children involved.”

Maisie stepped closer to me.

“Dad, I know about her account.”

Brenda turned sharply.

“What account?”

“The one where you tell everybody you never wanted children.”

The room went quiet. Craig looked at the phone in my hand, then toward the open front door.

Maisie had found Brenda’s social media page three months earlier. I later learned that Luke had recognized her in a promotional video and accidentally left the page open on his laptop. Maisie had watched dozens of clips without telling me.

She’d seen the expensive hotels, the beach vacations, the beautiful clothes. She’d also seen interviews in which Brenda described motherhood as something she’d wisely avoided.

“You told people you didn’t have kids,” Maisie said. “You said you chose freedom instead.”

Brenda folded her arms.

“That’s my professional image, sweetheart. It’s complicated.”

“But you have seven kids.”

“And I’ve explained that my personal life is private.”

Maisie looked at the phone.

“Then why are you showing me to all those people?”

Brenda reached for the device, but I moved it away.

“Because I wanted to share something beautiful,” she said. “A mother reconnecting with her daughter. People love stories like that.”

I finally understood the expensive presents, the unexpected visit, and her sudden interest in a child she hadn’t contacted in a decade.

“You came here to make a video,” I said.

“I came to see my daughter. Why does everything have to become an accusation with you?”

Maisie’s eyes filled with tears.

“Would you have come if nobody could watch?”

Brenda stared at her.

“Don’t start making me feel guilty in front of everyone.”

“I just asked you a question.”

“And I’m your mother. You don’t get to talk to me like that.”

I ended the livestream and set the phone facedown.

“That’s enough. Brenda, you need to leave.”

Her expression changed.

“You’re seriously throwing me out after I spent all this money on your daughter?”

“I’m asking you to leave because you came into my house, filmed my family without permission, and made my daughter’s birthday about yourself.”

“You’ve turned these children against me.”

Hannah stepped into the doorway.

“No, Mom. We waited for you for years. That’s what you don’t understand.”

Luke stood beside her. Neither raised their voice, and somehow that seemed to upset Brenda more than shouting would have.

Craig picked up the shopping bags.

“We should go,” he murmured.

Brenda looked around the room as though someone might finally take her side. Nobody did.

“Fine,” she said. “But don’t expect me to keep trying when you make everything so difficult.”

She walked out without saying goodbye to Maisie.

After the guests left, I found my youngest sitting at her new desk, running her fingers along the carved edge.

“I’m sorry I ruined my party,” she whispered.

I pulled up a chair.

“You didn’t ruin anything.”