I Cooked a Festive Dinner for 20 People for My Husband’s Birthday — Then He Ditched Me to Celebrate at a Bar

I thought I was being a good wife, throwing a festive dinner for my husband Todd’s 35th birthday. But just as the guests were about to arrive, he told me he was ditching the party to watch the game at a bar. What happened next? Let’s just say, I got the last laugh.

You’d think six years of marriage would teach someone a little gratitude, but not Todd. Every year, I’d pour my heart and soul into his birthday, only for him to take it all for granted.

This year, though, his entitlement hit a whole new level.

A man standing in a kitchen | Source: Midjourney

A man standing in a kitchen | Source: Midjourney

Six years. That’s how long Todd and I have been married.

Don’t get me wrong, our relationship isn’t all bad. Todd can be charming when he wants to be, and we’ve had some wonderful times together. But there’s one thing about him that drives me absolutely up the wall.

His entitlement.

Take last Thanksgiving, for example. Todd had this brilliant idea to host a dinner for both of our families. He announced it at breakfast one day, grinning like he’d solved world hunger.

Breakfast on a table | Source: Pexels

Breakfast on a table | Source: Pexels

“Claire,” he said, “I think we should host Thanksgiving this year.”

“Okay,” I replied. “That sounds nice. How are we dividing up the responsibilities?”

He waved me off like I’d just asked him to do a headstand.

“Oh, you’re so much better at that stuff,” he said. “I’ll handle… I don’t know, drinks or something. Just make it memorable, alright?”

I should’ve known better, but I went along with it.

For two weeks, I planned and prepped while Todd played fantasy football and occasionally asked me, “You need me to pick up anything?”

A man talking to his wife | Source: Midjourney

A man talking to his wife | Source: Midjourney

On the big day, I roasted the turkey, whipped up sides, and even made two pies.

And Todd? He carried the cooler of beer into the living room. That’s it.

After dinner, as everyone raved about the food and decor, Todd decided it was time to take credit for everything.

“Glad you all love it,” he said. “I wanted it to be special this year.”

I thought I’d misheard him.

“Oh, really?” I asked. “What part did you want special? The green bean casserole or the centerpiece?”

A woman standing in her living room | Source: Midjourney

A woman standing in her living room | Source: Midjourney

He ignored me, of course.

And that’s Todd in a nutshell. He wants the credit without lifting a finger.

Then there was last year on his birthday.

I spent weeks creating a customized photo album, filling it with pictures from our travels and special moments together. I couldn’t wait to see his reaction when he unwrapped it.

But when he was done flipping through the pages, he just said, “Oh. So, where’s the real gift?”

It wasn’t just his words that hurt. It was the sheer audacity.

A woman looking at her husband | Source: Midjourney

A woman looking at her husband | Source: Midjourney

I’d married a man who once wrote me poetry, and now he couldn’t appreciate a heartfelt gesture. That moment shattered something in me.

It made me realize he wasn’t the man I’d fallen for anymore.

And then came his 35th birthday. The final straw.

We were having dinner when Todd casually told me his plans.

“Claire, I want a big, proper birthday dinner this year,” he said. “Invite the family, my buddies, everyone.”

I raised an eyebrow. “You mean you want me to plan it?”

A woman in her house | Source: Midjourney

A woman in her house | Source: Midjourney

“Well, yeah,” he said. “You’re good at this stuff. Just make it decent, alright? I don’t want to be embarrassed in front of everyone.”

“Decent?” I repeated.

“Yeah, just don’t go overboard or anything. Keep it classy.”

You see the entitlement here? See the way he thinks he deserves a birthday party while knowing how he’d hurt me with his words last time?

Honestly, I didn’t want to agree, but I decided to give him another chance. After all, it was his birthday, and I wanted to make it special even if he didn’t deserve it.

A close-up shot of a woman's eyes | Source: Midjourney

A close-up shot of a woman’s eyes | Source: Midjourney

For the next two weeks, I threw myself into planning Todd’s “big, proper birthday dinner.” If he wanted classy, I’d give him classy.

I drafted an impressive menu that had spinach-stuffed chicken, rosemary potatoes, a charcuterie board with cheeses I couldn’t pronounce, and a three-layer chocolate cake that would be the pièce de résistance.

Every day after work, I’d come home, tie my hair up, and get to work cleaning, organizing, and prepping. I even borrowed extra chairs and a folding table from our neighbor, Janice, just to make sure everyone would have a seat.

Todd’s contribution? Absolutely nothing.

A woman cleaning the house | Source: Pexels

A woman cleaning the house | Source: Pexels

“I’m swamped at work,” he said one night, kicking off his shoes and plopping onto the couch. “But you’ve got this, babe. You’re good at these things.”

Good at these things? I was so tired I could’ve cried.

But instead of snapping, I smiled and said, “Yeah, I’ve got this.”

The day of the party finally arrived.

I woke up early, determined to make everything perfect.

A woman standing in the hallway | Source: Midjourney

A woman standing in the hallway | Source: Midjourney

The house was spotless. The table was set with matching linens and little name cards I’d handwritten. The appetizers were chilling, the main courses simmering, and the cake was decorated with edible gold flakes.

Yes, I went that far.

Todd strolled into the kitchen around noon, scrolling through his phone as usual. He barely glanced at the spread I’d laid out.

“Looks good,” he muttered as he opened the fridge to grab a soda.

“Looks good?” I repeated, half-joking but half-hoping he’d notice the effort I’d put in.

A woman standing in her house | Source: Midjourney

A woman standing in her house | Source: Midjourney

“Yeah,” he said, shutting the fridge door. Then, like it was no big deal, he added, “But hey, uh, don’t bother finishing all this.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m heading to the bar with the guys to watch the game instead. Cancel everything. Tell everyone something came up.”

“You’re ditching your own birthday dinner?” I asked. “Todd, I’ve been planning this for weeks!”

“It’s not a big deal, Claire,” he shrugged it off. “Just call everyone and tell them we’re busy or something. They’ll understand.”

A man talking to his wife | Source: Midjourney

A man talking to his wife | Source: Midjourney

“They’ll understand?” My voice rose. “Todd, people are already on their way! You told me to make this decent and now you’re leaving?”

“I don’t want to embarrass myself in front of the guys,” he said, ending the conversation.

Then, he grabbed his jacket and walked out of the door.

“You can’t do this, Todd!” I shouted, but he’d already left.

I was so heartbroken. I’d poured my heart, soul, and savings into this dinner, and he just walked out like it was nothing.

A woman looking outside the window | Source: Midjourney

A woman looking outside the window | Source: Midjourney

Cancel everything? After all the work I’d done?

But more than anything, I felt humiliated.

How could he treat me like this? How could he brush off all my efforts as if they didn’t matter?

I stared at the table while the candles flickered mockingly.

Is this what you’re worth, Claire? I asked myself. Is this how you’ll let Todd treat you? No. You can’t do this.

At that point, I decided I wouldn’t cancel the dinner. I won’t allow him to make me feel bad again.

A woman standing in a living room | Source: Midjourney

A woman standing in a living room | Source: Midjourney

If Todd wanted to act like a spoiled brat, I’d let him, but not without showing him what “embarrassing” really looked like. He had no idea who he was messing with.

I grabbed my phone and sent a group text to all the guests:

Party’s still on! Change of plans. Meet us at the bar on the main street near our place. Bring your appetite!

Then, I got to work.

I packed all the food and loaded it into the car. Then, I drove straight to the bar Todd had mentioned.

A woman driving | Source: Pexels

A woman driving | Source: Pexels

When I arrived, the place was already buzzing with noise. I looked around and spotted Todd sitting at a table with his buddies, his back to the door. He was completely oblivious to my presence.

“Uh, ma’am? Can I help you?” the bartender asked with wide eyes after noticing the trays of food I was carrying.

I flashed him my sweetest smile. “Oh, I’m just here to share a meal with some people who’ll actually appreciate it.”

A woman standing in a bar | Source: Midjourney

A woman standing in a bar | Source: Midjourney

I picked a table near the bar, in full view of Todd’s group, and began unpacking dish after dish. The aroma of the food quickly caught everyone’s attention. Patrons nearby craned their necks to see what was going on.

“What’s this about?” one man asked, gesturing toward the feast I was setting up.

I raised my voice just enough to carry across the room. “Oh, this was supposed to be my husband’s birthday dinner. But he decided to ditch me and come here, so I thought, why let all this food go to waste?”

A woman looking straight ahead | Source: Midjourney

A woman looking straight ahead | Source: Midjourney

The room erupted in murmurs and laughter, and a few people even clapped. That’s when Todd finally turned around and spotted me.

He immediately stormed over while his buddies murmured amongst themselves.

“Claire! What the hell are you doing?” he hissed, his eyes darting nervously between me and the growing crowd.

I didn’t even look at him.

Instead, I addressed the nearest group of patrons. “You like ham? Help yourselves! There’s cake coming too.”

A close-up shot of food in a plate | Source: Pexels

A close-up shot of food in a plate | Source: Pexels

Just as Todd sputtered out another protest, the front door swung open, and in walked his parents, my parents, his sister, and our cousins.

They looked at us, then at the food, and then at all the people munching on what was supposed to be a formal dinner.

Todd’s mom, bless her bluntness, walked right up to him. “What’s going on, Todd? Claire said to meet here for your birthday dinner, but why is she serving food in a bar?”

An older woman | Source: Midjourney

An older woman | Source: Midjourney

Todd looked like he wanted to disappear into the floor.

“Uh, it’s complicated, Mom,” he muttered.

“Oh, I’d love to explain!” I intervened. “Todd decided that watching the game with his friends was more important than the dinner he demanded I plan. So, I brought the dinner to him!”

His dad shook his head. “How disrespectful,” he muttered.

Meanwhile, my mom grabbed a plate and said, “Well, the food smells amazing. Let’s eat!”

A woman in a bar | Source: Midjourney

A woman in a bar | Source: Midjourney

Soon, both our families joined the other patrons and dug into the feast I’d worked so hard on.

And Todd’s friends? They were still laughing at his expense and told him they’ll never forget this day.

By the time I brought out the cake, the bar felt like a full-blown party. On top of the cake, in bold frosting letters, I had written:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SELFISH HUSBAND!

The bar erupted in laughter when I read it aloud, but Todd wasn’t too happy about that.

A man laughing | Source: Pexels

A man laughing | Source: Pexels

“Was this really necessary, Claire?” he muttered under his breath.

I tilted my head, smiling sweetly. “Absolutely.”

Once everyone was done, I started packing up the empty trays. That’s when the bartender stopped me.

“Ma’am, you’re a legend,” he said. “Drinks on the house if you ever come back. Without him, of course!”

I chuckled. “Thank you! I’ll definitely drop by sometime.”

The families didn’t stick around long after the food was gone. My dad gave me a proud nod as he left, while Todd’s mom told him he could’ve done better.

An older woman speaking to her son | Source: Midjourney

An older woman speaking to her son | Source: Midjourney

As we drove back home, Todd kept muttering about being “humiliated.” Once we were back, he protested even more.

“Claire, you humiliated me in front of everyone!” he said, throwing his hands in the air.

“No, Todd,” I shot back. “You humiliated yourself. And for the record, don’t expect another homemade meal anytime soon.”

He knew he couldn’t argue with me at that point. He just turned around and stormed off to the bedroom.

A doorknob | Source: Pexels

A doorknob | Source: Pexels

It’s been two weeks since that night, and I kid you not, Todd has changed. Well, mostly.

His unrealistic demands have dialed down, and he’s been unusually polite, almost as if he’s afraid I’ll pull another stunt like that. He hasn’t apologized outright for ditching me, but his sheepish behavior says enough.

I guess now he knows I’m not the kind of wife who’ll roll over and take his nonsense anymore. If nothing else, that’s a win in my book.

A woman standing by a window | Source: Pexels

A woman standing by a window | Source: Pexels

What would you have done if you were in my shoes?

If you enjoyed reading this story, here’s another one you might like: My entitled husband booked first class for himself and his mom, leaving me in economy with the kids. But I wasn’t going to just sit back. I made sure his “luxury” experience had a little turbulence, turning his flight into a lesson he won’t forget.

This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.

I Received an Old Letter from My Husband That Said, ‘I Did This for Us but You Must Keep Silent’ — the Truth Left Me Stunned

I was so excited to receive a letter sent by my husband when we were teenagers. But the cryptic note inside and photos of our classmates, including one of a friend who drowned, left me questioning our entire lives.

It was a quiet Saturday afternoon, the kind where nothing particularly exciting happened. My husband, Ernest, was tending to the garden. Our kids, 15 and 14, were out with their friends.

Happy man gradening | Source: Midjourney

Happy man gradening | Source: Midjourney

Meanwhile, I was sitting in the kitchen of our cozy suburban home, sifting through the day’s mail. There was nothing unusual, at first. Bills, advertisements, and a random catalog I’d never requested.

But tucked between a grocery coupon and a credit card offer, I spotted a yellowed envelope with frayed edges. That was odd, yet what was even more surprising was the postmark dating back 20 years.

Upon closer inspection, I recognized Ernest’s messy handwriting. Had he sent it? Based on the date, we must have been in high school still. He and I started dating a couple of years after graduation and got married 15 years ago.

A bride walking down the aisle | Source: Midjourney

A bride walking down the aisle | Source: Midjourney

The idea that he’d sent me something even before that was extremely exciting and romantic, so I smiled as I ripped into the envelope.

Inside was a single piece of paper and ten small photographs. There was a message on the note and the words immediately made my smile disappear:

“I DID THIS FOR US, BUT YOU MUST KEEP SILENT.”

What did that mean? I really had no idea, so I glanced at the photos, hoping they might explain.

Photos on a table | Source: Pexels

Photos on a table | Source: Pexels

Most of them featured the teenagers from our high school, faces I recognized immediately. Well, some more than others. I saw myself, Ernest, my best friend Cynthia, etc. But one in particular stood out, and not for a good reason.

Thomas.

I gulped as the memories came back. Soon, tears started stinging my eyes.

Thomas had been a friend of ours, too. He was a sweet, goofy guy who had tragically drowned one summer. It was a horrific event. I always thought the best of him. I always… well. But staring at his photograph, I noticed something else.

A teenager by a lake | Source: Midjourney

A teenager by a lake | Source: Midjourney

Thomas was standing by the lake where he met his end, while everyone else’s photos were taken at the school. Why was his image different? And why did my husband write that strange note? Were those two things related?

Either way, something wasn’t right.

I was still holding the photos and the note when the back door creaked open. Ernest walked into the kitchen, his gloves and hands streaked with dirt from yard work.

A man in gardening clothes | Source: Midjourney

A man in gardening clothes | Source: Midjourney

He smiled briefly at me, but as soon as his eyes landed on what I was holding, the smile vanished.

“Where did you get that?” he asked sharply.

I hesitated. “It came in the mail,” I said, holding the envelope up. “Ernest, what is this? You sent it 20 years ago? And this note…” I unfolded the paper, showing him the bold words.

My husband’s eyes darted between the note and the photos in rapid succession, but he didn’t say a thing.

“What does it mean?” I urged.

A woman looking worried | Source: Midjourney

A woman looking worried | Source: Midjourney

At last, he let out a laugh, a breathless sound.

“Wow, I can’t believe it really showed up after all this time,” he said, running a hand through his hair. “There was a company that offered to send you packages in the future. I was just messing around back then. I thought they went bankrupt.”

I frowned. Was there really such a thing? Like a time capsule messenger service? I had no idea, but in any case, it didn’t explain the note.

A woman frowning | Source: Midjourney

A woman frowning | Source: Midjourney

“But then, what does this message mean?” I insisted. “‘I did this for us, but you must keep silent.’ I don’t understand.”

Ernest laughed awkwardly again.

“I was trying to get better at photography back then. I wanted to be a photojournalist, remember? I think I was also trying to impress you. You’d friend-zoned me in high school. But also, I didn’t want others to know. It wasn’t exactly the coolest thing for a guy to be into. I probably wrote that just in case the package was sent immediately by mistake. I didn’t want you to tell anyone.”

A teenager with a camera | Source: Unsplash

A teenager with a camera | Source: Unsplash

He took a deep breath after finishing that long-winded explanation and turned, removing his gloves and beginning to wash his hands.

I studied his back. It was tight, and his movements were jerky. “What about Thomas?” I asked, holding up a specific photo. “Why did you take this by the lake, instead of the school like everyone else?”

A man washing his hands on a kitchen sink | Source: Midjourney

A man washing his hands on a kitchen sink | Source: Midjourney

Ernest turned slightly and frowned, but he didn’t meet my eyes. “Oh, I probably didn’t catch him at school and took another photo at the lake instead. He was my friend, too, you know,” he sighed as he dried his hands. “It’s sad to see that picture at all and know what happened later.”

With a nod and a deep breath, my husband left the kitchen. He didn’t rush, but his back was still stiff. I stayed back and stared at the photos again as if I could see something new; some clue I hadn’t spotted before.

His explanation made perfect sense, but something in my gut told me there was more to this story.

A woman looking worried | Source: Midjourney

A woman looking worried | Source: Midjourney

As a matter of fact, there was a time when… if things had been different… Thomas could have been my….

I didn’t even notice that 30 minutes had passed until Ernest returned to the kitchen, freshly showered. I tracked his movements as he poured himself some water and drank it casually.

“Ernest,” I began.

“Yeap?” he said, too nonchalantly, widening his eyes in curiosity.

“Are you sure nothing else is going on?” I insisted, holding up Thomas’s photo again.

A woman's hand holding up a photo | Source: Midjourney

A woman’s hand holding up a photo | Source: Midjourney

He frowned. “What are you really asking, Suzanne?”

I looked down at the table and licked my lips. I didn’t know how to express myself without any… accusation.

“It’s just that your face and your body language were pretty strange when I showed you the note and the photos,” I said and smiled, hoping to be reassuring. “Is there something else you’re not telling me? You know I love you. You can tell me anything. We’ll get through it.”

A woman smiling | Source: Midjourney

A woman smiling | Source: Midjourney

“Look, baby,” Ernest said, walking around the kitchen but not meeting my eyes once. “I was shocked by the package, the memories, what happened to Thomas. I don’t know. And what I said before is the only explanation I can think of for that message. God, I don’t even remember what I had for breakfast today, so maybe, something else happened.”

He exhaled and put the water glass down on the counter.

“Maybe, there was some inside joke between us,” Ernest suggested, shaking his head. “Again, I don’t know. But we can just throw this out if it’s worrying you.”

A man frowning while leaning on a counter | Source: Midjourney

A man frowning while leaning on a counter | Source: Midjourney

My hands instinctively placed Thomas’s photo behind my back, like I was shielding it. Ernest raised an eyebrow at me, so I started speaking.

“No, no,” I smiled wider, hoping he didn’t notice it was forced. “I was just being silly. This is actually really nice. It brings back so many memories.”

“Okay, then,” he said, approaching me. His hands touched my shoulders, and he kissed me quickly before going to the living room to watch TV.

A man's hand holding a remote in a living room | Source: Unsplash

A man’s hand holding a remote in a living room | Source: Unsplash

Once he was out of view, I closed my eyes and tried to calm myself. I also tried to push down my crazy imagination before the idea of two teen boys standing by a lake appeared behind my eyes.

No. I was not going there.

Instead, I pictured the Ernest I knew: the great husband, who massaged my feet when I was pregnant, the unbelievable father who never missed our kids’ games, and the amazing provider who gave us a beautiful home, tended to the garden, and occasionally grilled the best steak in town.

Meat and potatoes on a grill | Source: Unsplash

Meat and potatoes on a grill | Source: Unsplash

And with those very real memories in mind, I let my worries go. I put the photos and the note back into the envelope and stored them in a drawer where we kept random things.

I finally left the kitchen and smiled sweetly at my husband as I passed through the living room toward our bedroom. Once in bed, I reached for my phone.

Phone | Source: Unsplash

Phone | Source: Unsplash

The AirPods settled into my ears, and I clicked play on one of my favorite podcasts about unsolved mysteries. The stories always calmed me. I must have fallen asleep because Ernest woke up me with a kiss.

He had even prepared dinner, and our teens were already at the table, chatting wildly about their day. My husband laughed and asked them questions while we dug into the food.

It was then that I took a good look at us, at this perfect moment in time with our family. I knew that in 50 years, I would still remember how happy we were.

A man smiling at the dinner table | Source: Midjourney

A man smiling at the dinner table | Source: Midjourney

And I wanted more of that. So, I looked at Ernest and squeezed his hand before turning to my kids with a smile. I listened intently to their conversation. It was a great dinner.

Later that night, I slept in my husband’s arms, holding him tightly as if he might disappear.

I had a wild imagination. I knew that. What’s more, I also knew that the podcasts I listened to tended to make me paranoid, even if I thought they were soothing.

But this was my reality. This was the truth and what mattered. I wasn’t going to jeopardize that by coming up with crazy scenarios and questioning Ernest’s words. I believed him fully, and I still do.

A happy woman | Source: Midjourney

A happy woman | Source: Midjourney

This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.

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