My Daughter’s Tenth Birthday Ended with Cake on Her Dress—Then a Recording Led Us to the Trust Her Father Hid

“It will eat your shoes at that length,” Rebecca said.

Emily laughed briefly.

Then she asked whether she had to thank her father.

“You can express thanks if you want to,” I said.

“A gift doesn’t require you to change how you feel or agree to contact you aren’t comfortable with.”

“Can I take it off?”

“Yes.”

She went inside without another apology.