Dorothy carefully prepared dinner and cake, her hands shaking slightly from anticipation as she waited for her children. The table was set, the aroma of her cooking filled the small house, yet no one came. Hours passed, and Dorothy stood by the window, staring out into the growing darkness, hoping to see a car pull into the driveway. But nothing. The emptiness of her home was overwhelming.

As she stood there, her eyes wandered to the picture on the wall—her children, happy and full of life. It felt like a lifetime ago, when Miley and Ryan were children running through the house, their laughter echoing in every room.

The sound of the doorbell finally rang out, slicing through the heavy silence of the house. Dorothy's heart leapt in her chest, and she hurried to answer it, her mind racing with thoughts of her children. Maybe they had arrived late, or perhaps they had brought a surprise for her birthday.

But when she opened the door, it wasn't Miley or Ryan. Instead, there was a young courier standing before her, holding a neatly wrapped white box. "Miss Dorothy?" he asked politely, extending it toward her.

Dorothy, confused and disappointed, took the box with a slow nod. "Who sent it?" she asked, her voice tinged with apprehension.

"I'm sorry, ma'am, I don’t have that information," the courier replied softly, before turning and walking away into the night. Dorothy closed the door gently, her hands trembling as she carried the box to the table.

She placed it down slowly, her mind still reeling with disappointment. Inside the box, there was a beautifully decorated cake. At first, Dorothy felt a warm rush of hope. Could this be a surprise from Miley and Ryan?

But as she read the words carefully written across the top of the cake, her heart sank. The message was chilling: "We Know What You Did."

Her breath caught in her throat, her hands shaking uncontrollably. Old memories that she had locked away in the deepest corners of her mind began to surface, threatening to overwhelm her. What did this mean? Who could have sent this? And why now, of all times?

Fighting back tears, Dorothy picked up her phone and dialed Miley’s number. No answer. She tried Ryan's, her heart racing with every unanswered ring. Where were they? Why hadn't they come?

Suddenly, the doorbell rang again. Dorothy rushed to the door, praying this time it would be her children. But when she opened it, there was only darkness outside, and the courier’s box. Desperate for answers, she hurried to Miley’s house, her feet moving quickly on the pavement, her heart pounding in her chest.

When she arrived at Miley’s doorstep, she knocked frantically, calling out, "Miley! Miley, are you home? Please answer me!" Her voice echoed in the quiet night, but there was no reply.

Worry started to cloud her thoughts. She moved to the window, peering inside, but the house was still. No sign of life. Just as she was about to give up, a soft voice called out behind her. "Dorothy? Is that you?"

It was Sharon, Miley’s neighbor. "I’m looking for Miley. She isn’t answering her phone," Dorothy said, almost pleading.

Sharon hesitated, then spoke slowly. "Actually, I saw Miley and Ryan earlier today. They were loading things into the car. They seemed... serious. They said they were heading to the lake."

The words hit Dorothy like a thunderclap. The lake... A place from their past, a place of memories both beautiful and painful. Her heart twisted as she realized what this might mean.

Without another word, she ran back to her car, speeding towards the lake, hoping that she wasn’t too late.

When she arrived, the sun had nearly set, casting an orange glow over the water. She could see the old gazebo, standing by the water’s edge, the place where so many memories had been made.

She stepped inside the gazebo, her breath catching in her throat as she saw him. Robert. Her ex-husband. The man who had disappeared from their lives years ago, leaving her to raise their children alone.

He looked older now, his hair graying, his face etched with regret. "Hello, Dorothy," he said quietly, his voice filled with sadness. "It's been a long time."

Dorothy felt a wave of anger and betrayal crash over her. "What are you doing here, Robert?" she demanded, her voice trembling.

Robert looked down, his shoulders sagging with guilt. "The children called me. They needed answers."

Dorothy’s heart broke as she realized what was happening. Miley and Ryan knew the truth now. They had finally found out what she had been hiding all these years.

Before Dorothy could say another word, Miley and Ryan appeared, their faces filled with anger and confusion. "We deserve the truth, Mom," Miley said, her voice shaking with emotion.

Ryan stepped forward, his eyes blazing with hurt. "You lied to us. You told us Dad disappeared, but that wasn’t true. You kept us from knowing the truth about him. You stole us away from him."

Dorothy’s voice trembled as she tried to explain. "I was trying to protect you. I thought I was doing the right thing." But Miley cut her off.

"Stop lying!" she shouted. "We don’t want excuses anymore. We just want the truth!"

Before Dorothy could respond, Robert stood up and raised his voice. "Stop!" he commanded, his voice full of authority. "It’s your mother’s birthday. She deserves better than this."

Ryan turned angrily toward Robert. "Dad, don’t you see? She made us believe you were gone. She kept us from you."

Robert's eyes filled with sorrow. "No, Ryan. It wasn’t your mother’s fault. It was me. I left. I was scared. I thought running away would solve everything. But it didn’t."

Tears filled Robert's eyes as he looked at Dorothy. "Every day since then, I’ve regretted leaving you. I should have stayed. I should have been there for you and the kids."

Miley and Ryan stood in stunned silence, their anger fading into confusion and sadness. Slowly, Dorothy stepped forward, her arms open. She pulled them into a tight embrace, whispering softly, "We can’t change the past, but we can move forward together. Let’s forgive each other and start again."

Miley pulled away first, tears streaming down her face. "Mom, I’m so sorry. We should have trusted you."

Ryan nodded, his voice barely a whisper. "Can you forgive us?"

Dorothy smiled, her heart easing as she wrapped her arms around them once more. "Always, my loves."

Robert watched from the side, his heart full of regret, but also hope. "Maybe we can all find a way to be a family again," Dorothy said gently, turning toward him. "Slowly, carefully."

Robert nodded, grateful for a second chance.

As they stood together by the lake, the sky darkened around them, but a new light filled their hearts—a light of forgiveness and healing, a new beginning for all of them.