The Birthday Party That Wasn't

Bill turned 40 yesterday.

All week long I planned a surprise birthday party, inviting my siblings and their spouses and his siblings (at least the ones close in age to him) and their spouses to show up at my house between 7:30 and 8:00 pm while I had Bill out to dinner.  That way, we could have a surprise dessert party for him.  Helena had Megan come over to help cook the gluten free cookies, greet and help serve the guests.  Will had Dallan over to (supposedly) do the same.

At least, that's how it would have happened in theory.

Bill was supposed to get home from work at 6:00, giving him plenty of time to shower and clean up before heading out at 7:00.

Six o'clock came and went.  By 6:30, I started calling him, but every time I tried it just went to voice mail.  Later that night I found out that he had accidentally turned off his phone earlier in the day.  I kept trying until seven, when I called Steve (my brother in law and Bill's boss) to ask him if he had seen Bill.

He said, "Yeah, I'm lookin' at his butt right now."

I won't give you the blow by blow of that conversation, but I did point out to Steve that it was Bill's birthday and I had plans and company coming over.  I needed him to come home!  Steve said they had another hour of work to do. 

!!!!

People started arriving at 7:15.  There was nothing I could do.  I felt so dumb. 

I ended up just serving everyone soda and some cream puffs.  We sat around just chatting for TWO HOURS waiting for Bill to show up to his own party.

When I asked him why he didn't come home on time, he said he didn't know I had anything planned, there was a job to get done, and he knew we needed the money.  On his birthday.

I will never, EVER, plan a surprise party for him again.