Try not to react. I heard Grey warning me. He knew! He knew I was about to face my mother. He could have given me more of a warning!
I gulped and steadied myself. The woman in front of me narrowed her eyes, and I thought I saw a moment of recognition cross her face before her expression hardened again.
"Madam, I must say the disrespect was mutual. I was assured that the dessert would be making a grand entrance, which I assumed meant that a place had been readied for it to be set. Let us let bygones be bygones in this instance. I have a presentation for you," I told her with a half-hearted smile. She narrowed her eyes and glared at me but said nothing.
I cleared my throat and stepped in front of my masterpiece and addressed the crowd with flourish.
"Ladies and gentlemen, may I present
