I belong to a book club that consists of 10 women. Every week, one of us is assigned to bring a treat to go along with the beverages that are kindly supplied by the Host whose house where the gatherings are held. These treats are almost always store bought from popular bakeries in our area. They range from gourmet doughnuts to decadent cupcakes to individual cheesecakes.
Last night, it was Abby’s turn to bring the treat. She baked a bundt cake that was really hard and dry. So much so, that the Host cut into the cake and it literally crumbled and a large piece broke off and fell on the floor. Host tapped the top of the cake with the cutter and it sounded like someone knocking on the door. I was getting the plates and cutlery when I saw the cake break and the piece fall. We looked at each other and then “Sally” walked in, looked at the cake and asked what happened. We quietly told her the cake accidently broke, but we would pre-slice and plate it to look like nothing was wrong. We threw the piece that fell, in the garbage. Then Abby walked in asking what was taking so long. Sally turned to her and said, “oh, Host and CookieHappy don’t like your cake, they threw a chunk of it in the garbage, see, there it is. I would have NEVERRR done that.” Sally puts her hand on Abby's shoulder and walks out.
Abby looked hurt, but we quickly told her what happened. But it seems Sally got “her story in first” so our story didn’t seem to make Abby feel better. She did see the cake in the garbage and said she understood. She, too, walked out.
Host and I are standing in the kitchen feeling stupid. So we gather everything and brought out trays. I am shooting daggers at Sally and thought I’d have a word with her later. The evening went on with no more mention of the cake.
This morning, Host told me Sally is not welcome in her home anymore.
Would it be rude to call Sally out for her behavior or should we just let her be?
Is it worth it to go again, apologize and re-tell the story to Abby hoping she’d really understand?
Here's a bit of a twist: Host's husband and Sally's husband are vying for a piece of business with Abby's Uncle. I couldn't help but think Sally made an attempt to "taint" Host in front of Abby with the juvenile thought it would win business for her own husband. Who knows?
Thanks!