Chapter 24 - The Dinner We Chose
Brendan turned sixty.
His family planned dinner.
Nicole asked if I would come.
I laughed.
“Another dinner?”
She understood.
“Different restaurant.”
Samuel wanted.
I agreed.
Small.
Brendan.
Nicole.
Samuel and Emily.
Grace.
Me.
No Diane.
No Dad.
No chandeliers maybe.
Casual Italian.
Then water arrived.
Grace knocked glass over onto my lap.
Cold.
For one second, my body froze.
Then Grace gasped.
“Grandma!”
I looked.
Water.
Clean.
Accident.
She grabbed napkin.
“I’m sorry!”
I laughed.
Then cried.
Everyone stared.
“I’m okay.”
Brendan understood before anyone.
He handed towel.
No joke.
No touch without asking.
Then:
“Need outside?”
“No.”
I dried.
Grace looked terrified.
“Are you mad?”
“No.”
“Promise?”
“Yes.”
Then Brendan said:
“Your grandma once had a very bad dinner.”
Samuel:
“Dad.”
Brendan stopped.
Not his story to tell child without permission.
Good.
Then birthday.
Brendan made speech.
Not about redemption.
Thanked Nicole.
Samuel.
Friends.
Then looked at me.
“And Cassidy, for becoming a good coparent after I gave her every reason not to.”
I raised glass.
No words.
Enough.
Then after dinner, Brendan paid.
He placed twenty dollar tip.
I noticed.
Coincidence.
Smiled.
Then outside:
“Cass.”
“What?”
“I’m sorry one last time.”
“You don’t need last times.”
He laughed.
“Okay.”
Then:
“I’m glad you called.”
Delta.
He meant.
“If you hadn’t…”
I stopped.
“No what if.”
He nodded.
Then:
“Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.”
We went separate directions.
No romance.
Peace.
Then I drove home.
The road dark.
No searchlights.
No aircraft.
May you like
I liked.
Continue to the next part: Another family dinner ends with spilled water, but this time nobody laughs at fear, grabs Cassidy, or decides humiliation is entertainment.
