Chapter 24 - The Last Family Dinner
Seven years after Dad’s death, Diane hosted Thanksgiving.
Mark and Janet.
Melissa.
Me.
A few nieces and cousins.
Nobody mentioned Walter’s trust.
Nobody talked about ranch houses.
Nobody joked about rich Clare.
At one point Diane needed a new dishwasher.
Old days, Mark would have said:
“I’ll buy it.”
Instead:
“Do you want help comparing models?”
Diane smiled.
“Yes.”
Small.
Massive.
Melissa complained about car repair.
Mark asked:
“Do you need recommendation?”
Not money.
Advice.
She said yes.
I watched family learning to help without taking over.
After dinner Mark stood beside me.
“Do you ever miss us?”
“Sometimes.”
“Me too.”
“Regret divorce?”
He thought.
“No.”
Neither did I.
That was closure.
Not pretending marriage was mistake.
It gave me twenty two years.
Some beautiful.
Some unhealthy.
Both true.
Mark said:
“Walter was right about trust.”
I smiled.
May you like
“Don’t tell him. He’d be unbearable.”
We laughed.
