Chapter 15 - The Restaurant Remembered The General
Two years later, the family returned to the same restaurant.
Not for military rank.
Diane and Dad were celebrating forty years of marriage.
The host recognized Lena.
“General Strickland, welcome back.”
Lena smiled politely.
Melody groaned.
“Oh, great. Here we go.”
The host looked confused.
“Inside joke,” Lena said.
Their table had place cards.
This time every card had a name.
Lena’s simply read:
Lena.
She stared at it.
Melody noticed.
“I told them no titles.”
“Why?”
“Because apparently I’m growing as a person.”
Lena laughed.
Dad raised his glass.
“To Diane.”
Everyone looked surprised.
Dad usually toasted his daughters.
Or himself.
This time he spoke about his wife.
About how much of the family she had carried quietly.
Diane cried.
Then Dad looked at both daughters.
“I spent too much time being proud of things I could brag about.”
Lena felt her throat tighten.
“Ranks. Promotions. Awards.”
He looked at Melody.
“Those things matter.”
Then Lena.
“But they aren’t why either of you matters.”
Lena lowered her eyes.
May you like
Three years earlier, she might have needed that sentence desperately.
Now she simply appreciated it.
