Chapter 15 - Richard Returns to Their Table
On Noah’s eighth birthday, Richard reserved the same restaurant.
This time Claire almost refused.
Noah wanted to go.
They arrived together.
The manager smiled nervously when he recognized them.
“No unexpected seating changes,” Richard promised.
The table had four place cards.
RICHARD.
CLAIRE.
NOAH.
ETHAN.
No black credit card landed on the table.
No one ordered anyone to leave.
Ethan arrived carrying one gift.
A cheap telescope Noah had specifically requested.
Richard looked offended.
“I bought him a better one.”
Noah shook his head.
“Dad’s has stickers.”
Ethan had covered it with ridiculous glow-in-the-dark planets.
Richard sighed.
“I’ve been defeated by stickers.”
Claire laughed.
A year earlier, Ethan had treated her like an intruder.
May you like
Now he asked before sitting beside his son.
That mattered more than the price of anything he owned.
