Chapter 12 - Christmas Dinner Becomes Pizza Night
The catered dinner never happened.
Margaret disputed the charge.
The catering company had acted in good faith after receiving what appeared to be valid payment authorization.
The family did not blame the caterer.
The order was canceled early enough that most costs were recoverable, with a reasonable cancellation amount handled separately.
On Christmas Eve, Margaret sat in her Columbus living room with Dean.
No formal table.
No expensive centerpieces.
They ordered pizza.
Dean laughed when the delivery arrived.
“Twenty-eight dollars.”
Margaret held up her own card.
“I’m paying.”
He smiled.
“Your choice.”
“Exactly.”
That small exchange mattered more than either expected.
They ate in front of an old Christmas movie.
Robert’s photograph remained on the mantel.
Margaret did not remove it.
The affair story was false.
But the investigation had forced her to confront something else.
Dean had idealized his father because the dead could no longer disappoint him.
Margaret told him stories about Robert being stubborn, forgetful, funny, selfish, generous, and occasionally impossible.
A person.
May you like
Not a monument.
Dean needed that too.
