Chapter 8 - The Table ChangedSix months later, Walter turned seventy-one.
He wanted another dinner.
This time, I organized nothing.
Walter did.
He booked the restaurant himself.
He paid.
He chose the seating arrangement.
And when we entered the private dining room, I stopped.
There was one long table.
No separate tables.
No back corner.
No kitchen door.
Lucas and Paige were seated beside Walter.
He smiled at them.
“Come sit with Grandpa.”
Paige ran over.
Lucas followed.
Walter looked at me.
“Is this okay?”
I smiled.
“Yes.”
He raised his glass.
“To family.”
Everyone lifted theirs.
Then he looked at me.
“And to the man who taught me what family should actually mean.”
I didn't know what to say.
So I simply raised my glass.
Courtney sat beside me.
She slipped her hand into mine.
I looked at her.
She smiled.
It wasn't the old smile.
It wasn't the smile she used to keep everyone happy.
May you like
It was real.
For the first time in years, I believed we might actually have a future.
