Chapter 9 - The Christmas Table
One year after Emma asked for leftovers, Lombardi was decorated for Christmas.
The piano played again.
Snow fell outside.
But this time, Emma entered through the front door wearing a red dress.
No worn sweater.
No damp shoes.
No hunger.
She walked beside Dominic.
Noah slept in Lillian's arms.
Vincenzo's daughter held Emma's hand.
Rosa saw them and began crying.
"Look at you."
Emma laughed.
"I've grown."
Rosa hugged her.
Dominic watched.
He remembered the girl who had stood beside his table and asked for food.
He could barely recognize her.
Not because she looked different.
Because she no longer carried fear in her shoulders.
Dinner was served.
The table filled with laughter.
Emma raised her glass of sparkling juice.
"To family."
Everyone raised theirs.
Dominic looked at her.
"To family."
After dinner, Rosa approached him.
"Mr. Moretti?"
"Yes?"
"I need to tell you something."
She handed him a small envelope.
"What is this?"
"I found it behind your old table."
Dominic opened it.
Inside was a note.
From Matteo.
There was only one sentence.
Thank you for choosing my daughter.
Dominic closed his eyes.
Tears came unexpectedly.
Emma noticed.
"What's wrong?"
He handed her the note.
She read it.
Then looked at him.
"He knows."
Dominic nodded.
"I think he does."
Outside, the snow grew heavier.
Inside, the piano continued.
Emma walked to the window.
"Look."
Dominic stood beside her.
"What?"
"The city."
"What about it?"
"I used to think Chicago belonged to people like my father."
Dominic shook his head.
"No."
She looked at him.
"Who does it belong to?"
"Everyone."
She smiled.
"Good answer."
He laughed.
For the first time, the city below seemed less like a battlefield.
More like a place where people could begin again.
Later that night, Emma asked Dominic something.
"Do you regret the night I asked you for leftovers?"
He looked at her.
"Never."
"What if I had asked someone else?"
"Then I wouldn't be sitting here."
"What if you had said no?"
He thought about it.
"I would have regretted that for the rest of my life."
Emma smiled.
"I think Dad sent me to that restaurant."
Dominic's heart tightened.
"Maybe."
She looked at the photograph.
"Maybe he knew you would help."
Dominic put an arm around her.
"Your father knew me better than I knew myself."
They stood together by the window.
May you like
A family built from secrets.
But no longer living in them.
