Chapter 14 - The Same Restaurant
Six months after the night everything began, Claire returned to the restaurant.
Daniel was waiting at the same table.
She stopped when she saw him.
“You did this intentionally.”
“Maybe.”
“The same table?”
“The food is good.”
Claire laughed.
It surprised her how easily the sound came now.
She sat across from him.
The waiter recognized them immediately.
So did several employees.
But nobody stared for long.
Claire looked around.
“I hated this place for months.”
Daniel nodded.
“I know.”
“Why bring me back?”
Daniel considered the question.
“Because bad memories shouldn’t own good places forever.”
Claire smiled.
“That sounds suspiciously wise.”
“I practiced.”
Dinner arrived.
They talked about work.
About Thomas.
About the future.
Then Claire asked something she had wondered for months.
“Why did you really stand up that night?”
Daniel frowned.
“I told you.”
“Because my father helped you?”
“That was part of it.”
“What was the other part?”
Daniel looked toward the table where Claire had stood soaked and humiliated.
Then back at her.
“Because everyone else was watching.”
Claire waited.
“And?”
Daniel leaned back.
“I didn’t want to be another person who watched.”
Claire’s eyes softened.
“That simple?”
“Yes.”
Claire looked down at her glass.
“Most important things usually are.”
Daniel raised his glass.
“To Thomas.”
Claire raised hers.
May you like
“To the people who stand up.”
Their glasses touched softly.
