Chapter 9 - THE SECOND DINNER
One year later.
Christmas Eve had come back to the city, but the wind off the river didn't feel as sharp as it had twelve months ago.
The Willow iner still sat on the corner of 4th Street, its sign still flickering on the letter D, making it read as "The Willow iner" whenever the wind shook the wires.
Inside, the air smelled of roast chicken, gravy, cinnamon, and warm bread.
At the corner table near the window sat six people.
Kate, wearing a new green velvet coat, was balancing a paper straw on her nose while Lucas tried to photograph it with a small digital camera. Ivy, wearing a matching blue coat, sat beside Jonathan, quietly showing him a drawing she had made in school of a big brick house with five windows and a cat on the porch.
Jenna sat across from Jonathan, wearing a tailored cream wool sweater and the silver watch on her left wrist.
The same waitress with the gray-streaked hair walked over to the table carrying a large tray.
She set down six plates.
Six full plates of roast chicken, golden potatoes, green beans, cranberry sauce, and hot buttered rolls.
The waitress looked at Jenna, then at Jonathan, her eyes softening with a warm, knowing smile.
"Looks like everybody gets their own plate tonight, honey," the waitress said warmly.
Jenna looked down at her plate, then looked up at Jonathan, whose hand was resting over hers on the formica table.
"Yes," Jenna said, her voice full and steady, ringing clear above the noise of the diner. "Everybody gets their own plate."
Kate reached for her fork, looked at Lucas, and grinned. "Can I have your cranberry sauce?"
"No," Lucas said immediately, reaching for his spoon. "Cranberry sauce is important information."
The whole table burst into laughter.
May you like
Outside, the snow began to fall over 4th Street, covering the old tire tracks and the cold sidewalk with a thick, clean layer of white.
Inside, under the flickering lights of the diner, the room was warm, full, and quiet with the peace of a family that had finally come home.
