Chapter 14 - THE LAST FAMILY DINNER
Two years after the restaurant incident, Charles asked Amber to dinner.
She chose the restaurant.
Casual Italian place.
No chandeliers.
No private room.
No tasting menu.
Margaret came too.
Before ordering, Charles placed his credit card on the table.
Amber laughed.
“What?”
“Transparency.”
She shook her head.
Then:
“We split it.”
Charles looked offended.
Margaret laughed.
They split it.
Three ways.
Dinner was awkward.
Then honest.
Charles admitted he still thought Amber’s career was unstable.
Amber said:
“It is.”
He blinked.
Art income varied.
Some months excellent.
Some months thin.
She taught workshops.
Did illustration.
Sold paintings.
Not billionaire money.
Enough.
Then Charles said:
“I thought if I could make the road hard enough, you’d choose the road I understood.”
Amber nodded.
“I know.”
“I’m sorry.”
This time no qualification.
Margaret apologized too.
Amber accepted the apology.
Not restoration to old closeness.
New boundaries.
No calling galleries.
No contacting landlords.
No surprise financial rescues.
If they wanted to help:
ask.
Then the bill arrived.
Charles reached instinctively.
Stopped.
Amber noticed.
He smiled.
May you like
“Three ways.”
Progress.
