Chapter 17 - A Place at the Table
Two years after the false 11:30 entry, Lily began second grade.
Enzo learned to run.
This was unfortunate for everyone.
The mansion had to be childproofed for a second time.
Vincent discovered locks no billionaire could open while holding groceries.
Emily found this deeply satisfying.
Her nursing career flourished.
She specialized in pediatric family care.
Parents trusted her because she listened.
Children trusted her because she knelt when speaking to them.
Vincent knew exactly where she learned the importance of that.
One Sunday, the four of them ate breakfast in the main dining room.
Lily stared at the long table.
“Why is this so big?”
“For formal dinners.”
“How many people?”
“Twenty-four.”
“Do you know twenty-four people?”
Vincent frowned.
“Yes.”
“That you like?”
Emily coughed to hide laughter.
Vincent pointed at Lily.
“You’re becoming dangerous.”
“I’ve always been dangerous.”
That was true.
Enzo threw toast.
Emily caught it.
“Impressive.”
“Nurse reflexes.”
Vincent looked at them.
The moment felt so ordinary that it became extraordinary.
He had spent most of his life chasing events large enough to matter.
Deals.
Acquisitions.
Announcements.
He had never understood that happiness often arrived disguised as breakfast.
Afterward, Lily helped Enzo stack blocks.
Emily stood at the window.
Vincent joined her.
“What?”
She smiled.
“Nothing.”
“Liar.”
“I was thinking.”
“Dangerous.”
She elbowed him.
“About us.”
Vincent became serious.
“That sounds even more dangerous.”
Emily looked toward the children.
“We’ve been together nearly two years.”
“Yes.”
“Lily calls this home.”
His heart moved.
“She does?”
“She calls our apartment home too.”
“Good.”
“But this is ‘big home.’”
Vincent smiled.
“And Enzo?”
“He calls everything ‘mine.’”
Accurate.
Emily looked at Vincent.
“Are we pretending we haven’t talked about the future?”
“No.”
“Good.”
Vincent reached into his pocket.
Emily stared.
“Absolutely not.”
He froze.
“What?”
“Do not propose while I am discussing logistics.”
He slowly removed his hand.
“That is upsettingly specific.”
“You had a ring?”
“No.”
“Vincent.”
He pulled out a small toy car.
Enzo’s.
Emily stared.
Then burst out laughing.
“You thought…”
“Yes.”
“I wish.”
“Do you?”
The laughter faded.
Vincent looked at her.
“Do you wish I had a ring?”
Emily became very still.
“I…”
He waited.
She looked toward Lily.
Then toward Enzo.
Then back at Vincent.
“I wish I knew marriage wouldn’t change everything.”
Vincent understood.
Cassandra had planned their household before engagement became marriage.
Marriage, to Emily, carried a history of control.
Her first relationship had ended with abandonment.
His nearly ended in manipulation.
“You don’t have to marry me,” he said.
Emily blinked.
“That was romantic.”
“I’m serious.”
“I know.”
“I want you. Not a legal structure.”
Her eyes filled.
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“If we never marry, I’m still here.”
Emily leaned into him.
Vincent kissed her hair.
Behind them, Lily said loudly:
“This is taking forever.”
They turned.
She stood with arms crossed.
Vincent narrowed his eyes.
“What?”
Lily looked at Emily.
“Just say yes.”
Emily stared.
“To what?”
Lily pulled something from behind her back.
A small velvet box.
Vincent closed his eyes.
“Lily.”
Emily’s mouth fell open.
“You had the ring?”
Vincent glared at Lily.
“You were supposed to wait.”
“You were too slow.”
Enzo clapped.
Emily began laughing and crying simultaneously.
Vincent took the box.
“Well.”
“This has been ruined.”
“No,” Emily said.
She wiped her eyes.
“It’s perfect.”
Vincent opened the ring box.
Simple.
Elegant.
No enormous diamond designed to announce wealth from across a room.
Emily looked surprised.
“I thought you’d buy something ridiculous.”
“I was advised against it.”
“By whom?”
“Lily.”
Lily nodded.
“Big rings get caught on nurse gloves.”
Emily stared at her daughter.
“You helped?”
“Little bit.”
Vincent took Emily’s hand.
Then stopped.
“No speech.”
She smiled.
“No?”
“I had one.”
“What happened?”
“Lily destroyed the timing.”
“Sorry,” Lily said without sounding sorry.
Vincent laughed.
Then looked at Emily.
“I spent years thinking love was something you protected by controlling the circumstances around it.”
Emily squeezed his hand.
“I learned that from the wrong people and unlearned it from the right ones.”
Her eyes filled again.
“So I’m not asking you to fit into my life.”
He looked toward Lily.
Then Enzo.
“I’m asking whether we can keep building one together.”
Emily whispered, “Yes.”
Lily cheered.
Enzo shouted because Lily shouted.
Vincent slid the ring onto Emily’s finger.
Then Enzo threw another piece of toast.
It struck Vincent directly in the shoulder.
Emily laughed.
Vincent looked at his son.
“Your timing is terrible.”
Lily shook her head.
“No.”
She smiled.
May you like
“It’s perfect.”
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