Chapter 16 - A Table Without Secrets
Two years after that terrible dinner, Ethan and Lily were still legally divorced.
That surprised people.
They had begun dating again, but Lily refused to rebuild the old marriage.
“If we ever marry again,” she told him, “it won't be because we're trying to repair what we broke.”
Ethan agreed.
He worked for a small nonprofit housing organization.
His salary was a fraction of what he'd earned at Harrington.
For the first time, nobody cared about his watch.
One night, Lily invited Ethan, Noah, Peter, Marcus, Rebecca, and me to dinner in the Calloway House penthouse.
Same room.
Same table.
Different people.
Before dinner, Ethan stopped beside the chair where I'd been sitting that night.
“I think about this spot a lot.”
“So do I.”
“I was horrible to you.”
“Yes.”
He smiled sadly.
“You could make this easier.”
“I could.”
Then I smiled.
“But you'd learn less.”
He laughed.
During dinner, Noah spilled juice across Ethan's shirt.
Everyone froze.
Then Ethan started laughing.
No anger.
No embarrassment.
Just laughter.
Lily watched him.
I watched Lily.
Some changes happen loudly.
Others happen in moments nobody applauds.
After dessert, Ethan reached into his pocket.
My body stiffened.
He didn't pull out a ring.
He pulled out the old brass key.
“I've kept this.”
I stared.
“How?”
“Peter gave it to me after the investigation ended.”
Peter raised both hands.
“I thought there was a lesson involved.”
Ethan placed the key in front of me.
“I think this belongs to you.”
I looked at it.
Then pushed it back.
“No.”
Ethan frowned.
I pointed toward Lily.
“Give it to her.”
He did.
Lily stared at the key in her palm.
“What am I supposed to do with it?”
I smiled.
May you like
“Open the next door.”
---
