Chapter 9 - The Empty Table
Paul reserved the same table.
Arthur invited six people recovering from strokes and neurological injuries.
No reporters.
No cameras.
No speeches.
Just dinner.
George came.
So did his wife, Nancy.
George stood outside the restaurant for almost ten minutes before entering.
Arthur went outside with Boone.
“I can’t,” George whispered.
Arthur nodded.
“I said that a lot.”
George stared through the window.
“Too many people.”
“Probably.”
“What if I fall?”
Arthur tapped his cane.
“I have.”
George looked at Boone.
Arthur smiled.
“He’s caught me.”
Eventually George walked inside.
That dinner lasted three hours.
Nobody cared about perfect table manners.
One man struggled with his fork.
Another needed extra time to speak.
George left twice to breathe outside.
Both times, he came back.
Near dessert, Arthur looked around the table.
Something had changed.
He wasn’t the man being watched anymore.
He was the man making sure somebody else stayed.
But as we prepared to leave, Paul approached.
“There’s somebody asking for you.”
Arthur sighed.
“Please don’t say television.”
“No.”
Paul looked toward the entrance.
“It’s Robert.”
May you like
Diane’s husband.
And he was alone.
