Chapter 26 - The last banquet
Six months after Valeria’s sentencing, the foundation held its annual arts banquet.
Marnie asked:
“Do I have to go?”
“No.”
“Are you?”
“Yes.”
“Who sits by you?”
“I don’t know.”
She narrowed her eyes.
“That’s suspicious.”
I laughed.
Then she said:
“I’ll go.”
Her dress:
Dark blue.
No cardigan.
She had chosen it herself.
The planner showed me the seating chart.
My name.
Marnie beside me.
Eleanor Price on other side.
I said:
“Did Marnie ask for this?”
“No. We thought family seating was appropriate.”
I looked at Marnie.
“Want to sit there?”
She shrugged.
“Sure.”
Choice.
During dinner she became bored.
Halfway through the keynote, she whispered:
“Can I move to the kids’ table?”
“Yes.”
She left the seat.
Just left it.
Empty.
No crisis.
No ghost.
No woman waiting to claim it.
After dessert, Marnie returned and found a small place card that said:
Marnie Drake
She put it in her purse.
“Why keep it?”
“It’s mine.”
Fair.
Then she asked:
“Was Mommy’s seat this one?”
“Yes.”
“And Valeria’s?”
“For some events.”
“And mine?”
“Tonight.”
She smiled.
May you like
The question had become about time, not ownership.
That was progress.
