Chapter 7 — Daniel Refuses to Become Part of the Lie
Emily found Daniel an empty seat at Table 10.
He refused it.
“Not yet.”
Olivia looked confused.
“What do you mean?”
Daniel held up his invitation.
“This is not about whether I can find another chair.”
He looked toward Margaret.
“This is her retirement reception.”
Then toward David.
“You were invited under false information.”
David nodded.
Then toward Robert.
“And you’re sitting here because one lie already lasted twenty-seven years.”
Finally Daniel looked at Olivia.
“We’re not fixing that with another lie.”
The simplest solution was also the least dramatic.
Ask Margaret what she wanted.
Daniel turned toward her.
“Do you want David to stay?”
The room went quiet.
Margaret looked at David.
Then her parents.
Then Olivia.
“Yes.”
David’s expression changed.
Margaret continued.
“But not because Olivia arranged it.”
She looked directly at him.
“Because now that you’re here, I want to hear your version from you.”
David nodded.
“That’s fair.”
Daniel turned toward Emily.
“Can Table 8 handle another chair?”
Emily smiled.
“This is a hotel ballroom. We possess chairs.”
Daniel finally laughed.
A ninth place setting was added.
His original name card returned.
David received another.
Nobody needed to be removed.
Margaret noticed the symbolism immediately.
“Imagine that.”
Olivia frowned.
“What?”
“You could have added someone without erasing somebody else.”
Olivia winced.
“I deserved that.”
Daniel sat beside David.
Robert sat across from them.
It was probably the most uncomfortable table in the entire ballroom.
But for the first time that evening…
everybody there knew why they were sitting in it.