Chapter 11 – THE TABLE IS SET

Thanksgiving arrived with a blanket of white snow over the Seattle estate.

The dining room looked entirely different than it had on the night of that disastrous engagement dinner.

The long mahogany table was set for only five people.

The roaring fireplace cast a warm, golden glow across the room.

Sebastian sat at the head of the table.

He wore a simple button-down shirt, the sleeves rolled up, revealing his tattoos.

He looked younger. Lighter. The burden of the empire no longer crushing his shoulders.

He had stepped down from the syndicate, handing the reigns to a trusted, legitimate board. He was running real estate now. Clean money.

Anna walked out of the kitchen, carrying a massive roasted turkey.

She beamed with pride.

Her culinary degree was finally being put to use for the people she loved.

“Careful, it’s hot!” she laughed, setting it down in the center of the table.

Leo ran laps around the table, holding his wooden train, making choo-choo noises.

His cheeks were rosy. He hadn’t used his inhaler in weeks.

I walked in carrying a bowl of mashed potatoes.

I took my seat next to Sebastian.

He reached under the table and gently squeezed my hand.

I smiled at him. We were taking things slow, but for the first time in my life, I felt completely secure.

Finally, Margaret walked into the room.

She was wearing a beautiful new lavender dress.

Her silver hair was curled perfectly.

As she went to sit down, I noticed her chair.

It was the best seat at the table, right next to the roaring fire, right beside Sebastian.

There was a fine linen napkin resting on her gold-rimmed plate.

Sebastian stood up and pulled the chair out for her.

“Sit, Maggie.”

She smiled, tears glistening in her eyes.

“It’s beautiful, sweetheart. All of it.”

She sat down and reached for the napkin on her plate.

When she lifted it, something fell out with a soft clink.

It wasn’t a silver shoe buckle.

It was a small, velvet jewelry box.

Margaret looked up at Sebastian, confused.

“What is this?”

Sebastian smiled softly.

“Open it.”

She opened the box.

Inside was a beautiful, custom-made gold bracelet.

Engraved on the inside were the words: To the woman who saved us all.

Margaret covered her mouth, sobbing with joy.

Anna came up behind her and wrapped her arms around the old woman’s shoulders.

Sebastian looked around the table.

At his sister. At his nephew. At the woman who raised him. And at me.

He raised his wine glass.

“To family,” he said quietly. “The one we lost, and the one we found.”

We all raised our glasses.

The ghosts of the past were finally gone.

And no one would ever take Margaret’s plate away again.

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