“Goodnight, Ethan.”
“Goodnight, Mom.”
I got in.
He stood on the sidewalk watching the car disappear.
I thought that was the end of the story.
It wasn’t.
The next morning, I woke to seventeen missed calls.
Most were from Ethan.
Three were from Claire.
One was from an unfamiliar number.
I listened to the voicemail.
It was the chef.
“Mrs. Hayes, this is Daniel. I hope I’m not disturbing you. There’s something I think you should know. Please call me when you have a moment.”
I called him back.
He answered immediately.
“Mrs. Hayes.”
“Daniel, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing is wrong.”
“Then why did you call?”
There was a pause.
“Because after you left last night, Ethan stayed.”
I sat down.
“What happened?”
“He asked me about you.”
I closed my eyes.
“What did he ask?”
“He wanted to know why I remembered you.”
I said nothing.
Daniel continued.
“I told him the truth.”
“What truth?”
“That you were one of the people who helped this restaurant survive.”
I sighed.
“I don’t want him feeling guilty.”
“He should feel responsible.”
“Daniel.”
“I’m not trying to interfere in your family.”
“Thank you.”
“But there’s something else.”
“What?”
“He asked me whether you had ever told him about the money.”
I froze.
“What money?”
“The investment.”
I couldn’t speak.
Daniel continued.
“I assumed he knew.”
“He doesn’t.”
There was silence.
Then Daniel said something that made my heart sink.
“Mrs. Hayes, I think you should tell him.”
I spent the entire morning thinking about it.
The investment had never been a secret exactly.
It had simply never been something I discussed.
Years ago, when the restaurant was struggling, I had used the little money I had saved to buy a small share.
Daniel and his business partner had promised they would repay me.
They never did.
Instead, the restaurant succeeded.
The investment became worth far more than I ever imagined.
But I never demanded anything.
