He looked at me.
“For what?”
“For people talking. For it getting bigger than it should have. I tried to keep your name out of it.”
“You did.”
“I never told anyone.”
“I know.”
His voice was gentle.
That almost made it worse.
Lily shoved the paper bag at me.
“Open it!”
I took it.
Inside were napkins.
Dozens of them.
Each one folded carefully.
On top was a child’s drawing done in red crayon.
A big plate.
A little girl.
A tall man.
And a woman with yellow hair that looked more like lightning than hair.
Above us, in uneven letters, it said:
THANK YOU FOR THE FEEST.
Feast was spelled wrong.
I loved it more because of that.
Under the napkins was an envelope.
Marcus cleared his throat.
“It’s not much.”
I opened it.
Inside was eighteen dollars.
And a note.
For the board. From Marcus and Lily.
I looked up.
Marcus’s face was tense, waiting for me to argue.
I didn’t.
I knew better now.
“Thank you,” I said. “That’ll feed someone good.”
His shoulders loosened.
Just a little.
Lily looked at the board.
“Daddy, is that where the feasts live?”
Marcus smiled down at her.
“Something like that.”
I led them to the same booth as before.
Marcus noticed.
So did I.
“Two waters?” I asked.
“And two meals,” he said.
There was quiet strength in his voice.
“I got paid today.”
I nodded.
“What’ll it be?”
Lily slapped both hands on the table.
“Pancakes!”
Marcus laughed.
“Pancakes for her. Meatloaf special for me.”
“Good choice.”
He looked embarrassed, but not ashamed.
Those are different things.
As I walked back to put in the order, Sal leaned through the kitchen window.
“That him?”
“That’s him.”
Sal glanced toward the booth.
Then he disappeared.
A minute later, he came back holding the order ticket.
“Meatloaf special?”
“Yes.”
“Extra mashed potatoes?”
I looked at him.
He shrugged. “Kitchen mistake.”
I smiled.
“Careful, Sal. Your heart is showing.”
“Tell anybody and I’ll deny it.”
While they ate, Marcus kept watching the board.
Not suspiciously.
Thoughtfully.
Like he was trying to understand what had grown from one impossible night.
