Chapter 21 - AMELIA ASKS FOR HER CHAIR BACK
Months after the wedding, Belladonna reopened the ballroom after repairing the cake-table damage.
Not major renovation.
Normal maintenance.
Amelia asked to see it.
Her therapist said:
“If she wants.”
We went on a Tuesday afternoon.
No event.
No guests.
Staff present.
She walked to the head table location.
Empty floor now.
No wedding seating.
She pointed.
“My chair was there.”
“Yes.”
“Did you keep it?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“It belongs to the club.”
She looked offended.
“I sat in it.”
“For about three minutes.”
“Still.”
Then she asked:
“Can I have lunch in that chair?”
There was no special head chair outside events.
I could have ordered one placed.
I almost did.
Then stopped.
“Do you want the chair or do you want lunch here?”
She thought.
“Lunch.”
Good.
We sat at a normal two-person table near the window.
She ordered grilled cheese.
Belladonna had a twenty-six-dollar grilled cheese because old clubs hate humility.
I complained.
She said:
“You bought expensive sandwich club.”
Fair.
Then she looked around.
“Is this mine someday?”
“I don’t know.”
“Would you give it to me?”
“Maybe.”
“What if I don’t want?”
“Then you don’t.”
“Would Grandma be mad?”
“Probably.”
“Would you?”
I took longer.
“No.”
She narrowed her eyes.
“Probably?”
I smiled.
“I’d try not to be.”
Honest.
Then:
“What if I want to be a veterinarian?”
“Then please never charge twenty-six dollars for grilled cheese.”
She laughed.
May you like
The room stopped feeling like a courtroom.
For an hour.
