‘Wait, is that Alexander’s dad?’ I mutter to Jessica as we sit down at the elaborately set dining table. I knew Alexander invited Jessica and I here to talk but I didn’t realize it would be more than just him. My gaze fixes on the man sitting across the white linen tablecloth in a private room of an upscale restaurant, his eyes obscured by the flickering candlelight.
‘Yep, looks like it,’ Jessica replies with a slight grin, her brows arching upward. ‘I image-searched him,” she whispers to me. “This should be interesting.’
The room is elegant, with floor-to-ceiling windows revealing the city skyline outside, and soft classical music playing in the background. The warmth from the glowing chandeliers above our heads casts a golden hue on the polished silverware before me. It’s the kind of place where even the water tastes expensive.
‘Clara, Jessica, so good to see you both again,’ Daniel Blaese says with a practiced smile, rising from his seat to greet us. He’s impeccably dressed in a tailored suit, exuding wealth and power, which makes me feel even more out of place in my thrift-store outfit. “The last time I saw you, Jessica, you were up to my knee.”
‘Good to see you too, Mr. Blaese,’ I reply, forcing a polite smile as I slide into the chair next to him.
‘Please, call me Daniel,’ he insists, reclaiming his seat. His two sons, Alexander and James, exchange glances at the end of the table, and I can already sense the tension brewing beneath the surface.
‘Alright, Daniel,’ I concede, trying to suppress my unease. This is just a family dinner, nothing more. We’re here to break bread, not start World War III.
The dinner conversation flows from topic to topic –- work, travel, and even favorite movies. It’s almost easy to forget the undercurrent of tension simmering beneath it all. Almost.
‘Hey, Clara,’ Jessica nudges me under the table. ‘How are you holding up?’
‘Fine,’ I murmur, taking a sip of my wine. ‘Just trying not to think about…’
‘Dad?’ she finishes for me.
‘Yeah.’ My eyes flicker to Daniel, who is now engaged in an animated discussion with James about their latest business venture. I can’t help but wonder what part Dad might have played in their empire if he were still here.
‘Clara,’ Jessica whispers, her hand resting on mine. ‘Remember what we talked about earlier? We’re here to forgive, not seek revenge.’
‘Of course,’ I agree, forcing my thoughts back to the present moment. The past can’t be changed, but maybe tonight we can find some semblance of closure.
As the evening goes on, laughter fills the air, and the weight of our history together seems to lighten. Perhaps this family dinner isn’t turning out to be the disaster I’d feared after all.
There’s a slight clink of silverware against fine china as the five of us sit around the elegantly set dining table. The private room in the upscale restaurant feels both intimate and intimidating, with its dim lighting and plush seating. I glance at my sister, Jessica, who offers me a reassuring smile. Daniel Blaese, his two sons, and the two of us Williams sisters make up this unlikely gathering.
‘Thank you for inviting us to dinner,’ Jessica says graciously, breaking the silence. ‘This place is lovely.’
‘It’s our pleasure. We don’t often get the opportunity to gather like this,’ Daniel replies warmly, his gaze shifting between Jessica and me.
‘Speaking of which,’ Daniel interjects, his eyes meeting mine as he sets down his wine glass, ‘we wanted to talk about something that’s been on our minds for a while now.’ He clears his throat, looking momentarily uncomfortable before continuing. ‘Michael’s death. We can’t ignore how much it has affected all of us, especially you, Clara, and Jessica.’
I feel a lump forming in my throat, my chest tightening at the mention of our father. It takes a few seconds for me to find my voice. ‘I appreciate your concern,’ I say softly, trying to maintain my composure. ‘It’s been a difficult time for us.’
‘Of course, we understand,’ James adds, his expression sympathetic. ‘Losing someone is never easy, and we want you to know that we’re here for you in any way we can be.’
‘Thank you,’ Jessica murmurs, her hand finding mine beneath the table.
‘Michael was a good man,’ Daniel says, his voice heavy with emotion. ‘He was a true friend and business partner. His passing was a great loss to us all.’
I can’t help but bristle at the mention of their business partnership. Dad had trusted Daniel, and look where that got him. I bite the inside of my cheek, willing myself not to say anything rash.
‘His passing was sudden,’ I manage to say, my voice strained. ‘It’s still hard to believe he’s gone.’
The heavy silence that follows our toast is suffocating. I clutch my wine glass, feeling the cool condensation beneath my fingertips, trying to ground myself in the present moment.
‘Clara, Jessica,’ Daniel begins, clearing his throat, ‘I need to come clean about something.’ He hesitates, glancing at his sons before continuing. ‘I played a role in Michael’s downfall.’
My heart clenches in my chest, and I grip the tablecloth beneath me, knuckles turning white.
‘I’m the one who stole your father’s company,’ he admits, his voice cracking. ‘I pushed him down a path that led to his decline in health. I know nothing I say can change what happened, but… I’m sorry. Truly.’
For a moment, all I can hear is the blood pounding in my ears, drowning out any coherent thoughts. My hands tremble as I try to process what I’ve just heard. But then, amidst the storm of emotions, a quiet voice of reason emerges.
‘Thank you for telling us,’ I manage to say, biting back the anger and hurt that threaten to overwhelm me. ‘It takes courage to admit to something like that.’
‘Our father made his own choices too,’ Jessica adds, her voice wavering. ‘We can’t put all the blame on you.’
‘Still,’ Daniel insists, tears glistening in his eyes, ‘I should have been a better friend, a better business partner. I let my ambitions cloud my judgment.’
The weight of Daniel’s confession hangs heavy in the air, suffocating me. I stare at my plate, struggling with the whirlwind of emotions that threatens to burst forth. ‘How could you do it?’ I ask, my voice breaking.
‘Clara,’ Jessica says softly, placing a hand on my arm. I can tell she’s trying to hold back her own anger, but there’s also an air of calm about her that I envy.
‘Look,’ Daniel starts, his eyes downcast, ‘I know what I did was wrong. It’s something I’ve regretted ever since, and I’ve tried to make amends.’
‘Amends?’ I scoff, suddenly feeling the anger bubble over. ‘You think you can just apologize and everything will be fine?’
‘Clara,’ James interjects, his tone firm yet gentle. ‘No one is saying this fixes everything, or that we should forget about the past. But it’s a start.’
‘Easy for you to say,’ I mutter, crossing my arms defensively. ‘Your father didn’t get his life destroyed by someone he trusted.’
‘We know it’s not going to be easy, but we have to find a way to move forward. For Michael, for ourselves,’ Jessica says, giving me a meaningful look.
‘Forgiveness doesn’t come easily,’ I admit, my anger slowly dissipating, replaced by a swirling mix of sadness and confusion. ‘But I’ll… I’ll try. For Dad.’
‘Thank you,’ Daniel whispers, his face etched with remorse. ‘I know it might not mean much now, but I will do everything in my power to make things right. Including admitting what I’ve done publicly, and taking whatever charges may come. I can never atone for what I’ve done, but I want you to know that I’m taking responsibility.’
‘Okay, let’s just put it out there,’ Alexander says, his voice cold and sharp like ice. ‘I’m not happy with what you did to Michael, Dad. You destroyed his life, and in turn, affected the lives of Clara and Jessica.’
‘Alex…’ James tries to interject, but his brother cuts him off.
‘No, James. It needs to be said.’ Alexander turns his attention back to Daniel. ‘But I also understand that people make mistakes, even huge ones. And if Clara and Jessica are willing to try and forgive you, then maybe I should too.’
A heavy silence settles over the table as everyone takes in Alexander’s words. I glance over at Jessica, whose eyes are filled with compassion. She reaches out to touch Alexander’s arm gently.
‘None of us are perfect, Alex,’ she says, her voice soft yet steady. ‘And we all deserve a chance at redemption.’
‘Jessica’s right,’ I chime in, pushing aside my lingering anger. ‘If we keep holding onto the past, we’ll never be able to move on. We’re here now, trying to build bridges – and that’s what matters.’
As I speak, I see a glimmer of relief in Daniel’s eyes, though they still hold an undeniable weight. James nods in agreement, placing a hand on his father’s shoulder.
‘Let’s not forget the good times we had with Michael,’ he says, forcing a small smile. ‘He wouldn’t want us to dwell on the pain.’
‘Here’s to second chances,’ Alexander adds, raising his glass. We all follow suit, clinking our glasses together in a toast to newfound hope.
As the dinner comes to an end, we stand up from the table, our stomachs full but our hearts heavy. Daniel approaches Jessica and me, his eyes brimming with sincerity.
‘Thank you for this evening,’ he says, his voice cracking slightly. ‘I know it wasn’t easy, but I’m truly grateful for the opportunity to make amends.’
‘We appreciate your honesty,’ Jessica replies, offering him a small, albeit genuine smile. I nod, echoing her sentiment, though the words still feel foreign on my tongue.
‘Let’s all move forward from here,’ James suggests, his hand resting on Alexander’s back. ‘For Michael, and for ourselves.’
‘Agreed,’ Alexander says, his gaze meeting mine. I see the determination in his eyes – the same determination that made me admire him as my boss.
‘Thank you for coming tonight,’ I say, forcing a smile. ‘It was good to talk about everything.’
‘Clara’s right,’ Jessica chimes in, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. ‘We needed this. To clear the air.’
Daniel nods solemnly, his gaze lingering on each of ours for a moment. ‘We did. I hope we can continue to move forward together, as friends.’
‘Me too,’ Alexander says, his voice steady and firm. My heart thuds in my chest as our eyes meet briefly before he continues, ‘I think we owe it to Michael’s memory to try our best.’
‘Absolutely,’ James agrees, running a hand through his hair. ‘We’ll always be here if you need anything, Clara, Jessica.’
‘Same goes for us,’ Jessica adds, reaching out to give James a reassuring pat on the arm.
‘Thank you,’ I whisper, touched by their words. We all stand, ready to leave the confines of the restaurant and face the world outside. As we gather our things, the room seems to shrink around us, the weight of our shared history pressing in from all sides. But within that pressure, there’s also a newfound sense of unity.
‘Take care,’ Daniel says, his voice barely audible as he hugs Jessica and then me. I can feel the strength behind his embrace, the sincerity of his apology still lingering in the air.
‘Goodbye,’ I murmur, pulling away from Daniel. I watch as James goes to his father, motioning for Daniel, but Alexander lingers behind.
Jessica looks from him to me and then offers me a smile. “I’ll see you later.” She gives me a little side hug before smiling at him with a half wave.
I meet Alexander’s eyes as Jessica leaves, and his lips tug up into a smile. “Can I walk you home?”
