Danny chased him to the door.
“Hey.”
He turned.
She held out fifteen dollars.
“What is that?”
“Your mistake.”
“It’s a tip.”
“You had coffee.”
“You loaned me a charger.”
“It costs electricity, not fifteen dollars.”
“Keep it.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I work here.”
“That is usually why people tip.”
Danny shoved the bills toward him.
“Five is enough.”
Ethan took them because she clearly would not stop.
“You always argue about money?”
“Only other people’s.”
“Interesting.”
She held open the door.
“Drive carefully.”
Ethan stepped outside.
That evening, James walked into Walter’s study.
“You’re not going to believe this.”
Walter looked up.
“What happened?”
“Mr. Ethan asked me to drive him back to Gus’s tomorrow morning.”
Walter lowered the newspaper.
“He asked you?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Why?”
“Breakfast.”
Walter stared.
James smiled.
“After this morning, he liked the place.”
Walter’s expression turned slowly amused.
“I did not arrange that.”
“The car?”
“No.”
James raised an eyebrow.
“I swear.”
“Good.”
“I had started worrying.”
Walter folded the paper.
“He’s going back.”
“Yes.”
“Interesting.”
“Do not interfere.”
Walter looked offended.
“I would never.”
James laughed outright.
Ethan returned at 7:40 the next morning.
Danny saw him.
“You again.”
“Good morning to you too.”
“What happened to your car?”
“Fixed.”
“Then why are you here?”
“Breakfast.”
She studied him.
“Fair enough.”
He sat at the counter.
This time he ordered eggs.
Toast.
Coffee.
He stayed forty-five minutes.
Returned three days later.
Then the following Thursday.
At first Danny assumed he liked the diner.
Then she realized he was choosing her section even when other seats were open.
“That’s too much.”
She pushed his receipt back.
Ethan looked.
“What?”
“You keep over-tipping.”
“I can afford it.”
“That’s not the point.”
“What is the point?”
“I work here.”
“I remember.”
“Then pay for what you got.”
He looked amused.
“You know most servers do not fight customers about generosity.”
“Most customers don't tip like they’re trying to buy forgiveness.”
That landed harder than she intended.
Ethan’s face changed.
“Forgiveness for what?”
Danny thought about Walter.
The hesitation.
“You know exactly who Walter is, don't you?”
Ethan went still.
She stared.
“You do.”
“Yes.”
“Who is he?”
Ethan exhaled.
“My father.”
Danny did not move.
Then:
“Your father.”
“Yes.”
“He needed bus fare.”
“No.”
“He needed food.”
“No.”
Danny stepped back.
“You let me believe…”
“I almost told you.”
“That’s an impressive sentence.”
“I didn't know what he was doing until later.”
“But you knew when you were here.”
“Yes.”
“And said nothing.”
“Yes.”