“I see that.”
Walter lowered his voice.
“You and Daniel have done well.”
“You raised Lily.”
“Look at her.”
Across the table, Lily was helping an elderly aunt carry a plate.
Ethan stood beside her.
They were laughing.
“That is the thing worth showing people.”
Melissa nodded.
Then whispered:
“I’m really sorry about your car.”
Walter raised an eyebrow.
“That one may require more than pie.”
She smiled.
“I’ll bring it around front.”
“No.”
“What?”
“Daniel will.”
Walter looked toward his son.
Daniel was already holding the Buick keys.
For the first time that afternoon, Walter smiled fully.
“That seems appropriate.”
Ten minutes later, Daniel drove the old Buick back around the estate.
The faded blue car rolled slowly between the Mercedes and the Range Rover.
No one gasped.
No one laughed.
Most guests did not notice.
Richard noticed.
He walked over immediately.
Walter followed.
Richard circled the car like a man inspecting an antique.
“Original engine?”
“Yes.”
“How many miles?”
“One hundred sixty-eight thousand.”
“That’s nothing.”
Daniel leaned against the hood.
Walter looked at him.
“Careful.”
“Your belt buckle will scratch the paint.”
Daniel laughed.
“This paint?”
“Show respect.”
They stood beside the Buick.
For a while, the party continued behind them.
Music.
Glasses.
Conversation.
Walter looked at Daniel.
“You okay?”
Daniel stared at the hood.
“Not really.”
Walter waited.
Daniel said:
“When did I become that guy?”
“What guy?”
“The guy embarrassed by his father’s car.”
Walter smiled sadly.
“It happens slowly.”
“That doesn’t make me feel better.”
“It shouldn’t.”
Daniel nodded.
“I remember this car.”
“I know.”
“You used to take me fishing in it.”
“Wrong car.”
Daniel laughed.
“Right.”
“The Taurus.”
“Green.”
“Ugly.”
“Very.”
Daniel became quiet again.
“I think after Mom died, I started trying to separate everything before from everything after.”
Walter looked at him.
That surprised him.
Daniel continued.
“The house.”
“Her clothes.”
“Her recipes.”
“You kept all of it.”
“I couldn’t.”
“So you thought I was stuck.”
“Yes.”
Daniel admitted.
“Sometimes.”
Walter nodded.
“Maybe I am.”
“No.”
Daniel said.
“I think I was running.”
They stood quietly.
Walter looked toward the garden.
Lily was cutting another piece of pie.
“You know.”
Walter said.
“Your mother would hate this party.”
Daniel laughed immediately.
“She would.”
“She’d complain the chairs were uncomfortable.”
“She’d steal flowers.”
“She’d ask the caterer why the portions were so small.”
“She would absolutely have brought two pies.”
“Three.”
Walter corrected.
“And one would be pecan because Richard seems hungry.”
They laughed.
Daniel’s eyes filled.