He hesitated, then agreed after explaining the safety rules.
Everyone would need to stay behind the marked line, and a trained employee would supervise.
I paid the entertainment charge by phone.
Then I drove to Sinverle.
The restaurant was warm and crowded.
A pianist was playing near the bar, and my sister was sitting at the largest table, laughing with 11 people I mostly recognized.
When she saw me, she raised her glass.
“Finally! Everybody, this is Natalie, my wonderful sister!”
Several people applauded.
I felt my stomach tighten.
They weren’t mocking me.
They genuinely believed they’d been invited to a dinner I was hosting.
Vanessa hurried over.
“You’re late,” she whispered.
“You didn’t invite me.”
“Don’t start right now. We can talk afterward.”
“Can we?”
She glanced at her friends.
“Please don’t embarrass me.”
I almost laughed at the nerve of it.
Daniel approached, and I nodded toward the side room.
