Member-only story
Wearing Only Her Confidence, With Pride, She Appeared On The Staircase Landing
All was instantly hushed, as she slowly descended to take her place at the head of her table. Eyes met eyes, and the dinner chat, now changed somewhat, tentatively resumed
Please note: Though this is basically a true story, about a friend’s marriage, the names and location have been changed for obvious reasons.
There was nothing particularly different about the invitation.
Dinner parties were Charles’ forte, sometimes formal, but mostly not.
As a highly-sought-after journalist, he was always on the go, usually to far corners of the earth, so always difficult to stay closely in touch with him, as his long-term partner would attest to.
“Just a few friends,” he’d said. “It’s been a while. Please say you will come.”
Just a few friends…he just forgot to say what he meant by few.
Some hundred or so people were seated around giant tables when my husband and I arrived.
A tad more than a few, but that was Charles.
Conversation flowed, and though I had noticed the empty chair, I hadn’t got around to asking…
