Chapter 17: Say It to the Diner

Gage had picked the front booth, the one with the window.

He wore a gray suit I had never seen, and he had a bouquet of red roses lying on the table beside his coffee.

The breakfast crowd had stopped eating to watch him.

Mace stayed by the door with his arms crossed, and I walked down the aisle alone.

"Mal," Gage said, and stood up.

"Sit down."

He sat.

"I'm not here to fight," he said, loud enough for the counter to hear. "I'm here to say I was wrong."

"Go on."

"I was cruel and I was stupid. I let that girl wear your mother's necklace, and I called you names."

"One name," I said.

"I'm sorry for it." His eyes were wet, and I knew he could do that whenever he liked. "Come home. The house is yours. I put it in writing."

He slid a folded paper across the table.

I didn't touch it.

"And the sparrow?" I said.

He smiled, and it was the old smile.

"Keep it, babe. Wear it. I only need you to hold it at church for a week, and Dad will drop every bit of this."

A woman at the counter put down her fork.

"Say that last part again," I said.

"Hold it at church."

"No. The part about why."

"Mal." He lowered his voice and leaned in. "Not here."

"You wanted me to apologize to you in front of the club," I said. "I'd like you to do yours in front of the diner."

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