The Gold Digger's Ledger novel · Chapter 24 of 24

Chapter 24: Hearth Grill

We took the big red booth at the back of Hearth Grill, the one under the brass lamp.

There were five of us.

Gus sat at the end in his velvet jacket with a napkin already tucked into his collar.

Honor sat beside him in a plain navy dress, straight-backed, with no pearls and her hands in her lap.

Tristan sat next to me, and across from us sat my mother.

She had come in from Scranton on the morning bus, in her good coat, with her purse held in both hands.

She coughed once, softly, and looked around at the lamps and the leather.

"It's very red," she said.

"It's supposed to be," I said.

"Ma, this is Tristan. This is his grandfather, Gus. And this is his mother."

"Honor Pemberton," said Honor.

My mother took a good look at her.

"You're the one who had a lawyer call me about the taxes."

The whole booth went still.

"I am," said Honor.

"I owe you an apology, Mrs. Dunleavy. It was a cruel thing to do, and your daughter paid the bill."

"She told me." My mother reached for the bread basket. "Is it true they never take the basket away?"

"Never," said Gus, with deep satisfaction.

"Then I forgive you, and pass the rolls."

Honor's mouth moved. It might even have been a smile.

The rolls came, and another basket after that.

The porterhouse came to the table on its wooden board, sliced and hissing.

Gus had insisted on ordering it for all five of us.

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