When the Road Went Silent novel · Chapter 24 of 24

Chapter 24: The Long Table

On Sunday the long table ran the full length of the bar, and every seat at it was full.

The old man had pushed three tables together and covered them with white paper.

There were two roast chickens, a ham, a pan of cornbread, green beans from someone's garden and a big bowl of potato salad.

Plates were stacked at both ends.

Forks lay in the middle.

Nobody had touched them.

I came in last, in a clean green dress, with Ward's hand under my elbow.

He wore his vest with the president's patch sewn on, and the sling was gone.

The room stood up when I entered.

I had never gotten used to that.

I sat at the head, with Ward at my right, and the ring sat on my thumb where it belonged.

Kayla sat halfway down the table beside the old man's daughter.

Her bump had begun to show, and she held a glass of water in both hands.

She met my eye and nodded once.

I nodded back.

Through the front window I could see the garage across the lot.

Cade was sweeping the concrete in a gray work shirt with his head down.

He didn't look up.

Nobody at the table looked at him either.

The old man cleared his throat and began to carve the ham.

Plates were passed, and chicken and potatoes and beans went down the table.

The talk stayed low and polite.

Still, nobody lifted a fork.

A prospect at the end of the table reached for his, and the man beside him slapped his hand down.

"Wait," he hissed.

"Why?"

"Because."

I laughed.

I had watched it all my life and never once asked.

In my father's house, the founder lifted the first fork, and then the table ate.

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