Chapter 13: Wednesday Dinner
204 Words
Wednesday. 6 PM. Restaurant.
Damian arrived 15 minutes early. He kept checking his phone.
Aria came in holding Emma's hand. Emma was wearing the dress Damian bought her for her birthday.
"Hi," Damian said. His voice was soft.
"Hi," Aria replied. She looked tired but calm.
They sat down. Emma sat between them.
"What do you want to eat, baby?" Damian asked Emma.
"Pancakes! And chicken!" Emma said excitedly.
Damian smiled. "Two favorites."
The dinner started awkward. But then Emma started talking nonstop. About school. About her toys. About daddy's pancakes.
Slowly, the tension faded.
"Remember when we used to come here?" Damian asked Aria quietly.
Aria stirred her drink. "Yeah. You always ordered too much."
Damian laughed. "You always finished it."
Aria looked up. For a second, she almost smiled.
After dinner, Damian paid. "Let me walk you to the car."
In the parking lot, Emma hugged Damian tight. "Bye daddy! See you Saturday!"
Damian kissed her forehead. "See you, baby."
Then he looked at Aria. "Thank you... for today."
Aria was quiet. Then she whispered, "It wasn't terrible."
Damian smiled. "High praise from you."
As Aria drove away, Damian watched them.
And for the first time in 3 years, he felt hope.
- Writer
