Terrell brought back a plate full of soft food—steamed vegetables, mashed potatoes, some pastries, fruit, etc. He munched about half of the meal before abandoning the rest. Though it tasted bland, he felt grateful for the offering.
Dakota didn’t ask, but Terrell provided a small overview of the reception. The extended family’s various children were all growing like weeds. A few people asked about him or wanted to know why he couldn’t attend. Eleanor stayed for about an hour before departing. Lorna remained inconsolable. Nothing unexpected or strange happened.
As the night progressed, the two settled in for some much-needed quiet time together.
The Scranton hotel room served as home for now. Terrell insisted on a reasonable place with clean sheets, good service, and even a window with tr
