Jacob
I made the reservation three days in advance.
That should not have felt notable.
It did.
Bella’s favorite Italian place on Knox had the pasta she liked, the paper over the tablecloth, and servers who didn’t blink when a six-year-old asked for extra cheese with the seriousness of someone ordering for a table of twenty.
I had taken her there before.
Plenty of times.
Usually, I called the same day. Or had Elaine arrange it. Or assumed there would be a table because there usually was.
This time, I thought about it first.
Reserved the table.
Made sure the time worked around homework and bedtime.
Confirmed Leah didn’t need me to bring Bella back early.
Small things.
Things Leah had done without comment for years.
By the time I picked Bella up, I had already been to Leah’s apa
