Only after her daughter said this did Ada finally relax, settling in to talk with Jacqueline and Rupert about where they'd go to eat.
Her daughter's tone was all warmth.
"Mom, you've been up all night playing cards lately. You've lost weight."
"Let me take you to that upscale French place that just opened downtown. Everything there is healthy and nutritious, perfect for building you back up."
Ada nodded, pleased.
"Good, good. I always knew you were the most devoted."
Once they'd settled it, Jacqueline came straight to the back kitchen, leaned half her body through the doorway, and instructed me.
"Dad, Rupert and I are taking his mother out to eat. Remember to lock up the restaurant, and come in early tomorrow to prep."
"Somebody booked a dozen-plus tables for a graduation dinner tomorrow. Whatever you do, don't be late."
I answered evenly. "Fine."
And just like that, the three of them walked out of the restaurant, laughing and chatting.
The moment the door clicked shut, the place went completely quiet.
Only me, standing alone at the stove in the back kitchen.
I didn't clean up the way they'd told me to. The first thing I did was walk over to the camera console and quietly cut the power to every last camera.
Then I walked slowly to the stove.
Looking at that spotless kitchen, five years played back through my mind, one frame after another, like a film.
I thought of the empty produce market at four thirty in the morning.
I thought of my eyes, red year-round from the smoke and grease.
I thought of my hands, marked with burns and knife scars, some deep, some shallow.
And then I thought of the way the three of them had stood there and accused me in front of everyone.
I stood where I was for a long while before I slowly took out my phone and called a number I hadn't dialed in a long time.
"I need you to do something for me."
Once I'd gone over everything with the person on the other end, I left the restaurant.
That night, I didn't go back to the cheap, cramped rental near the restaurant.
Instead, I boarded the overnight express train home, then and there.
On the train, I saw that Ada had posted something new to her feed.
A selfie at the French restaurant, captioned:
"My daughter-in-law is so devoted, she insisted on treating me to build me back up. Some people are just born to be pampered, no stopping it."
I quietly gave it a like.
That's right.
You really are born to be pampered.
I just wonder whether you'll be able to handle the good fortune that comes after this.
A few hours later, I was back home.
I took a nice hot shower, then slept, deep and heavy.
Early the next morning, I was jolted awake by my phone ringing, sharp and urgent.
I picked it up and looked. It was my daughter.
The moment I answered, I heard her crying, frantic and panicked.
"Dad, where did you go? Something terrible's happened at the restaurant!"
