Chapter 17
Episode 17
How it all began: It was a typical Friday family meal out at a favourite restaurant when all of a sudden a waiter comes up to Your Father and whispers in His ear that a very important man has asked permission to speak to His daughter
The clatter of cutlery and the low hum of conversation filled the air at ‘The Golden Spoon’, their usual Friday night haunt. Emily’s dad was mid-story about a particularly stubborn squirrel that had invaded their attic, his face animated, while her mom chuckled, shaking her head. Emily, caught between a plate of spaghetti and the sheer absurdity of the squirrel tale, felt a familiar warmth settle over her. This was her world – comfortable, predictable, and blessedly ordinary.
Suddenly, a shadow fell over their table. A waiter, his usual cheerful demeanor replaced by a hushed solemnity, leaned towards Emily’s father. He murmured something in his ear, his voice barely audible above the restaurant’s din. Emily’s dad’s eyes widened, his squirrel anecdote abruptly forgotten. He glanced at Emily, a flicker of surprise and something else, something unreadable, crossing his face. Then, he turned back to the waiter and nodded, a slow, deliberate movement. The waiter bowed his head and retreated, leaving a ripple of quiet curiosity in his wake. Emily’s dad cleared his throat, a little too loudly. “Emily,” he began, his voice a touch strained, “there’s… someone who’d like to speak with you. A gentleman. He’s asked if he might have a moment of your time.” He gestured vaguely towards the restaurant’s entrance, where a tall, imposing figure stood framed against the bright lights, a figure that seemed to radiate an aura of quiet authority. Emily’s heart gave a strange, unexpected lurch.