Dinner went well last night. Better than I expected, actually.
Dad was beside himself. I haven’t seen him that happy in a long time. Akiko was a little reserved at first, but that didn’t last. By the end of the evening, everyone seemed perfectly comfortable.
The girls certainly helped.
I don’t think Dad put either of them down for very long. Akiko took to them quickly, too. It was strange watching everyone settle into something that should have been familiar to us years ago.
Meela was a wonderful host.
She’s an excellent cook, although Dad apparently decided that wasn’t enough. He brought corn with him. Actual corn straight from his garden. He was determined to teach her his cornbread recipe.
I thought she might find it a little presumptuous, but she was delighted. The two of them spent part of the evening in the kitchen together.
At one point, she mentioned that Drake makes cornbread for their family dinner every week.
I saw Dad’s expression change.
Only briefly, but I recognized it.
All those dinners. All those years. A tradition from our family carried into another home, while we knew nothing about the people sitting around that table.
Meela seemed to notice, too. She quickly assured him that Drake’s cornbread couldn’t compare to his, and said how happy she was to finally have the recipe in the family.
It was a small thing, but I appreciated it.
She was attentive to Dad throughout the evening. More than I expected, perhaps even more than the rest of us. She seemed particularly interested in making him feel welcome.
I wonder about that.
After everyone left, I stayed to help her tidy up. She insisted it wasn’t necessary. Apparently, she has a housekeeper, and she seemed perfectly content to handle whatever was left herself.
She told me she was used to big family dinners and had been looking forward to hosting this one.
She packed up some leftovers for me anyway.
We sat down for tea afterward. Dad, Drake and Akiko had already left. I don’t even think they realized I was still in the house. The house is ridiculous.
I’d been considering asking her about us. Whether she’d ever wondered why we weren’t at her wedding, or why the girls had never met their father’s family.
But sitting there with her, it didn’t seem like a question I needed to ask.
She welcomed us into her home without hesitation. She was thoughtful with Dad, patient with Akiko, and generous with everyone.
I suppose she trusted Drake to decide what place we had in their lives. It probably never occurred to her that he might have gotten that wrong.
Why would she?
He was her husband.
I’ve spent so much time wondering how Drake could build an entire life without us that I hadn’t given much thought to what that life must have looked like from her side.
She trusted him.
Enough, apparently, to accept that his family wasn’t part of their lives.
I can only imagine what it must be like to have that kind of trust broken.
I still don’t know what Drake told her about us. Perhaps one day I’ll ask.
For now, I’m glad Dad got to meet his granddaughters.
And I’m glad we went.
