Michael leaned closer. “What does it say?”
I didn’t look away from Belinda. “It says, ‘Maybe if you weren’t making those noises, you’d be worth a tip.
You’re an eyesore.’”
Silence.
Belinda shifted. “I was frustrated —”
“No,” I cut in. “You’re just cruel.”
That landed.
“You keep talking about how I walk,” I said.
“So here it is.”
The room went still.
“I lost my leg saving a little girl from a fire. When she screamed for her mother, I went back in. The ceiling came down on me.”
Michael went completely still.
Belinda did, too.
“Her mother died that night. A year later, I adopted that little girl. Her name is Eden.”
I looked Belinda right in the eye.
“Every painful step I take is for my daughter. So keep your ring, your insults, and your zero tip. I don’t need anything from you.”
David didn’t speak.
He didn’t need to.
Michael exhaled slowly. “You called me here,” he said to Belinda, his voice cold now. “You said they were mistreating you.”
Belinda’s voice cracked.
“Michael, I didn’t —”
“You lied,” he said.
She stepped toward him. “I was upset —”
“You humiliated someone for something like that?” His jaw tightened. “For surviving?”
She reached for his arm.
He stepped back.
“I can’t marry a woman who is cruel on purpose,” he said.
That was worse than shouting.
“Michael, please…”
He glanced at me. “I’m sorry for her. You’re a remarkable person.”
Then he turned and walked out.
Belinda stood there, ring in her hand, but somehow smaller.
No one spoke.
Not a single person.
After a long second, she turned and left.
The restaurant slowly found its voice again. Jenna slipped me a glass of water.
“Go home, Alex,” she said softly. “Tomorrow, you get my tips.
No arguing.”
I laughed once through the lump in my throat. “You’re bossy.”
“And right,” she said.
Later, when I walked in, Eden was waiting at the kitchen table.
“Busy night, kiddo.” I hugged her, letting the day go.
She handed me a drawing of us, both smiling. “You look happy.”
I kissed her forehead.
“That’s my favorite version.”
She touched my leg. “Did it hurt?”
“A little. But I’m okay.”
