Chapter 63
Everyone was already seated around the round dining table positioned at the center of the room. Drinks had been poured. Plates were filled and arranged evenly before each guest.
Franz sat to Arianne’s right. He kept his silence but listened attentively.
“Where’s Sam?” Arianne asked Gilbert, noticing she hadn’t seen Samantha since they arrived.
“She said she has a workshop this afternoon,” Gilbert replied as he cut the steak on his plate. “She should arrive soon. Sam sent a message earlier saying she’s on her way p>
“It’s the first time in years we would be complete,” Nate commented.
No one addressed the absence directly.
“I’m surprised I’m only seeing the two of you now,” Arianne said.
Nate snorted softly.
“I saw you at Alex and Layla’s funeral, Aria. You left before we could talk,” he said. “I assumed that was intentional p>
Julian nodded once, glancing at Arianne.
“You were difficult to reach that day,” he agreed. There was no accusation in his tone.
“Nate and I decided to leave you alone. We thought you’d call when you were ready. Instead, we asked Gil to arrange this dinner p>
Nate leaned back in his chair, one arm settling over the backrest. He didn’t press the issue further p>
Arianne inclined her head once. She didn’t add anything.
“That’s fair p>
No one followed it up.
Gilbert reached for the glass beside his plate and took a sip. He set it back down slightly off from where it had been. His gaze flicked toward Franz, then returned to the center of the table.
“Well,” he said, clearing his throat, “now that everyone’s almost accounted for, let’s eat before this gets cold p>
No one objected.
Cutlery resumed moving. The sound of metal against porcelain filled the space. Conversation returned gradually.
Franz listened more than he spoke. The rhythm of the conversation carried on without anyone stopping to fill in gaps. References passed between them and were left where they landed.
Nate lifted his fork once, then set it back down.
“The board reshuffle was a mess,” he said. “No one wanted to say it outright. But it wasn’t going to hold p>
Gilbert nodded. “It wasn’t meant to. Temporary measures rarely are p>
Julian spoke next. “Most of them were waiting to see who would move first p>
Nate gave a short breath. “No one did. And then everything stalled p>
Arianne stayed quiet. She didn’t interrupt.
Franz watched her listen. She didn’t respond right away. Her attention stayed on the table, then shifted back to the speaker.
“Montclair didn’t change much,” Nate went on. “Not really. Different faces. Same habits p>
“That’s generous,” Gilbert said dryly p>
Nate shrugged. “I’m in a forgiving mood p>
Julian smiled faintly.
“Some people left,” he said. “Others stayed because it was easier. The rest adapted to the change p>
“And a few pretended nothing happened,” Nate added.
Franz glanced at Arianne. She continued eating at an even pace.
The doorbell rang.
The sound carried clearly from the entryway.
Gilbert straightened. “That’ll be Sam p>
He pushed back his chair and stood, smoothing the front of his shirt as he moved toward the entryway. The sound of footsteps followed, then the muted exchange of voices just out of earshot.
Samantha appeared in the doorway moments later.
She looked tired, her hair loosely tied back. She paused just inside the entrance, scanning the table before stepping forward.
“Well,” she said, “this feels familiar p>
She crossed the room and pressed a brief kiss to Arianne’s cheek as a greeting before taking the empty chair beside Julian. She placed her jacket over the backrest before sitting.
“You made it,” Samantha said.
“So did you,” Arianne replied.
That, too, was enough.
Introductions were unnecessary, but Samantha still acknowledged Franz with a nod and an easy smile. “You must be starving. Gil never waits p>
“That’s slander,” Gilbert said mildly. “I waited ten minutes p>
“An eternity, by your standards p>
As she reached for a glass, her eyes flicked to Nate.
“You look pleased,” she commented with a grin.
“I am,” Nate said. “Everyone’s here p>
No one corrected him.
Conversation continued to include her. Nate recalled their previous discussion. Samantha added details where needed.
“There was talk about restructuring the outreach programs,” she added. “Nothing concrete. Mostly posturing p>
“Of course it was,” Nate said. “Alex hated posturing p>
The name landed softly. No one paused. No one reacted.
Franz felt it nonetheless as a point of reference.
Arianne didn’t look away. She didn’t need to.
As the meal continued, Franz’s earlier caution lessened. No one evaluated him against Alex. No one was scrutinizing his place at the table.
If anything, he sensed a quiet acceptance, already decided.
At one point, Nate leaned a little closer.
“You’ve been quiet,” he said.
“I’m listening,” Franz replied.
Nate paused, then nodded. “Good p>
The conversation moved on. Julian picked it up when it drifted, asking Samantha about her acting workshops and auditions she wanted to do. The table adjusted around him.
Plates were cleared as people finished. Dessert stayed where it was.
Talk shifted to travel plans that had been put off and small complaints about people who hadn’t adapted well.
Later, they stood one at a time. Samantha excused herself to go upstairs. Gilbert followed after his phone rang again.
Nate remained near the table, glancing at his phone before sliding it into his pocket.
“I should leave. Early morning,” he said.
Julian stood as well, adjusting his cuffs.
Franz thanked them. Nate responded with a brief nod and a single clap on his shoulder before heading toward the door.
Julian paused.
As Arianne reached for her coat from the stand near the entryway, Julian stepped closer—within conversational distance but not enough to draw attention.
“The Conways have been asking about you,” he said quietly. “I told them nothing p>
He did not wait for a response.
Julian turned, following Nate out into the night as if the words hadn’t altered anything at all.
Arianne remained where she was for a moment longer, her expression unchanged. Then she reached for her coat, slid it on, and joined Franz without comment.
The front door closed behind them.
The house settled back into silence behind them.
Nothing had shifted.
Not yet.