Chapter 19 - The Dinner
David Channing was not what Clara expected.
He was not old or bitter or demanding.
He was kind.
He listened.
He asked thoughtful questions about her mother.
He asked thoughtful questions about her work.
"You're not just building an empire," he said.
"You're building a legacy."
"That's what I'm trying to do."
"David, I want to leave something better than what I found."
"Something my mother would have been proud of."
"Your mother would be proud of you."
He smiled.
"I lost my mother when I was young too."
"I know how hard it is to keep going without her."
"But Clara, you're carrying her with you."
"Every decision you make is influenced by her."
"Every kindness you show is because of her."
"That's not a burden."
"That's a gift."
Clara felt tears in her eyes.
"David, how do you know all this?"
May you like
"Because I know the cost of loss."
"And I know the value of love."
