Chapter 7 - The Server at Table EighteenMeanwhile, Ethan Parker had problems nobody at the gala knew about.
He was twenty-one.
His father had served two tours in Afghanistan.
His mother worked nights at a nursing home.
Ethan attended community college during the day and served expensive dinners to wealthy people at night.
Three days after the gala, Margaret called him.
"How did you get my number?"
"You wrote it on my receipt."
"Oh."
"How much is your tuition?"
Silence.
"Mrs. Hayes—"
"Margaret."
"I don't want charity."
Margaret smiled.
She had heard those words before.
"Good. I'm not offering any."
She told him about the scholarship program.
Ethan applied.
Vanessa reviewed his application.
When she saw his name, she recognized him immediately.
The young man who had served Margaret coffee at Table 18.
For several minutes, Vanessa stared at the application.
Then she understood something uncomfortable.
May you like
A week earlier she would have walked past him without noticing.
Now she was holding his future in her hands.
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