Chapter 6 - The First Family Dinner
Two weeks after the near-disaster of the U-Haul moving day, Claire decided to host a small dinner. Not for Robert—he was still sulking in his condo—but for Megan, Josh, Caleb, Sophie, and Alex.
The house was completely transformed. The living room boxes were gone, replaced by a cozy grey sectional rug, soft lighting, and framed prints of botanical sketches on the walls. The kitchen smelled of roasted garlic and rosemary chicken.
Five-year-old Sophie ran into the hallway the moment Alex opened the front door, holding a colorful drawing. "Aunt Claire! Look what I drew for Nora!"
"It's beautiful, Sophie. Come see, she's awake," Claire said, kneeling by the bassinet in the corner of the living room.
Nora blinked her dark, curious eyes at her older cousin, letting out a soft coo that made Sophie squeal with delight.
Josh walked into the kitchen, carrying a six-pack of craft beer, and set it on the island. "Hey, Claire. Just wanted to say thanks again for holding your ground. Megan and I... we needed a wake-up call about how much Dad meddles in our lives. We're looking at permanent rentals downtown now, independent of him."
"I'm glad, Josh," Claire said, handing him a cutting board with sliced bread. "Family is supposed to support each other, not swallow each other's independence."
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As they sat down around the large dining table—the very table Claire had spent three hours assembling with a screwdriver and a podcast—she looked around the room. Laughter echoed off the freshly painted walls. Megan was smiling, sharing a story about Caleb's soccer practice. Alex was helping Sophie pass out napkins. Nora was sleeping soundly in her carrier next to Claire's chair.
This wasn't just a house anymore. It was a home.
