The woman gushed, “You must be Bailey. The daughter. We love the outside of the house.” She stepped in and looked toward the back, “Is that your husband?”

“Oh no. That is my brother Henry’s business partner, Griffin. We’re busy cleaning up. Why don’t you just take a look around and let me know if you have any questions?”

“He’s one of the famous Color-Wheel Boys,” she said to her husband, but her eyes were roaming appreciatively over Daddy’s house. Henry and Griffin had grown a little weary of the term but, thankfully, never of their restaurants.

After a while, the couple completed their tour. I could tell they were in love with Daddy’s house. I understood their feelings perfectly. “We would like to buy the house. We’ll even pay your asking price. But here’s the thing—” the man began, but his wife interrupted.

“What my husband is trying to say is, would it be possible to close a week from this Friday?” The woman explained, “We’re renting a house, but we must be out next week. I would just hate for the children to have to bounce around like that.”

It seemed like a reasonable request, and they were offering the full asking price. It just meant, for me, this could be the very last night I spent in this house. Ever.

I thought this family would love our house. They reminded me of another small family who had moved in so long ago. “Let me call my brother, and let’s see what we can do,” I said. I wasn’t a wheeler-dealer but simply someone selling something precious to her. I wanted it in the right hands.

Luckily, Henry was happy to accommodate the couple. The woman squealed with gratitude and hugged me hard. She did the same with Griffin. “We will take good care of her.” It was odd to me that she saw the house as a “her.” With Daddy, Henry, and Griffin, I had always seen it as masculine.

“If I may make one tiny suggestion, I think your daughter should have my room. It has the best view of the backyard, and it will allow her imagination to roam until she finds herself.” She hugged me again, and then we shook hands. After all, this was a deal. After they left, the realization hit me. This would, in fact, be the very last night I spent at home. Forever.

Around four-thirty, Griffin and I arrived at VERT. The place looked decidedly tired. It made me sad. Julian and I had agreed on so many things, but with this restaurant, my restaurant, we had a colossal conflict over competing visions. But he was established, and he won.

Griffin had disappeared to put on his work shirt, and I walked around viewing everything. I landed at the bar and sat down. I heard the familiar voice in my ear, “What will it be, ma’am, the usual?” I smiled at him as he placed a cocktail napkin before me.