Chapter 1214

• We enjoyed our first dinner as a family that night. Our first in many years anyhow. I gave her the envelope with money, and told her I knew she'd know what to do with it. She smiled, thanked me, hugged me and cried.
• The next day was graduation day and an open house.
• I recognized many of Gia's high school classmates and met new friends. I watched Ruth interact with everyone with what I thought was an underlying sadness. Gia hadn't yet found the job she wanted, but it was an eventuality, and she would be leaving Ruth to go out on her own.