Chapter 24 - THE NEXT PARTYTwo years after Onyx spoke, Everett held another party.
Smaller.
His seventy-fifth birthday.
He almost canceled when Preston suggested it.
Then reconsidered.
Why surrender celebrations to one bad memory?
The mansion living room looked similar.
Cake.
Flowers.
Glasses.
Grand staircase.
Onyx on the wooden perch.
But the people were different.
Preston came alone.
Celia attended briefly with the grandchildren.
Their divorce had settled into civility.
Lorraine was invited for one hour.
Everett surprised himself by making that decision.
Some relatives thought it inappropriate.
Everett did not care.
Forgiveness was not reinstatement.
He could share cake without restoring authority.
Lorraine arrived.
No dark-blue dress this time.
Simple cream suit.
She greeted Everett.
“Happy birthday.”
“Thank you.”
Onyx saw her.
Immediately:
“After the cake!”
Everyone froze.
Then Preston started laughing.
Celia covered her mouth.
Everett laughed too.
Lorraine closed her eyes.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Onyx repeated:
“Call the doctor!”
The entire room broke into relieved laughter.
The phrase had lost its weapon.
Context changed everything.
Lorraine looked at the parrot.
“I never liked you.”
Onyx replied:
“Good morning.”
More laughter.
Everett stood near the bottom of the staircase.
Cane in hand.
For a second he remembered the original party.
Suspicion.
Fear.
Rage.
Now he looked at the same room and saw something different.
People who knew more truth.
Not perfect people.
Preston still carried shame.
Celia still distrusted him.
Lorraine still struggled with control.
Everett still had a temper.
But secrets no longer organized the room.
Preston brought Everett a folder.
Blue.
Everett stared.
“You’re an idiot.”
Preston grinned.
“Open it.”
Inside was a donation agreement.
Preston had been saving a percentage of his salary.
Small compared with old Holloway money.
He donated it to Everett’s medical research foundation.
Everett looked up.
“Why?”
“No reason.”
“Liar.”
Preston smiled.
“Because I spent years thinking money was how I proved I belonged to you.”
He shrugged.
“Now I’d rather choose where mine goes.”
Everett felt tears.
“How much?”
“Not enough for you to pretend you’re impressed.”
Everett laughed.
“I’m impressed.”
That meant more than the number.
Celia watched from nearby.
Their children talked.
Lorraine stood near Onyx.
Nobody whispered.
Nobody checked who was listening.
The party ended at nine.
After everyone left, Everett sat alone.
Onyx ruffled his feathers.
Then said:
“Almost ready?”
Everett smiled.
May you like
“Yes.”
For once, he was.
