The following Wednesday, I drove Mother to the restaurant. Derek had prepared the window table with a tablecloth and three carnations. He had shaved, changed into a plain white shirt, and looked considerably less confident than before.

On the table sat an old photograph of Hal’s Diner from 1962. It showed six stools, a counter, and a young couple sitting close together.

Mother immediately recognized herself and Dad.

“That’s the third stool,” she whispered. “It was always loose. Your father kept leaning on it.”

Derek explained that he had discovered the photograph behind the old safe. He had also found the original stool in storage and kept it rather than throwing it away.

Then he told us about his struggling business. He had invested $120,000 of his savings and borrowed another $190,000 from Heartland Bank. The restaurant had been losing money, and he had introduced strict policies to discourage coupon users.

He admitted he had deliberately humiliated Mother to make an example of customers.

The plan had backfired spectacularly. Eleven one-star reviews appeared, Gloria’s recording spread online, and the bank was concerned about his financial position.