Chapter 10 - The Harvest Table
By late autumn, Arthur and his apprentices completed their first major collaborative commission: a twelve-foot communal dining table built entirely from reclaimed local oak, gifted to the town’s community kitchen.
The unveiling drew hundreds. The surface of the wood was smooth as glass, with natural knots filled with dark epoxy to highlight the tree’s historical scars rather than conceal them.
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"A table isn't just wood and glue," Arthur said to the gathering, his voice steady through the microphone Eleanor held for him. "It is a promise. It’s where families gather to forgive one another, where bread is shared, where children learn how to speak with their elders. My granddaughter brought me to a counter because she thought I was hungry for cake. What I was really starving for was connection."
Applause rippled through the hall, but Arthur’s eyes remained locked on Clara, who was busily arranging paper napkins on the bench, completely unaware that she had single-handedly anchored an entire neighborhood.
