Because of Yvonne''s seafood allergy, the only seafood on the table was a fish dish and some crab; the rest was an assortment of meats and vegetables.


    Though only six people were dining, seven ce settings wereid out. It was obvious who the empty seat was for.


    Before they ate, Bruce lit a memorial candle as was his custom. After he and his wife each paid their respects to theirte daughter, he habitually offered the remaining three candles to Bet.


    However, before Bruce could hand them over, Monica stopped him.


    "That''s enough. Let''s eat first," Monica said.


    For years, they had treated Bet like a son-inw, and he had always respected them in turn. But Yvonne and Bet had never married, and even if they had, so many years had passed since her death. Bet deserved to have a life of his own.


    Monica believed that her daughter''s spirit would want the man she loved to move on from the past and find happiness again.


    "What''s gotten into you today? Taking a moment to light a candle won''t make the food cold," Bruce, being a typical man, said,pletely oblivious to the shifting dynamic between Bet and Yvonne.


    Monica looked helplessly at her husband, unsure how to exin, but Bet had already taken the candles and walked over to Yvonne''s photograph.


    He ced the three lit candles in the holder, his calm gaze fixed on the young woman in the ck-and-white picture.


    The Yvonne in the photo lookedpletely different from the Yvonne of today; the only simrity was her pair of bright, clear eyes.


    But no matter what she looked like, to Bet, she was still her-the only moon in his sky.


    Bet reached out, his long fingers gently touching Yvonne''s face in the photograph, and whispered in his heart, "Vonnie, thank you foring back to me."


    After lighting the candles, they all took their seats.


    Bruce and Monica sat together, as did Mr. and Mrs. Moore, with Bet seated beside them.


    Yvonne instinctively moved to sit next to Monica, but Bet caught her wrist pulled her into the sear beside him and handed her set of cutlery.


    "Eat the ravioli while it''s hot, and no wine for you, understand?" Bet instructed softly.


    "Okay," Yvonne nodded obediently.


    "Good girl." Bet naturally reached out and ruffled her hair. The gesture wasn''t overtly romantic, but it was undeniably intimate.


    At this point, even someone as dense as Bruce could see that their rtionship was anything but ordinary.


    Mr. Moore''s gaze also shifted between Bet and Yvonne, a hint of inquiry in his eyes.


    Mrs. Moore, ever the straightforward one, decided to address the elephant in the


    room.


    "Seeing Bet and Yvonne sitting together, don''t they look perfect for each other? A match made in


    heaven. If Yvonne weren''t still s


    young I''d be pushing you two to get married and have kids right now. With his looks and her beauty, your children would be absolutely gorgeous."


    Yvonne shyly lowered her head. Talk of marriage and children always made a young woman blush.


    Bet smiled gently and replied, "We''ll be honored to have you at our wedding next year."


    "Wonderful! I''ll have to start thinking about a gift then," Mrs. Moore said with augh.


    Mr. Moore was quite surprised that


    Bet was dating a girl nearly ten years his junior. But with the


    vel?


    Joneses present at the table he didn''t press for details.


    Bruce''s reaction to hearing about Bet and Yvonne''s rtionship was simr to Monica''s. After a brief moment of shock, he quickly epted it.


    No wonder his wife had tried to stop him from handing the candles to Bet. She was probably worried the youngdy would mind.