The restaurants reopened the following Tuesday.
I was terrified no one would come. That the attempted arson, the publicity, the danger it would all drive customers away.
Instead, we had our biggest night ever.
Every table full. Waiting lists hours long. People who wanted to support us, to show solidarity, to be part of the story.
"This is insane," our hostess said, looking at the reservation book. "We're booked solid for the next two months."
"Apparently surviving terrorism is good for business," Dante said dryly.
But it was more than that. People were coming because they believed in second chances. Because they saw themselves in our story people who'd made mistakes, who'd struggled, who were trying to be better.
A middle-aged man approached me during service.
"Mrs. Moretti? I just wanted to thank you."
"For what?"
