I nodded, acknowledging her attempt at reconciliation. “Thank you,” I replied, my voice steady. “I hope we can all move forward from here.”

David stepped forward, and for the first time in years, there was genuineness in his eyes. He knelt to Alex’s level. “Hey, buddy,” he said softly. “I’m your dad.”

Alex nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips. “I know,” he replied, his voice clear and confident.

The evening had taken a turn no one expected, least of all Margaret. But as the initial shock gave way to the potential for healing, I knew that this night—the night meant to embarrass me—had instead become a moment of transformation.