“Never better.

I was just remembering the last time someone put an empty plate in front of me.

And realizing how far I’ve come from that table.” My father raised his glass.

“To my daughter,” he said.

“To her strength and her success.” And everyone raised their glasses.

“What exactly are we drinking to?” I asked, smiling.

And Paula grinned, and clinked her glass against mine.

“To learning,” she said, “that setting boundaries is the ultimate act of self-respect.”