Signal Fires

On the night of the car accident, Ben can’t sleep. He thinks of his children and their criminal culpability. Still, he’s grateful that they didn’t die. Ben worries that his children won’t be able to handle the guilt of Misty’s death because they have not experienced many hardships due to his hard work. Though he doesn’t know it yet, in the future, he will make an anonymous donation to his children’s high school in honor of Misty. He will meet Waldo and explore the constellations with him.

Four years after his mother Mimi’s death, Theo is now the owner of two successful New York City restaurants. He’s become somewhat of a culinary celebrity, though he doesn’t want to brand his restaurants, one of which is named after Mimi. He calls his father Ben, who is with Sarah’s teenage daughters. Theo loves being an uncle, though he knows he’ll never have children of his own. He’s improved at dating, but still struggles to fully connect with others. The past still haunts him, with screeching city noises bringing him back to the night of the accident. Theo wants to be closer to his nieces, so he invites them to New York during school breaks to work in his restaurant and experience the city.