We stepped into the restaurant and told them we had made a reservation under Johnson.

A waiter led us to a table where a man in a collared shirt sat, talking into his phone.

When he saw us approaching, he waved and said a few words into the phone before hanging up and stashing the device away, smiling widely at my parents.

"I thought you stood me up!" He joked, standing from his seat to warmly greet my parents with hugs.

Dad slightly turned his body to let the man see ...