Dinner with Edward: A Story of an Unexpected Friendship by Isabel Vincent

It's interesting, the events in life that bring diverse people together. For Isabel Vincent and the man we know only as Edward, it was two tragic events that bloomed into an absolutely beautiful friendship. 

Isabel Vincent was trapped in an unhappy marriage that was nearing its end when she sat down one day with one of her friends, Valerie, who recounted the story of the final hours of her mother's life and the impact it was having on her elderly father. Valerie's father, Edward, was absolutely heartbroken to the point of near-suicide ever since his wife and the absolute love of his life passed away. Recognizing that both her friend and her father were both suffering terribly, Valerie suggested that Isabel have dinner with Edward, noting that he was an amazing cook. Intrigued, a couple of months later Isabel found herself sitting down to dinner with Edward for the first time.

It was an unlikely friendship: Edward was in his nineties with two adult daughters while Isabel was middle aged with a young daughter in school, but their age gap was irrelevant. Theirs was a friendship that blossomed from deep vulnerability and compassion. It wasn't just Edward's elaborate meals that nourished them; they nourished each others' broken souls through their deep heart-to-hearts. Gradually, they opened up to each other and soon came to rely on each other for comfort. In addition to their dinners, they left each other phone messages to let each other know they were thinking about them and they also exchanged heartfelt handwritten letters that further deepened their bond. 

They sometimes had to postpone their near-weekly dinners when life or health issues impeded their plans, but they got together as often as they could. When Isabel ultimately ended up divorcing her father and was ready to date again, she found herself looking for men like Edward. Edward found himself confiding things in Isabel that he couldn't with his own daughters.

All in all, they had all of the perfect ingredients for a meaningful, lasting friendship. We should all be so lucky to have an Isabel or an Edward in our lives.

Judge the cover: 2/5