A Place at the Table

He knows how to make himself useful. Believing he is welcome is harder.

After twenty-three years at the same manufacturing plant, Nathan Cole turns in his keys and returns to a quiet house. At fifty-eight, he has practical skills, an aging travel trailer, and a daughter who has learned to make plans without depending on his attendance.

Six weeks of maintenance work at an East Texas campground offers a welcome opportunity to begin again. The owner appreciates his experience. Residents seek him out. There is always something to repair—and every grateful response helps Nathan feel he has found his place.

But his eagerness to help leads him beyond what he can responsibly promise. When a costly mistake threatens the campground's reopening, Nathan faces consequences he cannot resolve by working longer hours. He must also confront the disappointment of a granddaughter whose important evening he has missed.

Preparing to leave, he receives an invitation he does not know how to accept: supper is still at six.

A Place at the Table is a contemporary Christian novella about perceived self-worth, family relationships, accountability, and grace. Through ordinary conversations and difficult choices, Bill Riggs explores how our surroundings shape what we believe about ourselves—and what it takes to receive love when we have nothing left to prove.

For readers who appreciate thoughtful Christian fiction, imperfect characters, and hope expressed through everyday acts of care.

Join the conversation about faith, life, and the human experience on the Sacred Territory Publications Facebook page.