Another nice little story, Mark!
I know there are plenty of folks around who think Ennis and Jack should have put themselves together before everything, but tell you what, I like your portrayal of Ennis here, alive to their responsibilities to their children, and willing to put their children's needs ahead of their own.
And I love the attention to detail that you pay to food! Not just "salad" but "leafy salad," "marinated steak," and fried potatoes with onion--just the way my mother made them!