“Smells wonderful,” Sean said once she returned with the last of it. He forced a big smile. He had to win a few points back. “Mr. Sorenson is very lucky to have you.”
Carol placed the last dish and beamed. “It’s very sweet of you to say so.”
“It smells good,” Mr. Sorenson said quickly. He had his hands in his lap and avoided eye contact. His shoulders slumped. He seemed uncomfortable.
Sean pitied him. Did he live like this all the time?
He glanced briefly at Sang.
Sang had been looking at him out of the corner of her eye. She held his gaze for a single moment and then looked at her plate.
Her lips softened.
She looked tired, even with the makeup on. She sat up straight and seemed tense.
The brown dress didn’t really match well with her complexion. Why put her in such a plain dress?
Understated so her pretty face would stand out?
Carol had strange ideas.
Carol directed the dinner. “Could we serve the person on our left, please? This may help move things along.”
“Gratefully,” Sean said quickly, picking up the closest dish, the sliced apples.
It took several minutes, but Marie served Sean’s plate silently. Sang did the same for Jimmy.
Sean did his best for Sang, trying not to pile on too much, but hoping she’d eat a bit more. She’d need the strength right now. It had been a really hard week.
After everyone started to eat, Carol spoke. “Sean, perhaps you can tell me more about the private school. Do they offer any scholarships?”
Sean swallowed carefully and patted his lips with a folded napkin. “Yes, actually. They’ll provide full scholarships, depending on how well you do on testing and during an interview.”
Carol glanced over at Marie. “Doesn’t that sound interesting?”
Marie raised her head, having just taken a bite of food. She swallowed quickly and then nodded, but frowned.
Sang seemed tense. She kept her eyes on her plate again.
Something was going on, but he couldn’t quite figure it out.
Kota had said Sang sent him a text that Marie would join in on their plan if they could get her out as well. However, previously Carol had said it didn’t seem worth it for Marie in her last year of school.
Perhaps if it was all paid for, Carol wouldn’t care if Marie went.
No problem for them. The Academy would ensure they were happy and settled anywhere.
“Also,” Sean said, “if there’s, say, a family, a couple of siblings, they’ll give some extra considerations, despite current grades. It’s usually in the interview, where they just see if your aspirations fit their school culture.”
“That’s a little unusual for a private school, isn’t it?” Carol asked.
“It isn’t like most private schools,” Sean said. “Diploma mills with fancy names. This school has goals to get their students into college as quickly as possible and networks with some of the top-ranking schools in the States.”
Carol sat up a little more and perked up. “Sounds ideal. I’ll have to look into it.”
When Carol went back to eating, Sean shared another look with Sang.
Sang was looking at her plate, but she seemed to relax a little.
Was the plan working? Carol could call Monday, and she could schedule a test on Tuesday. Things could move fast then.
Dinner continued, but the conversation changed to Carol talking about how the neighborhood seemed nice, the weather, the weather in North Carolina, a little bit of gardening, and other stuff that Sean smiled through but mostly let go in one ear and out the other. He made comments, nodded his head, complimented her food again. He rattled off stories about his classes.
“Marie, don’t you agree?” she said often.
Marie would bob her head up and down mechanically, but quietly ate her food.
Odd. Jimmy offered his own comments now and again. Sang remained quiet. However, Carol put effort into getting Marie into the conversation.
After he had eaten as much as possible and the others were finishing up, he sat back and rubbed his stomach. “This is so good. I rarely have time for a proper dinner anymore.”
Sang’s eyes widened at him, but she masked it instantly.
“Why don’t you have time?” Carol asked.
He’d slipped a little. That’s okay. Wasn’t too bad. “Oh, I’m usually working on schoolwork so much...” Was that an excuse? Would it sound like his mother never made him dinner?
“That’s too bad,” Carol said. “I’m glad you were able to enjoy it tonight.” She put her napkin on the table. “Do we want dessert?”
Dessert was a chocolate cake with ice cream. Carol dished out each bowl and served.
She gave a dainty portion to Marie, and a normal-sized portion to everyone else.
How odd. He wouldn’t have noticed, but it was a little too obvious Marie’s was smaller. She wasn’t fat. What was the deal?
Marie didn’t seem to care. She picked up her spoon and continued to look down at her plate to eat.
Sang ate, although she only finished half. She hadn’t eaten much of her dinner, only picked at it.
Carol caught Sean checking out Sang’s dish. “We shouldn’t waste food,” she said quietly to her.
Whoops. He had gotten her into a little trouble. Although he almost wished he’d mentioned it at dinner instead of dessert. She’d probably get a stomachache if she ate mostly sugar.
Sang spooned another bite of cake.
“This is a wonderful cake,” Sean said, trying to redirect the attention from her. He turned to Jimmy. “Super Bowl should be coming up soon, yes?”
“I like basketball,” he said. “Does the private school have a team?”
“A private school will probably want you to focus on your studying,” Carol said. “That’s more important.”
Jimmy rolled his eyes.
Sean bit his tongue. He was getting everyone nagged at now.
After everyone was finished with dessert, Carol once again put her napkin on the table. “What a lovely evening. It was very nice for you to join us today, Sean.”
“This has been delightful,” he said with a big smile. He looked at Sang, Marie and Jimmy, trying to share equal pleasant looks with them. “I feel like part of the family. This is great.”
“I’d invite you to stay, but we’ve got an early day tomorrow,” she said. She motioned to Marie. “Will you join me in escorting Sean to the door?”
Marie cocked an eyebrow but stood. Sean reached over to help pull her chair away. She edged away from him and seemed confused for a moment. Sean waited for her and then awkwardly let her push out her own chair.
Was she miffed at him? What had he done?
Sean stood and smiled at everyone. He shared a quick look with Sang, who looked away quickly, frowning. She blinked rapidly, looking immensely tired.
Something was wrong here. Did she not like that he was getting ushered out so quickly?
Sean lost sight of her as he followed Carol to the front door. Marie walked behind them. Her head was down, shoulders drooped.
“I’m so glad you came,” Carol said. “You’re a very fine young man.”
“You flatter me,” Sean said. He stopped by the front door, standing in the too-bright foyer.