"Dad, you don't need to get involved. Weren't you about to have a match? Go play chess with Mr. Harper," Emily says, giving the caretaker a look. The caretaker understands and, ignoring Shawn's protests, wheels him out of the room. "Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Harper was just looking for you. Let's go play chess. I'll bring you back in a bit."
The door clicks shut, returning the room to silence. Emily sits on the couch and takes a sip of her juice.
As if parched, she downs half the glass in one go.
Bonnie quickly hands her a napkin. "Slow down. Is it that hot out there?"
"Let me get you some more!" Gina eagerly reaches for the glass.
The two of them hover around Emily, waiting on her hand and foot. Emily doesn't move, merely asking in a calm voice, "How has Elliott been lately?"
Bonnie sighs dramatically. "Same old, same old. Working overtime every day and still not making much. He's lightyears behind you!"
Gina chimes in, "That's exactly why I prioritized your education and sent you abroad. I knew you had the brains for it. A degree from a top university really does make all the difference!"
Bonnie jokes, "Mom always had great foresight. If my mom had sent me to study abroad, maybe I'd be marrying a billionaire right now too!"
Gina adds, "Rich families don't care as much about background anymore. It's all about looks and education."
Bonnie replies with a knowing smirk, "Thank goodness the Sullivan family gave Emily such great genes."
The two women chatter back and forth. Emily neither argues nor joins in.
Finally, Gina steers the conversation to the main point. "Emily, I hear you're getting engaged to Mr. James? Why didn't you tell your mother about such wonderful news? I always said he liked you. I knew you were destined for great things, and I was right."
Bonnie jumps in, "Emily was probably just planning to surprise us!"
VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABEL
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan)