Chapter 200
The Yearwood family hung out at the diner for almost another half hour.
They did ask me a bit about work during that time, and when they heard I was working on my own project, the old folks warmed up a bit.
When it seemed like we had chatted enough, Aaron indicated he had other things to do, so Darren and I walked the aunt and uncle to the parking lot.
I thought the show was finally over, but out of the blue, Nancy caught me off guard by saying, *The old man’s invited a troupe from Willowdale to perform at home. Ms. March, why don’t you join us?”
I was so thrown for a loop that I was at a loss for words.
Playing a part at the diner is one thing, but setting foot in the Yearwood family’s house? That’s way out of my league.
Darren picked up on my SOS signal and made an excuse, “Xaviera’s family is still in the hospital, so she’s got to take care of the patient first.”
“Which hospital?” Nancy asked with curiosity, looking at me. “I often take lunch with the wives of the bigwigs from the top–tler hospitals; maybe I could pull some strings for you.”
“Thanks, Mrs. Yearwood.” I declined promptly, “everything’s been taken care of.”
“Well, if it’s all sorted, then come over this weekend with Darren to listen to the performance,” Nancy insisted patiently, “Darren really stuck his neck out for you with the old man today.”
I looked at Darren, feeling confused, but then I heard him say, “Alright, Aaron, Nancy, the driver’s here. Take care on the road.”
Once the elders were off in their car, I finally breathed a sigh of relief.
“Didn’t expect our cutthroat CEO will get cold feet,” Darren teased.
I asked cautiously. “I didn’t give us away just now, did I?”
“Not at all, you nailed it,” Darren said with a gentle look, while giving me a thumbs–up, “Cool as
a cucumber in a tight spot, truly a living legend from the computer science department.”
Since I was used to Darren being serious and even a bit stiff, getting showered with his compliments out of the blue kind of caught me off guard and cracked me up.
While we were talking. I thought of Jason who was still in the hospital; just as I went to make a call, I realized that I had left my phone back at the diner.
I had to go back and fetch it.
Passing through the corridor, I spotted Cecilia standing not far off: she looked pale and seemingly down in the dumps.
Knowing we weren’t exacto chummy, I was about to walk away when Cecilla called out to me.
I glanced at her skeptically and heard her say cheerity, “Xaviera’s got some serious game, huh? With just a bit of TLC. Mr. Temple’s head over heels, and now even Professor Yearwood is under your spell”
She was smiling as she spoke; if you were to go by her expression alone, you would never guess that such snarky remarks were coming from a sweet–looking girl.
As I looked around, the penny dropped for me.
Cecilia’s spot gave her a clear view of Darren.
If I wasn’t mistaken, the girl must have caught the lively scene of me chatting with the Yearwoods.
As for her, judging by the look on her face, her afternoon tea today must have been anything but. pleasant.
Not wanting to get into it with her, I calmly said, “If there’s nothing else, I’ll be on my way.”
“I bet you’re feeling pretty smug right about now, huh?” Cecilia suddenly raised her voice, “The Yearwood family elders seem pretty pleased with you.”
As her sarcastic tone hit my ears. I turned around and replied calmly. “What’s there for you to envy? Aren’t you halfway into the Zade family yourself? If anyone should be envious, it should be me envying Director Irwin, right?”
