Chapter 4

When they saw Yannie walk in, everyone froze.

"Yannie happened to be nearby, so I brought her along for a casual bite."

There'd been an empty seat left between me and Mrs. Henson, saved for Vincent.

Instead, Vincent pulled that chair out and told Yannie, "Sit."

Yannie didn't stand on ceremony. She sat right down.

"Mom, shift over one seat."

Mrs. Henson looked mortified. She moved over two seats and waved me toward her.

"Come, Ramona, sit by me."

That way Vincent would be right between me and Yannie.

I didn't move.

My mother's face was cold. "Mrs. Henson, this is supposed to be our own family dinner. Why has Vince brought an outsider along? If we'd known she was coming, we wouldn't have bothered."

"Vince, maybe I shouldn't have come. I should go."

Yannie had barely lifted herself off the seat when Vincent pressed her back down.

"It's just a meal. No need to make such a fuss."

"Ramona, Yannie only came to eat. She's not getting in anyone's way. Surely you're not so small-minded you can't handle even that?"

My father was so angry he turned to leave, but I caught his arm.

"Dad, we're already here. We might as well eat."

He drew a deep breath and nodded.

My parents had meant to sit together, but seeing Yannie planted there, they moved to the other side.

I followed and took the seat beside my mother.

Across that huge table, we sat facing them.

Two clearly separate families.

Kevin prompted Vincent, "Hurry up and give your future in-laws the gift you prepared."

Vincent blinked. "I forgot all about it when I went to pick up Yannie."

"How can you be so scatterbrained!"

"Mr. Sanchez, I'm so sorry. We'll make it up double next time."

My parents' faces darkened even further.

I smiled. "Kevin, Mrs. Henson, since Vincent's brought someone along to crash the meal, you won't mind if I invite someone too, will you?"

Kevin said at once, "Not at all. Go ahead, call your friend over!"

He and Mrs. Henson both quietly relaxed, as if my inviting a friend put us back on even ground.

I called Dominic Gilbert.

"I'm having dinner at the Grand Regency. Can you come now?"

"Sure."

I hung up.

"My friend will be here soon."

The waiters had already started bringing out the food, and by the time Dominic arrived, the last dishes had just been set down.

The moment he walked in and saw the setup, he looked briefly thrown, and then the glance he gave me carried something deliberate.

I slipped my arm through Dominic's. "Everyone, let me introduce you. This is my good friend, Dominic."

Vincent shot to his feet. "Isn't he the one who used to be after you!"

"That's right."

"And you invited him to our family dinner!"

"You invited Yannie, didn't you?"

"That's completely different. Yannie and I grew up together!"

"So? Dominic and I were in the same class in preschool. Count it up and we've known each other longer than the two of you."

I pulled out the chair beside me. "Sit, Dominic."

Mrs. Henson tugged at Vincent.

"If he's Ramona's friend, then he's our friend too. The food's all out, so everyone, let's dig in."

Vincent kept his head down, busy piling food into Yannie's bowl. Her bowl was already heaped into a little mountain.

Mrs. Henson reminded him, "Serve some to Ramona too."

"No need, Mrs. Henson. She's sitting so far away, his arm won't reach that far."

"Besides, someone's already looking after me."

I glanced at Dominic beside me. He'd already peeled a shrimp and set it in my bowl.

Kevin stood and raised his glass. "Mr. Sanchez, a toast to you."

My father lifted a hand. "No rush."

"Beyond dinner, I came today hoping to settle an important agreement."

He took a document out of the briefcase he'd brought.

"This is the strategic partnership agreement I drew up between our two companies. I'd like to place it into my future son-in-law's hands myself."

At that, Vincent's eyes lit up in an instant.

He hurriedly wiped his hands clean of shrimp.

Then he stood with great ceremony, leaning forward and reaching out to take it.

My father rose too, holding the agreement in his hand.

And handed it to someone else.