"Why aren't you sitting down?"
April Thomason entered the restaurant a step behind, glanced at Nora Scott and Frank Ford, and casually asked.
"Well, it's like this."
Frank Ford scratched his chin, unsure how to explain it to April.
The atmosphere was suffocatingly awkward.
The people at both tables gradually quieted down, seemingly minding their own business, but all were unintentionally focused on this side. Yet no one spoke up to break the stalemate.
Initially, it was just a slight malicious intent, but once pointed out, the fractured relationship would be hard to mend.
It's difficult to pretend it never happened.
Although April wasn't always the sharpest tool in the shed, she was perceptive and cheerfully invited Nora Scott and Frank Ford, "Why don't you join us?"
As soon as she spoke, Jared Oliveira walked in.
He asked, "What's going on?"
"Oh, there's no space left, so they're joining us."
