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The man turned and waved, then headed over to their table. “Hello there, Mrs. Chen, nice to see you again. You must have come in earlier. I’m waiting for people to vacate a table.” He threw a pointed look at the two empty chairs where they’d placed their handbags.
Susan exchanged a glance with her mother and moved her handbag to the other chair. “Dr. Tristan, why don’t you join us?”
“You’re sure? Thank you.”
He transferred his plates from the tray to the table and returned the tray to the counter.
“Do you often come here, Dr. Tristan?” Mae politely started the conversation.
“Oh yeah, either here or to one of the other restaurants around the campus. I don’t cook. So it’s very convenient for me.”
“You like Asian food?” Mae asked, and Susan froze, fearing the worst from Mae’s generous hospitality.
“I love Asian food,” he said, without losing a bite. “Do you cook this type of food?”
“I cook all types of food, Chinese, Thai, Italian, Greek, you name it. I’ve raised five kids, so I know all there is to know about feeding hungry mouths.”
Mae laughed, more relaxed than Susan had seen her since landing in the States.
“Susan, you are lucky, having someone, especially a loving mother, cooking for you. I haven’t eaten a home-cooked meal in ages.”
Of course Mae would say…
“Oh no. Then you must come one day and taste my food, Dr. Tristan.”
“Seriously, Mrs. Chen?” His pale blue eyes shining behind his gold rimmed glasses, Dr. Tristan looked like a besotted puppy hoping for a treat. “Would you invite me to one of your delicious dinners?”
Good God, he wanted a specific invitation. Knowing Mae’s affability, her response came immediately. “Any time that’s convenient to you, Dr. Tristan.” She opened her palms. “I’m not particularly busy while Susan is at work. Maybe—”
“Maybe next week, on…on Wednesday.” Discretely, Susan knocked her mother’s knee.
“Yes, could you come next Wednesday?” Mae got the message.
“I’ll be delighted. Thank you. So what do you do all day?”
“Well I’ve been on my own only two days. I used my free time to discover the city. I walked around our neighborhood and drove around UC. It’s my first time in Cincinnati.”
“First time, hmm…” Dr. Tristan bobbed his head. “I would love to help you discover our city…”
Too busy with her own internal debate, Susan stopped listening. Her narrow-minded brothers would have a heart attack if they heard of their respectable widowed mother, meandering around town with a man. On the other hand, having Mae happily entertained would give Susan some badly needed freedom.
Dr. Tristan was a decent man with an impeccable reputation.
A moment later, she realized that her mother and the dean were standing. “Joe and I are going for dessert, Susan. Stay here and keep the table. What can I get you?”
“Huh… crème brulée, thank you.” Her head spun. When had the dean and her mother moved on to first names?
In the car, Mae informed her that poor Joe lived by himself.
“His wife left him some thirty years ago and took the two girls. He’s rarely seen them since his divorce. Now, they are both married. A sad story.”
At home, Susan couldn’t wait to talk to Royce. She changed into her nightgown and texted,Call me.
A few seconds later, her phone vibrated in her hand. Hearing Royce’s voice brought a huge smile to her face. She told him about her day and the evening’s new developments.
“I’m glad your mom found someone to talk to. It’s not fair for her to be on her own all the time.”
“My brothers—”
