Dinner at Sophie's

Following that near-disaster, the drive over to Sophie’s was spent with Sophie coaching you about the backstory she’d constructed for Joanne, and various parts of Sophie’s patented crash-course in being a girl. How to sit, how to eat, how to walk, talk and behave, Sophie covered it all.

The hardest part was the walk up to the door, partly because you were still unsteady in your heels, but also because you were so nervous, your heart nearly pounding out of your chest. Walking into the dining room, you nervously smiled as Sophie’s parents looked up from setting the table.

“Joanne! It’s great to have you over again!” Theresa smiled. “Isn’t that right, Harold?”

“Yes, it is,” Harold said. “I’ve made my famous burgers tonight, so you’re in for a treat!”

“Thanks for having me,” you said, hoping the voice was as convincing as it was last time.

“It’s our pleasure,” Theresa said. “Now, Sophie, go help your father with the dishes, let’s eat!”

The food smelled delicious, although it’s really hard to screw up a burger and fries. In between bites of the food, Theresa and Harold, though mostly Theresa, quizzed you about your life, or rather about Joanne’s life. Most of the questions required only a slight change to actual reality. Joanne's major was the same as Joe’s, English, but when talking about how you and Sophie met, you had to leave out any mention of dates. Ultimately, you seemed to make it through the gamut successfully, but the mood suddenly shifted partway through and neither you nor Sophie could figure it out.

“So, Joanne…” Theresa started.

You and Sophie froze, worried about what the next sentence was going to be. Was this it?

“Harold still feels terrible about barging in on you while you were changing and we’d like to try and make it up to you.” Theresa finished.

“Oh, that’s not necessary.” you said. “It’s all water under the bridge now.”

“Nonsense! It was wrong and an apology isn’t enough.” Harold said. “We’ve got a cruise booked for the family, and we’d like to invite you along with us.”

Your jaw dropped as Harold finished his sentence, and when you turned to Sophie, her jaw was on the floor as well, as she was equally shocked.

“What?!” Sophie asked.

“Oh, I-I can’t accept, I mean, I barely know you, and it’s way too nice of a gesture.” you stammered. “Besides, I don’t want to intrude on your family vacation, Sophie has told me how close you are.”

“We insist.” Theresa said.

“And we’ve already booked four for the cruise.” Harold added.

“Dad!” Sophie admonished.

“I can’t, I mean, I'd feel like a third wheel." you said.

“Come on, it’ll be fun, and you won’t be a third wheel, Sophie probably won’t want to do any of the activities that we want to do, so it’ll be nice if she had someone to hang out with anyway.” Theresa said. “And I don’t know if Sophie’s told you how persistent we are, but we never take no for an answer.”

You carefully consider your options, but have a sneaking suspicion that the decision has already been made for you.