「 The Professor & I 」VOLUME II

(179) Indemnity

Lynn's POV

It was undeniably refreshing, listening to Joy's fluent and seemingly endless speech about her life in Hollywood. It was not for certain I had completely taken interest in learning about the daily routines of an understudy in theatre, but concentrating on her lively recount proudly enunciated by that pleasing voice was surprisingly sufficient to distract me from the sorrows threatening to burst from deeply within.

Dinner easily cruised by as I consciously focused on her energetic articulation but unfortunately, like everything else today, nothing could go this smoothly for long.

"Lynn, do you not like my cooking? You've barely touched your soup," Melody commented in genuine concern, causing me to stare at the full bowl of truffle mushroom stew behind my emptied plate.

"No... Of course, not... It's just... I'm quite... Um... Full..." I stammered nervously, though thankful that I eventually made up something sound given that I had consumed the rest of the feast rather normally and Melody breathed in relief, as did I, as she readily accepted my defense.

"Are you alright?" James probed with a worried expression and I nodded, braving a smile to appease the anxious crowd who were probably imagining my unusual condition rendering me somehow unwell.

"Who's up for dessert?" I addressed, doing my best to conjure unprecedented enthusiasm in a while, and the kids literally jumped in delight upon hearing possibly their favorite word of the night.

"I want to help!" Amy eagerly volunteered and I gladly indicated for her to follow me into the kitchen while the others continued to engage in their conversations.

Professionally slicing up the perfectly circular strawberry cheesecake I had retrieved from the fridge, Amy meticulously distributed each individual triangular piece onto a saucer and separated them neatly onto two trays. Carrying one herself and with the other on my lap, we soon rejoined the group in the dining area and James conscientiously assisted to dish out the portions to everyone as I wheeled myself around the table.

As Amy politely offered to replace the large vacant coasters, I swiftly propelled myself back to my position next to James and picked up my fork when I was interrupted by a kiddy voice.

"Why are you always sitting down? Why don't you walk?" Casey prodded innocently, totally catching me off guard with her purely naive inquisitiveness but evidently, I was not the only one astonished.

Piercing metal clashing echoed almost deafeningly as Patricia mindlessly let slip her cutlery and it crashed loudly onto the porcelains in her frantic attempt to shut her daughter's lips.

"Casey! Be nice!" Dennis chastised sternly from two seats away and the Asian couple smiled at me sheepishly as their daughter struggled to pry away her mother's firm grasp.

"I'm so sorry, Lynn," Patricia mouthed and I subtly shook my head, inconspicuously sliding my hands from the table down to my unfeeling lap, fidgeting unnaturally as I aimlessly fiddled with my fingers.

"It's alright..." I reassured uncomfortably as the young girl unintentionally exposed my terribly sore wound.

"It's good... For children to be curious," I affirmed, strenuously maintaining a wide smile, counting on it to mollify them and perhaps myself, yet could not quite bring myself to say anything more.

"So, why?" Hedwig snooped ignorantly and became Amy's turn to surround her brother in the exact possessive gesture just as she returned to the table while her parents exchanged awkward smiles with me.