Lingering Presence

"Mrs. Sterling, Mr. Sterling mentioned he'll be tied up for a while and probably won't be home for dinner, so I shouldn't set a place for him. He left in a hurry and asked me to tell you—please make sure you eat properly and on time." Betty relayed the message, appearing completely unaware of any underlying tension.

Celine nodded. "Alright."

She was hungry herself, so she set her bag down and went