Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert)

Sylvia's eyes went wide as she glanced at the man beside her, blurting out, "He's my Uncle Rupert. Distant relative."

"Distant or not, family's family! Mr. Rupert, you're actually... Uncle Rupert?"

Ms. Ward nearly dropped the plate of pierogi in her hands.

Sylvia quickly reached out and took the plate. "Yeah, he was just passing by. He's leaving now."

As she spoke, she nudged Rupert with her elbow, hinting for him to get moving.

But Rupert stayed put, steady as a rock, his eyes dropping to the plate of pierogi.

Ms. Ward, ever sharp, asked carefully, "Would you like some, Mr. Rupert? I made plenty."

Sylvia jumped in before he could answer. "He's good! He already ate with someone else. I'll eat with you."

Rupert's eyes flicked over to Sylvia, voice calm. "You didn't eat with anyone else?"

The room fell silent, awkwardly so.

Ms. Ward glanced between them. Uncle and niece, right? Then why did this sound like a squabble between kids?

Ward clapped her hands. "Let's just eat

could protest, Ms. Ward had

a glare fit to

the door, hanging his coat on Sylvia's rack like he'd done it a

minutes later, Ms. Ward returned with two steaming plates of

and gestured for Ms. Ward

Ward sat next to Sylvia, sharing a

eaten dinner and wasn't hungry. She gnawed on her fork, watching Rupert dig in across

he still

she started chatting. "You know, the Garcia family really

anything, I'd have thought your big brother giving you a ride home was your boyfriend. He's

could she pick

pierogi into Ms. Ward's mouth. "Ms.

then, with the

veton

woman, said, "Sylvia, I mean well. That boyfriend of yours is unreliable. Dropped you off once, and now that you're working late, he's nowhere to be seen. Doesn't care at all. Ask your Uncle Rupert-can you really count on

the table, Rupert's expression grew

"Why

never shy,

vet