State of Catatonia

Their meal service continued without a glitch, the group sending jabs on Ollie's way each time they could. By the time dessert came, Ava had to be the knight in shining armor, shielding her husband from the bullies in the room, threatening them with her beady eyes and her fork.

It was enough to silence some, except Maxen who had more ammunition against the rest after spending more time with Oliver.

"I think Maxen forgot about that thing you shared with me, sweetie," Ava caressed Ollie's ears. She glanced at Oliver, enlarging her eyes as if telling him to narrate a random story just to get back at Maxen.

Across the table, Emily and Olivia snickered in their seats. They saw how Ava tried her best to coach her husband but Oliver was ignorant of her nuance, scratching the back of his head.

The two gal pals clank their glasses.

"Ava's learning," Olivia commented.

"Only from the best, of course."