GRUDGE - Part 2

Ted, wrapping his mouth to the side, became thoughtful of how important this job had possibly meant to her. Being her cousin, though not any related as grain was to peas, he had tried to be a listening buddy and a friend. Though he knew how badly she wanted to prove a point to his father, Howard, by clinching a spot in the Di Mauro's for a change, Ted felt she didn't have to be so dramatic about losing out on the interview. She was always going to get accepted elsewhere, she could go multinational in a snap of a finger, she was that smart, she could soar the skies and be anything she freaking wanted to be. She was Elma Grey.

"Just so you know," Ted began, sipping off her nearly liquified yoghurt broth, "I never thought you were pretty when you cried."

"But I'm not crying!" Elma yelled.

"You're not?"