A Different Dinner

Charles looked at the table set by the Chastain household's maid and realized that his parents would be joining him for tonight's dinner which was a rare occurrence, especially since the end of spring was a rather hectic period for their company.

He took his seat behind the neatly arranged dining table, fidgeting with the thick, white napkin, then looked at the grand antique clock on the opposite wall, and let out a long sigh - his parents were already thirty minutes late.

'What's the point of asking the maid to prepare dinner if they can't make it on time? Mother will just end up scolding the maid for the cold food and stall the dinner even longer.'