Kevin nodded, "I've been hitting the gym for years, so I get it... but Director Bishop isn't overweight. A bit of exercise is fine, no need to diet."
Marilyn blushed, "I'm not on a diet..."
"Right, you're not."
Pfft.
Stephanie nearly burst into laughter.
Kevin sure had a bit of a dark horse vibe about him.
Marilyn was also looking a bit embarrassed.
Before the food arrived, Kevin, aiming to cut through the awkwardness, started talking shop.
That got Marilyn chatting more too.
The two of them bantered back and forth, creating a pretty good vibe.
Stephanie sat politely, sipping her juice.
Every so often, she'd text updates to her mom's Silver Fox...
Sebastian was having lunch himself, a small smile curling his lips with each text from the little rascal.
The lunch hour flew by in this way.
At the restaurant, Marilyn and Kevin were deep in conversation.
Stephanie, on the other hand, was quietly enjoying her delicious meal and the scene unfolding before her.
She thought to herself, with Kevin's gift of the gab, he'd be perfect at her mom's side – just someone to talk to, and that's enough to make daily life pretty good.
Their kids were grown, no more worries there.
Kevin, shocked, asked, "Is what she's saying true?"
Stephanie rushed to explain, "Kevin... don't listen to her nonsense..."
Mrs. Klein sneered, "Do you really not know the truth in your hearts?"
Stephanie was fuming...
Just as her mother and Kevin were hitting it off, perhaps finding companions for the long haul, this meddler had to show up and cause a scene.
Her voice grew icy, "Has Mrs. Klein not learned her lesson? Forgotten how Katherine Klein knelt and apologized at my mother's bedside?"
Mrs. Klein's face turned pale, "Stephanie... I was just stating the facts... stating the facts isn't wrong... even if Sebastian himself were here, he couldn't argue with that."
Mrs. Klein hadn't wanted to provoke this mother and daughter duo.
But watching from a nearby table, seeing Marilyn glowing and rejuvenated, she felt a sudden envy. Marilyn seemed to have turned back the clock, looking younger and more radiant than ever.

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