Radiant - By Christina Daley Page 0,59

other relative. And Mary saw some kids from school.

"Mary!" Sienna greeted as she and David made their way over to her.

"Hey guys," Mary said. "I didn't know you were going to be here."

"We almost didn't come," David said. "But Sienna wanted to see the inside of Carter's house."

"Can you believe this place?" Sienna said. "There's a pool table upstairs and a game room with the biggest TV I've ever seen. And they have a pool and a half basketball court in the back!"

Mary introduced Sienna and David to Mom and Ba. They chatted for about a minute before she felt a warmer than warm hand grasp hers.

"Good evening," Phos said. "Enjoying yourselves?"

"Better now," Mary said with a smile.

He turned to Sienna and David. "My apologies, but may I steal Mary and her family away for a moment? I'd like them to meet my parents."

Phos took them into a sitting room that had brilliant pieces of abstract art hanging on the walls. Ben was there, talking to a tall gentleman with graying hair and a slender woman with broad shoulders.

"Dad? Eva? This is Mary and her mother and grandmother," Phos said.

Mr. Maxwell smiled. "A pleasure to finally meet you, Mary. I can see now why Carter enjoys your company so much."

Mary blushed as she shook his hand.

Ben turned to shake Mom's hand. "It's great to finally meet you, Ms. Phan. Your daughter and grandmother come to my shop a lot."

The smile on Mom's face faltered for a moment. "You're Ben? From the art store?"

Mary was glad that Mom was finally meeting Ben. Maybe now she wouldn't think he was crazy or anything.

"I absolutely love his work," Carter's stepmom said. "Carter told us about the art show and the phoenix sculpture, and I thought such a piece would be wonderful to have."

"But he said it wasn't for sale," Mr. Maxwell chuckled.

Ben smiled. "I'm afraid not. That one has some personal significance."

"But you could make more like it, can't you?" Carter's dad asked.

"Of course," Ben said.

"My company's opening offices in Dubai," Mr. Maxwell said. "What do you think about making a series of sculptures for them?"

Ben's eyes went as wide as saucers. "Seriously?"

Carter's dad laughed. "I'm always serious when it comes to money. But what am I doing? I'm sorry, Carter. I promised not to talk business tonight, didn't I?"

Phos laughed. "I think this is a good exception. Will you do it, Ben? I think it would be great for others to see your work."

Ben looked back and forth between Phos and Carter's dad. "Well, I…don't know."

"Why don't you think about it?" Mr. Maxwell reached into his suit jacket and took out a crisp white business card. "And let me know what you decide."

"I will," Ben said as he took the card. "Thank you."

"Hey everyone." Raj poked his head into the room, smiling his Hollywood smile. "Food's hot and ready, so come get it!"

They followed him out back with the other guests, where an elegant buffet table stood on the stone patio heaped with food from Spice. Everyone filled their plates and sat down at a beautifully dressed long table, with the adults gathering to one side and the kids gravitating to the other.

"I was a real troublemaker in Korea," George said. Since it was a nice occasion, he had his teeth in. They looked really odd on him.

Julia rolled her eyes. "Here we go."

He ignored her and continued, "Got nearly court marshaled once for damaging gov'ment property."

"What did you do?" Mrs. Maxwell asked.

"Din' ya hear, woman?" he snapped. "I said I damaged gov'ment property! And people say I'm losin' my hearin'."

George's granddaughter, who had brought him, took his hand. "It's all right, gramps. You don't have to yell."

"He was on leave," Emma chuckled. "And he got sunburned."

"Damaged gov'ment property!" George cried.

At the other end of the table, Sienna shoveled a spoonful of curry into her mouth. "This is so good!"

Gita, Raj's younger sister, beamed. "I'm glad. It's a family recipe."

Raj looked at David. "You okay, bro?"

David, red from ear to ear, gulped down a glassful of ice water. "It's a little hot for me," he wheezed.

"We brought milder stuff," Raj said.

"Yeah," Gita said. "Did you try the yellow curry? That's pretty mild."

"That was the yellow curry," Sienna explained as her boyfriend took her cup of water and ate the ice from it.

Mary looked over at Ba. She sat with her friends from Agape as they chatted. Normally, Ba interacted with them, but she just sat there looking off into the distance.

Mary went