At the dinner table, before anyone even started eating, the three Cooper kids kept glancing at their dad.
Obviously, Mary had already talked to all three of them earlier about George's situation.
After the pre-dinner prayer, George tapped the table to get everyone's attention and said, "I have something important to announce. I've received an offer from the University of Oklahoma's football program. They're offering a very high salary, and it would be a great opportunity for my career…"
George confidently went over all the advantages of teaching in Oklahoma, then looked at his three kids and asked, "Do you support your dad's decision?"
As a born-and-raised Texan, family meant everything to George. Right now, more than anything, he wanted his family's support and approval.
But the three kids all fell silent. Clearly, Mary's earlier conversation with them had already had an effect.
In the end, Sheldon was the first to speak. "If you go teach in Oklahoma, do we have to move?"
"Of course," George said with a smile, trying to reassure him. "But don't worry. With the salary they're offering, we'll be able to buy a house there pretty quickly."
Sheldon barely heard any of that. Like his mom, he was afraid of his familiar routine being disrupted.
Besides, over the past six months, he'd finally managed to make friends here—something that didn't come easily to him.
He knew his own personality well. If they moved, he might never meet people like Dan and Mike again, people who were actually willing to be friends with him.
So Sheldon said seriously, "I don't want to leave and go live somewhere new. That would be a lot of trouble."
That answer made the confident look on George's face stiffen.
Then his youngest daughter, Missy, spoke up as well. "I don't want to leave Defford Town either."
As she said it, Missy secretly glanced at the handsome Mike. Clearly, she didn't want to be separated from him.
The two younger kids were still too young to understand how important George's new job could be for the family.
"So, Georgie, what do you think?" George shifted his attention to his oldest son.
"I…" Georgie frowned, thinking it over. He vaguely understood that his choice could have a major impact on the whole family.
Seeing the hopeful looks from both his parents, Georgie hesitated for a long moment before shaking his head. "I don't know."
After giving a non-answer, he lowered his head and stayed quiet.
Hearing all three kids' responses, Mary felt a flicker of relief. Wanting to seal the deal, she pressed on. "Mom, Mike—why don't you share your thoughts too?"
In Mary's mind, Connie was getting older and probably wouldn't want to be separated from the family—especially since she adored her sweet grandson Sheldon.
As for Mike, given how close he was with Georgie, he likely wouldn't want their family to move away either.
But reality surprised her.
Grandma Connie took a sip of her beer and said slowly, "This is a rare opportunity for George. I think he should take it. Of course, the final decision is something your family needs to discuss together."
With her life experience, Connie could easily tell what was good and what wasn't. Still, this was the Coopers' family matter, and she didn't want to interfere too much.
That, in its own way, was wisdom.
"I agree—it's a really good opportunity for George," Mike said as well, making his position clear before falling silent again.
When it came to major family decisions like this, outsiders getting too involved often ended up doing more harm than good.
Hearing Connie and Mike's responses, Mary's expression froze. This was not the outcome she'd wanted.
But she quickly regained her composure and said, "Setting aside Georgie abstaining, that makes it a two-to-two tie…"
Looking at the conflicted look on her husband's face, Mary really wanted to say outright that she didn't want the family to move to Oklahoma.
But to spare his feelings, she said it more gently. "How about this—George, you go to Oklahoma to teach, and I'll stay here with the kids. That way, nothing gets delayed on either side."
On the surface, it sounded like a compromise. In reality, it forced George to choose between his career and his family.
It had to be said—Mary was being very clever.
And the outcome turned out exactly as she expected.
George, who valued his family above all else, looked back and forth at his three kids a few times before giving in. "Forget it. The job at Oklahoma isn't that great anyway. I can find something else. It's no big deal."
He gave up what might have been the best opportunity of his life, choosing instead to give his children a complete family.
"That's wonderful," Mary said, clearly moved. She stood up and gave him a hug.
Hearing that their dad was staying, all three kids smiled happily. The whole situation seemed to wrap up with a perfect ending.
But as an "outsider," Mike noticed the loneliness hidden beneath George's forced smile.
Grandma Connie also frowned slightly as she glanced at her daughter, then made a suggestion. "Since George doesn't have a job right now, why don't we let him handle the meals for me and Mike? What do you think?
"Of course, we'll pay him eight hundred dollars a month for food, until he finds another job."
It was easy to imagine that after spending half his life as a football coach, George didn't really have many other marketable skills.
Finding another suitable job wouldn't be easy.
Connie was clearly using the 'meal money' as an excuse to help ease the Coopers' financial pressure.
"Uh…" George, still processing everything, was about to refuse.
To him, Connie and Mike were family. Eight hundred dollars a month felt like way too much.
After all, Mary only made two hundred dollars a week at the church—about eight hundred a month.
But Mary, thinking more long-term, immediately saw Connie's intention. She shot George a look and accepted on his behalf. "Of course. If you ever want special barbecue, you can just have George make it for you."
In reality, George's only real specialty was his secret-recipe roast beef. On regular days, Mary could handle meals for Mike and Connie just fine.
Once the shared-meals arrangement was settled, the mood at the table lightened up.
At that moment, Georgie remembered that Mike had quit the football team.
"I have something I want to talk about too," Georgie said, imitating his dad's earlier tone. "What do you all think about Mike quitting the team?"
"Honestly? It's probably for the best," Connie said with a laugh. "That face is wasted on football."
"Yeah, yeah," Missy nodded enthusiastically.
"Football is a pretty violent sport…" Sheldon added.
George already knew about Mike's decision, so he didn't say anything.
And just like that, Georgie's hope of getting Mike back on the football team was officially dashed.