On Thursday, Aria drives to San Francisco to meet her mom for lunch. The last time Aria saw Alexis was several months ago, when Alexis told Aria that her new European schedule would prevent her from attending Aria’s high school graduation. Despite being disappointed, Aria shrugged it off. Revisiting this memory, Aria feels heightened anxiety while waiting for her mom to meet her.

Alexis suggests dim sum for lunch because of their proximity to Chinatown. During the Uber ride, she mentions her distant cousin Eddie, and Aria reflects on the distance she feels from the Chinese side of her family. At the restaurant, Aria notices the diamond ring on her mother’s finger, and Alexis explains that her most recent boyfriend, Andrew, proposed. She’s visibly worried about Aria’s reaction and assures Aria, “I haven’t been with a man who understands me so well since I was married to your father. I never thought I’d find that again” (182). Alexis asks Aria to be in the wedding, and Aria feels obligated to say yes, even though she considers this a “betrayal” to her father.

Alexis adds that with a joint income, she’ll be able to better support Aria through MIT. Not wanting “to owe her anything” (184), Aria doesn’t immediately accept the gesture.