"Fletcher party, table for 7." The host called William et all followed the host to their table. Phineas looked to Ferb "Did dad put his name on the list?" Ferb only shrugged his shoulders. Everyone looked at their menus and decided what they'd like for dinner. "Something wrong?" Mark asked the boys. "I was just wondering who put the reservation down for tonight." Phineas responded. "Oh, that would be William, William Fletcher." Mark replied to the question. Ferb choked on his water. Isabella tried to help him by hitting him on the back. Without thinking, Sam, who's been sitting on Ferb's other side, reached over and applied pressure to the upper mid portion of his back. "Take another sip of water." She urges him. He took another sip of water and was doing better. Lawrence looked at her. "Muscle spasm" she responded matter of factly.
Over dinner everyone learned about everyone else. Sam is a physician and has been for many years. Although she's only 21 years old, she finished high school when she was 10 and became a practicing physician much earlier than expeceted at the age of 14. She was one of the best ER physicians in the Central City Hospital, but, most patients didn't take her seriously, she was 14! She decided to study engineering in her spare time. She got her PhD in that when she was just 18. "At least in a thesis, no one knows your age." She claimed. William and Mark grew up in the same neighbourhood as Sam and they've all been friends since they were 7, 10 and 13. Mark said he used to get teased by most of the other guys when they found out he was hanging around with a 7 year old girl. "So is that a babysitting job, or do you really like playing Barbies". Until Mark told them that she was able to give better explanations of math and science homework compared to any of the teachers. It got to the point where most of the high school would seek out William or Mark to make arrangements for Sam to tutor them, for a price of course.
It's also learned that Lawrence and Ferb are from London England and that they blended their family with another. Isabella observed that Ferb appeared rather uncomfortable. "What's wrong?" She asked him. He shook his head, what could he say? He'd only started to process some of what he learned last night and now by some ironic twist of fate, he'd come face to face with his sister. Though, his father seemmed somewhat uncomfortable as well, that was small comfort to him. He noticed that Sam's eyes are almost pleading with her husband, she's not very comfortable either, though she hides it better.
"Phineas, there's a dance tonight…" Isabella indicated, hoping against hope that, maybe, he might take the hint for once. "Oh, uh, yeah. Sure. I guess. If we can." He stammered. Mark nudged William with his elbow, "remember?" "Shh, that's the past." William nudged back. Sam picked at her dinner and drank her tea. She tried to stretch her neck and reached up to apply pressure to a spot. Sam asked the waiter if she could please get her dinner packed to go. "Of course, Madam." She excused herself from the table and left taking her take away with her. After a while longer, no one's really sure how much time has passed at this point. The waiter asked if everyone is finished. A couple of the party have infact finished their dinners and a couple of others asked for take away. William finally inquired "the cheque?" "Oh, that was taken care of, don't worry." The waiter told him. William noded, he knew Samantha would do this. She'd been trying to find out her birth family for years only to come up on roadblocks, usually due to age. This was her way of thanking them for giving her up for adoption. To give her to a family that could give her the opportunites she otherwise would not have.
As the remaining six people exited the restaurant they met up with Sam in the loby of the hotel. Lawrence insisted that he pay for at least half the bill. Sam shook her head, "pay it forward", is all she would say. 'She seems more relaxed now, I can see it in her eyes' Isabella thinks. She must have taken something for that headache. "I insist" Lawrence tried again. "Consider this a thank you for everything you've done for me." Is the reply. Lawrence thought to himself, 'I did nothing. I literally gave you away. I failed you.'