« And she stayed enrolled? » I asked.
« Her father was the dean. Complaints went through him. Somehow, Laura always received another chance. »
« Did she know? »
« Of course she knew. »
« She was caught copying answers during one examination. »
I thought about Laura’s phone disappearing beneath the table and the certainty with which she delivered information she’d learned seconds earlier.
« Did she ever admit she’d done anything wrong? »
Ronald gave a tired smile. « Not to me. »
On the drive home, Nathan barely spoke.
« Not to me. »
Finally, he said, « Mom had someone clearing every obstacle out of her way. Your mother had nobody doing that, and she still looks down on her. »
At our next dinner, Ronald mentioned a proposal to turn an abandoned railway into a walking trail.
Laura reached for her phone.
« What do you think before you look it up? » Nathan asked.
« I’m checking a message. »
Laura reached for her phone.
« Then finish your thought. »
She placed the phone face down. « I’d need more information. »
« That’s fair, » he said. « So would I. »
***
Before our wedding, Nathan suggested both families spend a long weekend together at a rented house by the ocean. I hoped it would bring everyone closer.
« Then finish your thought. »
Mom immediately volunteered to make sandwiches for the drive and those lemon cookies Nathan liked.
« You’re supposed to enjoy yourself, » I told her.
« I enjoy feeding people. »
« You could try sitting beside them occasionally. »
« And do what with my hands? »
« Hold a glass. Accept a sandwich someone else made. »
She laughed. « You make that sound easy. »
« And do what with my hands? »
On Friday, before we left, I collected the printed place cards and other materials I’d ordered for the weekend.
At home, I spread everything across the dining table. Beside them was a smaller stack I’d made myself.
Nathan came in carrying groceries. « More wedding homework? »
« Weekend preparations. »
He picked up one of the cards.
I spread everything across the dining table.
« Don’t cheat. »
Nathan noticed the rest.
He looked at me. « Rose. »
« It’s insurance. »
« Against what? »
« Your mother is saying something to mine that I can’t ignore. »
« It’s insurance. »
« You’re expecting that? »
« I’m hoping I’m wrong. »
« And if you’re not? »
« Then maybe I’ll finally stop smiling through it. »
I slipped the cards into an envelope and packed them with the rest of our things.
Nathan didn’t say anything else about them.
« I’m hoping I’m wrong. »
***
By Sunday morning, the kitchen of the rented house was crowded with breakfast dishes, coffee cups, and relatives discussing wedding plans.
I found Mom at the counter washing everyone’s plates.
« You promised. »
