« I promised to leave some for you. »
She handed me two plates, then reached for another.
I found Mom at the counter washing everyone’s plates.
Laura sat on the sofa nearby with a book open on her lap.
She took a sip of coffee and grimaced. « I told you I wanted cream, not milk. »
Mom turned from the sink. « I’m sorry. I must’ve misunderstood. »
Laura held out the mug. « Then make another. »
Mom dried her hands and reached for it.
« I told you I wanted cream, not milk. »
Laura laughed. « It really is obvious you never had much education. You can’t even remember one simple thing. »
I set my plates down hard enough to make the silverware jump.
Mom’s face reddened. She lowered her eyes to the mug.
I started toward them.
Then Nathan walked past me. He had heard everything.
« Mom. »
« It really is obvious you never had much education. »
Laura looked up.
Nathan gently took the mug from my mother’s hands and set it in front of Laura. Then he closed her book.
« Nathan, what are you doing? »
He pulled out the chair opposite her and sat down. « You’ve spent this entire weekend reminding everyone how educated you are. »
Laura frowned. « So? »
Then he closed her book.
« So, let me ask just one question. »
She gave him a confident smile. « Of course. Ask me anything. »
Nathan leaned closer. « If you’re so smart, why did you cheat your way through college? »
The smile disappeared.
A fork clinked against a plate behind me.
« So, let me ask just one question. »
Laura stared at her son. « Excuse me? »
« Copying someone’s exam answers. Bringing notes into another exam. Having your father intervene when you were caught. »
Her face changed. « Those incidents were completely misrepresented. »
« Dad confirmed them. »
She turned toward Ronald. « Tell him. »
« Those incidents were completely misrepresented. »
Ronald set down his coffee. « Laura, I told them what happened. »
« You had no right. »
« And you had no right to speak to Rose’s mother like that, » Nathan said.
Laura glanced around the room. « Whatever happened decades ago, I’ve spent my life in education. One mistake when I was young doesn’t change what I know now. »
« It wasn’t one mistake, » Nathan said.
« Laura, I told them what happened. »
Her jaw tightened. Then she looked toward Mom. « And it certainly doesn’t mean she knows more than I do. »
There it was again.
I thought of the envelope upstairs in our room.
Before I could move, Nathan looked at me. « Rose. »
I knew immediately what he meant.
I went upstairs and returned with the envelope.
I thought of the envelope upstairs in our room.
Laura watched me pull out the cards. « What is this? »
Nathan held out his hand, and I gave him the stack.
« My fiancée came prepared, » he said.
« For what? »
« For exactly this. » He passed the cards around. « A little general knowledge. Everyone can play. »
« What is this? »
Laura laughed once. « You’re serious? »
« Je zei net dat je door je opleiding meer weet dan de moeder van Rose. Laten we eens kijken wat we eigenlijk allemaal weten. »
Moeder raakte zijn arm aan. « Nathan, dit hoeft niet. »
« Je hebt gelijk. Dat hebben we niet. » Hij keek naar Laura. « Maar ze heeft je net beledigd omdat ze denkt dat een diploma haar slimmer maakt. »
« Laten we eens kijken wat we eigenlijk allemaal weten. »
Laura hief haar kin op. « Prima. »
Nathan gaf haar een kaartje. « Telefoons weg, alstublieft. »
Enkele familieleden lachten en begonnen hun exemplaren op het aanrecht te zetten.
Laura bewoog zich niet.
« Mama? »
« Mijn telefoon zit in mijn tas. »
« Telefoons weg, alstublieft. »
« Prima. Dan kan het daar blijven. »
Even keek ze hem zwijgend aan.
Vervolgens zette ze haar handtas naast Ronalds stoel.
