“Yes,” Margaret said. “I thought you could afford it.”
That answer took the last certainty from Brooke’s face.
She turned toward Julian.
“Are you going to sit there and let them make me the villain?”
Julian gripped the edge of the table.
“No one made me lie to my mother.”
The room fell silent.
He looked at me then, properly, without glancing toward his wife for permission.
“I agreed to it. I asked you for the money. I watched you send it.”
His voice cracked, but he continued.
“And tonight I was hoping you wouldn’t say anything because I didn’t want to deal with what I’d done.”
Brooke stood so abruptly her napkin fell to the floor.
“You said she wouldn’t mind helping.”
“I said that because I wanted it to be true.”
I closed the notebook.
“Dinner is over.”
Julian began collecting plates, a reflexive, desperate gesture.
“Leave them.”
“Mom, at least let me—”
“You don’t get to make me feel better quickly so you can leave feeling better yourself.”
He set the plates down.
I had never seen my son look so helpless. Usually that expression would have brought me across the room before he had to ask.
This time, I stayed where I was.
Margaret picked up her coat.
“I’m taking the bag to the store tomorrow. Brooke, send me the receipt tonight.”
“It’s my gift.”
“And I’m returning it.”
Brooke looked around my dining room as though some final ally might be hiding among the place settings. There was nobody left willing to protect the version of the evening she preferred.
She left without touching her mother.
Julian paused in the doorway.
“I’ll call tomorrow.”
“Send me a repayment plan.”
He nodded and went after his wife.
Margaret waited until the front door closed.
Then she looked at the cooling food.
“May I help put this away?”
The question nearly undid me.
She had not picked up a plate or stepped into my kitchen. She was waiting for my answer.
“Yes,” I said.
We worked without talking for a while. She asked which containers I used. I showed her where the lids were. When she could not find a match, we both stared at the crowded drawer and laughed once, shakily.
