Chapter 6: Spaghetti for the Table

Zach had a standing lunch at the Portland Yacht Club every second Thursday, with whoever was about to sign something.

Eli knew this because he had been Zach's guest at it for ten years.

"Three clients from Boston today," he said in the car. "They're buying a block of the waterfront. Zach needs them."

"And he needs me not to be there," Matilda said.

"Yes."

Eli parked and came around to open her door.

He offered his arm, and she looked at it.

"For show," he said.

She took it, and they went up the white steps together.

At the top of the stairs he took something small from his coat pocket.

He held it out on his flat palm.

It was her wedding ring.

"You left it on the plate," Eli said. "I took it out before Cora threw the plate in the sink."

"You kept it for four days."

"I thought you might want it for something."

She closed her fingers around it.

It was cold, and it was lighter than she remembered.

The dining room was long and white and smelled of butter.

Zach sat at the round table by the window with three men in good suits.

He was laughing at something one of them had said.

He saw her in the doorway and stopped laughing.

Matilda walked straight to the table, with Eli half a step behind her.

"Gentlemen," she said. "Sorry to interrupt. I'm Zach's wife."

The oldest of the three men half rose and sat down again, unsure whether that was allowed.

"Mrs. Caldecott," he said. "Pleased to meet you."

"We've all met," said the youngest, and then wished he hadn't.

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