Chapter 6: Dinner Party

Nate was waiting in the drive when the car pulled in.

He opened the back door before the driver had the engine off.

Lulu was still asleep against me. He looked at her color, then at my hand on her back.

Then he lifted her out and held her for a long time.

"I just took Shelby off the gate code," he said into Lulu's hair. "And off the school pickup list."

"Does she know?"

"She will tonight. She's coming to dinner." His eyes came to mine over Lulu's curls. "I'd like you in the house when she does."

"I'm always in the house. I live off your kitchen."

"I mean I'd like a witness who isn't on my payroll for her sake."

"I'm on your payroll."

"Not for this," he said, and carried his daughter inside.

That night he had eight people coming for dinner.

By seven the house smelled of rosemary and lamb, and there were candles on a dining table that could seat twenty.

His board chair and her husband, two founders, a neighbor who owned a basketball team.

I put Lulu to bed at seven-thirty with a promise of pancakes.

At eight-fifteen she was sitting on the top stair in her nightgown, peering through the railings at the candles.

I sat down beside her.

"You're supposed to be asleep."

"I'm supervising."

"That's my job."

"You can supervise me supervising."

So we sat on the dark landing together and watched rich people eat lamb.

At eight-thirty the front door opened.

Shelby walked in wearing a long blue silk dress, her hair up, diamond drops in her ears.

She'd dressed for an engagement.

The dining room went quiet as she came in.

"Sorry I'm late, everyone," she said. "Traffic on the bridge."

Nate stood up at the head of the table.

He didn't come around to kiss her.

"I didn't think you'd come," he said.

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