Chapter 6: Sunday Lunch

Adele's house on Power Street had a front hall with a black-and-white floor and a portrait of Warren Ames over the stairs.

I had walked through that hall nearly every Sunday for five years.

Today I rang the bell.

The housekeeper let me in without meeting my eyes.

Lunch was laid for six in the dining room.

Adele sat at the head of the table in a pale blue cardigan, looking rested and ten years younger than she had in the emergency room.

Two ladies from her foundation board sat at her right, in pearls of their own.

Merritt was there, and Teddy, who looked as if he hadn't slept.

Gavin stood up the second I came in.

"You came."

"I came to be asked," I said.

"In front of your mother."

The ladies glanced at one another over their soup spoons.

Adele smiled at me.

"Sit, Rhea."

"We'd love to have you."

"I'd rather stand."

Gavin crossed the room and stopped in front of me.

His hands were shaking.

"Rhea Dunning," he said.

"I've been a coward."

"I want to marry you."

"Will you marry me?"

One of the ladies put down her spoon with a tiny click.

Teddy was staring at his plate.

I waited.

I think I wanted Adele to say something.

I wanted her to have to.

Adele folded her napkin.

"Of course he does, dear."

"We all know that."

"Mother," Gavin said.

"A wedding is a public thing," she said gently.

"It must be done properly."

"The Caregiver Dinner is in two weeks, and the board will be watching us."

"We'll settle things after that, when everyone's calm."

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