Chapter 6: Two Stars

The photographs arrived at Sunday lunch, in a cream leather folder, with Rosalind's hand resting on top.

She waited until the soup was gone.

"I didn't want to bring this up," she said.

"But the board has been calling. It's better said with family in the room."

Pearl set down her spoon.

Noelle looked at me across the table. I looked at the folder.

The comments scrolled in beside the bread basket.

"tea_and_spoilers: Here it comes. Chapter 6 in the book. (3,300 likes)"

"pagefive: She's going to say affair. (2,900 likes)"

Rosalind opened the folder and laid the prints out one by one.

Me and Dennis at the café, with our lattes.

Me and Dennis at mini-golf.

Me in the pond up to my knees, holding a golf ball over my head.

Me and Dennis at the rooftop bar, with candles.

"I'm so sorry, dear," Rosalind said.

"A married woman at a bar with a man who isn't her husband. These will be hard to explain."

"It was a rooftop," I said.

"It's the same thing in a photograph."

Pearl put on her glasses and picked up the print of the pond.

She studied it for a long time.

"Two stars," she said.

"Mother Pearl," Rosalind began.

"The composition is poor. The subject is in the middle."

Pearl turned it sideways.

"But the action is excellent. She's committed. Three stars for the commitment."

"These are not for rating."

"Everything is for rating," Pearl said.

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