Chapter 6: Seating Chart

While Helen settled her husband in the sunroom, Bree redid the breakfast table.

She took the housekeeper's place cards, made new ones, and laid them out in her own curly handwriting.

"I hope you don't mind," she said brightly. "I used to do these for Tobin's birthdays. It's just a little habit."

"How kind," Helen said, and sat down wherever she liked.

I read the cards from the doorway.

The first said Tobin, at the long end, beside Bree.

The second said Leonie, at the far end, beside the cream jug and a potted fern.

The third said Anders, between their father's wheelchair and the wall.

It was a good chart. It put Tobin next to Bree, and it put me as far from Anders as the room allowed.

I gave it an A for strategy and an F for taste.

I did not touch the cards. I do not go first.

I sat in the chair where Bree had put me, beside the fern, and waited.

Tobin dropped into his seat beside Bree. Anders took his by the wall.

Then their father pointed with his good hand at the empty chair next to Anders and worked to push out a sound.

"Sit," he said, and he was looking at me.

"Leonie, dear," said Helen. "Your father-in-law would like you beside him."

"Of course," I said, and picked up my plate and the cream jug and walked the length of the table.

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