To Be a Virtuous Wife, According to the Manual novel · Chapter 13 of 24
Chapter 13: The Inspection Tea
Hal wanted to burn it.
He stood at the open nightstand drawer on Monday night, still in his trousers.
He held the little green book.
"Put it in the stove," he said. "She'll never know it existed."
"She'll know a drawer was emptied."
"Dolores, there's a note in there that says I intend to be extremely comfortable."
"I read it."
"The plant manager's wife is going to read it out loud."
"Then she'll be reading the Guide," I said. "Every note you wrote is a rule with an answer."
He stared at me.
"A woman who hides her book looks like a woman who's afraid of it," I said.
"I'm not afraid of it. Put it back under your handkerchiefs."
"You want her to find it."
"I want her to find exactly what's there."
He put it back, slowly, and shut the drawer.
I spent four evenings with the index cards.
On Saturday at two o'clock, Gertrude Strub came up our front walk.
Eight women followed her, all in hats and gloves.
My mother walked at Gertrude's right hand, in her navy dress and her cameo, with her pocketbook held in front of her.
The rest of this chapter is part of the paid portion of the series. Chapters 1–12 of To Be a Virtuous Wife, According to the Manual are free to read — start from the beginning, then unlock the rest with coins in the app.
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