I feel Josh nudge him with his knee. Meanwhile, Dad pours plum wine for himself and Akiko.
Naturally, Lareina is merely poking at her sashimi and swirling it in the sauce.
“Don’t you like fish?” Akiko asks, as though the thought had never occurred to her.
“Oh no, I love fish.” Lareina smiles a social smile. “I just want it to absorb the sauce a bit.”
“You don’t have to. It’s already topped with a bit of fleur de sel for optimal flavoring.”
I have a bite of each—the ootoro is the best of the lot, the cold slice melting on my tongue—then swap plates with Lareinabefore Akiko grills her some more about her preferences. Every eye swings in our direction. Bryce and Josh silently communicate,Your wife is going to stab you dead for stealing her food.
Instead of making a fuss like everyone expects, Lareina relaxes as she pops the fish into her mouth. “I see what you mean,” she says to Akiko. “It’s delicious.”
Normally Akiko would beam with pride. But right now, she’s too busy being confused to react.
“Did you just take her food?” Grandmother says incredulously.
“You really want to eatallof your portion,” Bryce advises Lareina, sounding ultra-lawyer-like. “Every course is just as spare—carefully portioned to keep you from overeating to ensure nobody develops gout. Which, by the way, doesn’t run in the family.”
“Thank you, but it’s fine.”
“Does she still want you to eat more?” Aunt Jeremiah asks me drolly.
Akiko looks at her. “Has he stolen her food before?”
“At that time,shetookhisplate,” Aunt Jeremiah says.
“It was a mistake,” Lareina says with a shrug. “Happens.”
“And this time?”
“I just want my husband to have some more. I’m on a diet, too, Aunt Jeremiah.”
My aunt chokes on her saké.
“Besides, my husband loves food, so why not accommodate him? It’s what makes me a good partner and wife.”
Horror and disbelief cross Bryce and Josh’s faces. Josh surreptitiously pulls out his phone and starts typing.
My phone pings. I pull it out.
–Josh: What the hell has happened to you? You don’t like women this saccharine and accommodating.
–Me: Says who? Don’t be jealous. She’s wonderful.
–Josh: You like spine and balls.
–Me: Maybe YOU like balls on your bed partners. Not me.
Josh lifts his head, looks at the ceiling and, elaborately casual, scratches his chin with his middle finger.
The second course comes out. It isn’t any more bountiful than before. Exactly one broccolette—the size of Lareina’s pinky—two tiny sweet-potato medallions and one shot-glass-sized piece of Romanesco sit atop three thin, wel- marbled slices of beef, each one bite-sized. Akiko must’ve felt generous to give everyone three. Usually, it’s two. A dark demi-glace sauce is drizzled around the beef in a double circle, while the veggies get an ivory cream sauce that lies over them like snow. The plating is even more beautiful than before.
I quickly take a small bite out of each item, then swap plates with Lareina. Grandmother clears her throat with a small scowl. “Couldn’t you just let her eat first and take her leftovers, rather than giving her whatever’s left on your plate?”
“Oh, no. It’s fine,” Lareina says hurriedly. “It’s better this way.”
“But, my dear, it’s really…odd. And, more precisely, ill-mannered.”
