“I wasn’t going in until later,” Roger said, glancing at Valerie. Right, because he had to monitor them.
Penny shrugged. “Scared? David tried the other day. He failed.”
Valerie remained quiet, worried that further protest might risk Penny’s suspicions.
Alice spoke up. “I can be timekeeper.”
“All right.” Roger surrendered gracefully. “Give me a chance to warm up, at least.”
He dove in and began swimming to the raft. Penny waited until he was gone and turned back to Valerie. “How much do you know about Yvette?”
“Almost nothing.” She made a show of looking toward Roger’s retreating head and stayed cautious. At least Nico was there as backup if the conversation started to go south. “I don’t want to bring up difficult memories, but I’d love to learn more about her.”
“Of course, you poor thing.” Penny gave her a small nod. “Ask away.”
“Start the timer and count me down,” called Roger, returning to the dock.
Alice held up her phone. “Three, two, one, go!” Once he was gone in a splash, Alice turned to Penny. “What was Yvette like?” she asked curiously. “I never met her.”
“You have to understand I didn’t know her at all,” said Penny. “She wasn’t our kind of person, as Dad would say, although Tracey thought she was so exotic with that straight black hair and those narrow almond eyes. I didn’t know any Chinese girls at home, naturally. She was a bit of a mouse, scurrying around the Lakeview bussing tables and delivering plates.”
Valerie might only be a fake daughter, but she fumed at Penny’s description. “You never tried to talk to her?”
“Dad was strict about who we associated with. He was a product of his time, believed in a natural order of things.” She laughed lightly. “His words, of course, but you understand what he meant. He was too old to change his ways.”
Valerie did not think this was the excuse Penny did, and apparently neither did Alice. “I’m sure he could had he bothered to try,” she said.
“I don’t speak ill of the dead, Alice, and in his defense, he was unfailingly courteous to everyone he met, regardless of who they were.” Penny pursed her oiled lips. “I might not have agreed, but I was too much of a people pleaser to go against my father. That’s on me.”
People pleasing was a language Valerie had achieved fluency in, and Penny’s self-acknowledgment went far to mollify her. “He didn’t approve of Roger and Yvette?”
“He didn’t know,” corrected Penny. “I knew Roger had a girlfriend because he kept disappearing instead of spending time with us, but I was sure it was Tracey Jefferies. Dad wouldn’t have been pleased with Roger dating a Chinese girl from a nothing family.”
Nico was so still that if Valerie wasn’t hyperaware of where he was, she might have forgotten his presence. Alice made a disapproving noise from her chair.
“Oh, stop it, Alice. You know what I mean. That’s how Dad would have thought of it. Nobody talks like that anymore. Naturally, it’s terrible about Yvette, but Dad always put the family first, even if his methods were high-handed.”
“Time,” called Roger, panting from where he was holding on to the dock. “God, that was hard.”
“Two minutes twenty,” said Alice.
Roger looked expectantly at Penny. “Sorry,” she said with assumed nonchalance. “I was two seventeen and David was four ten.”
He whooped. “Good enough. Can’t wait to rub that in at dinner. Penny, looks like you’re the winner.”
They shared a round of applause and Penny glanced at her watch, a slim gold bracelet with diamonds around the face, as Roger swam back to the raft. “I should go inside. I’m glad we’re getting to know each other, Valerie. By the way, that blouse is so sweet with those unusual earrings. Are you interested in fashion?”
“I am. I love thrifting and going to consignment stores.”
“I thought so. I have some clothes in storage, if you’re interested? There’s a vintage Givenchy that would suit you.”
Valerie nearly jumped out of her chair at this unexpected offer. “I would love that.”
“Give me a day or two to pull them out.” She laughed. “At least they’ll get some use. Poor Sloane lives in riding breeches. She’s never been one for fashion, although everyone says she could have been a model.” She waited for a beat. “Right. Don’t stay out in the sun too long, remember.”
It was nice of Penny to worry about sun exposure, such a mom thing. And the offer of the clothes? She couldn’t wait. That wasgenerous. After all, the surprise appearance of a new niece might have simply put her off-balance, and this could be the real Penny showing through.
Alice executed a perfect dive into the lake to the shouts of Roger pretending he was scoring an Olympic event as Nico claimed Penny’s empty chair. “What do you think?”
