“That’s not the kind of thing we’d serve here, but thank you. It was sweet of you to try.”
Valerie looked down at the board and Roger jumped in. “Do you remember when Dad taught us to canoe?”
“God, do you remember when he taught us to drive?” asked David. “He took me to a parking lot and lasted five minutes before he started pounding his feet into the floor as if he could brake on the passenger side. I’d barely touched the accelerator.”
“I don’t know why he bothered,” said Roger. “He hated not being in control and loved his precious Mercedes.”
“Yeah, when Pete got into that accident, Dad was more upset about the car at first,” said David.
“That’s unfair,” protested Penny. “Dad was worried.”
Roger and David shared a glance. “Are we talking about the same man? He showed up late and the first thing he asked about was the car. He was only Mr. Dad around Mark’s parents,” said Roger. “Mom was pissed, but she didn’t say anything as usual.”
Penny rolled the dice so hard they bounced off the board. “He felt helpless and was coping the best he could.”
Roger snorted. “Sure, believe that if you want.”
“I will, thank you, since it happens to be the truth.”
“You weren’t even there,” Roger said. “No one could find you for ages.”
“I wonder what happened to Mark,” said David. “He was cool.”
“He and Peter stayed friends,” said Alice, eyes on the board. “We saw him often. He and his wife divorced two years ago. He’s a teacher. High school math. He likes it.”
Nico hoped the conversation would keep going to give them some clues, but Fernie stuck her phone in the middle of the board, knocking over the Community Chest cards to get a shot as she gazed at the screen.
“Oh, Fernie,” said Jenn, casting an anxious look at Penny.
“Fernie, put the damn phone away,” said David. “Look at Brayden. He’s acting like a normal person.”
“My phone died,” said Brayden.
“Did I tell you? Brayden’s decided to be a chef,” said Penny brightly.
“That’s awonderfulidea,” said Jenn. “He’ll be a superb chef. Such a creative field.”
“I thought you were going to trade crypto,” said Valerie. “Or do crypto. Work crypto?”
“Digital is ancient. Real men work with their hands.”
“What are you going to specialize in?” she asked.
Brayden looked as if she’d spoken some Martian dialect. “Food?”
“Right, but pastry? French? A saucier? Fusion something?” Nico had to hand it to her for trying.
“Food,” he said, slower and with more emphasis. “To eat.”
“Excellent approach,” approved Penny. “No need to specialize yet. Learn your craft.”
Brayden snorted as he counted places with his race car. “I could teach them. I’m a natural.”
“You should be working at the Bread Company if you’re such a natural,” said David. “I had to work at your age.”
“Like Fernie does?” asked Penny sweetly. “Since Jenn doesn’t do anything. I don’t know how you manage, Jenn. I’d be so bored.”
“Jenn has plenty to keep her busy,” said David before his wife could answer. “With the house and her volunteer work.”
