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Charles shakes his head with a wry smile. “I grabbed the towel off the stove and swung it around in the air, which only made it worse. Arthur extinguished it in the end, and he was so upset with us because all we could do was roll around laughing. The whole situation was so comical.”
They walk past me, and I hear Charles launching into another story. I realize I probably won’t learn any more today about the things in Frida’s past that really interest me. But maybe some other time.
Toward the evening, Charles finally announces it’s time to go.
“Thanks so much for the invitation. It was a really enjoyable, refreshing afternoon.”
“I thought so too,” says Mom, shaking his hand. “I hope we can stay in touch. I’d love to hear some more of your entertaining stories about Frida.”
“Absolutely,” he says, looking her in the eye. They both smile, and then Charles says goodbye and leaves. I hope we’ll see him again too.
Chapter 6
Check this out,” says Kate, holding up a long red evening dress with subtle cap sleeves and a slit down one side. It looks beautiful, and I’m sure it wasn’t cheap.
“Mom just left this draped across my bed,” she continues, casting her eye over the little black bolero and the pumps on the floor. “I told her I’m not going to any more of those events.”
She sighs, lays the dress to one side and flops down on her bed.
“They’re so tedious. Mom spends the whole time walking around and greeting people, Dad always retreats into a corner with a couple of friends to talk politics, and I’m left sitting at our table staring at the clock.”
It’s afternoon, and we’re at Kate’s parents’ house. She wanted to visit Mona, who’s still employed there as a cook but doesn’t have much to do since Kate moved out.
The aroma of fresh baking wafts through the house, and minutes later, Mona appears with a tray of muffins. She’s so happy to have someone to spoil with her treats, and we enthusiastically help ourselves. First, there was lasagna and a delicious rocket salad. And now the pecan muffins. The smell alone is enough to make my mouth water.
“It’s wonderful to be able to cook for someone again. Your mother eats like a little bird, and your father’s hardly ever home.” She smooths Kate’s hair. “I miss you, sweetheart. But I know it was the right decision. I’m sure you’ll really come into your own in that school.”
At that moment, we hear the front door slam, and Kate jumps to her feet. I follow her out to the landing to see her mother putting her handbag down on a sideboard.
“Kate,” she says, surprised. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to see Mona,” she admits, to which her mother responds by rolling her eyes.
“Your father and I need to have a talk about her. Now that you’re gone, she has nothing to do.” She dismisses the subject with a wave of her hand before Kate has a chance to say anything. “But I’m glad you’re here. Did you see the dress I picked out for the charity dinner?”
Kate nods. “It’s nice, but I already told you I don’t want to go. I need to study.”
“If you have time to meet with friends, then you can spare a few hours to show your face at this event. It’s important. There’ll be a number of high-profile personalities there. That reminds me, I need to change the menu. I just learned that Mr. Cunningham prefers scallops.” She runs a hand through her hair, looking stressed, and mutters, “There’s still so much to do, and now on top of all that, I have to deal with a fractious daughter.”
Kate and I exchange a glance at the mention of the name.
“Cunningham?” Kate inquires. “You don’t mean Albert Cunningham?”
She nods. “That’s right. His family sponsors a number of charity projects, and it’s an honor to have him as a guest.”
Mr. Cunningham will be there? One of the most important members of the Tempes Council? I guess it makes sense because, as I’ve discovered, the Council members are highlyregarded even by ordinary people.
“Can we put an end to this tiresome debate?” Kate’s mom asks.
Kate hesitates for a moment and then seems to have an idea. She looks at me and says, “I’ll come, and I promise to be on my best behavior. I’ll talk to the guests and praise your work and the food. But only if I can bring a friend. That way, at least I’ll have a little fun and won’t die of boredom.”
I shoot Kate a horrified look. She can’t be serious!
Her mother appears to wrestle with this. She glances irritably at her watch and then seems to arrive at a decision. “Fine, if you must,” she says. “But your friend needs to keep a low profile and only speak to guests if they ask her a question.”
Kate’s face breaks into a beaming smile. She knows I have no interest in chatting with those people. But I’m not sure what to think of this turn of events.
“I hope you at least have a dress,” her mother snaps at me, looking me up and down with a critical eye. She checks the time again. “I have to go. I think that covers everything.”
