Sixteen #2
“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 a wonderful idea,” 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.”
“Hello, I’m right here, Aunt Penny, and I work,” said Fernie. “I’m working right now. Influencers don’t get time off, you know.”
David threw a smug look at Penny. “Fernie’s at least making revenue off her platform.”
“I will soon, for sure,” said Fernie.
“That’s wonderful,” said Penny. “Did I tell you Sloane is training for her next dressage event? Princess Anne admired her seat. Dad would have been so proud.”
“Dad was proud of all his grandkids,” Roger said loudly.
Although his goal had probably been to prevent the bickering from moving into fight territory, Roger’s comment had the effect of causing everyone around the table to look away from Valerie.
“He was,” said Alice after an awkward couple of seconds. “Nico, are you going to buy that railroad?”
The game ended twenty minutes later, with Penny and Roger the winners.
David moped off, muttering about cheating as he followed his wife.
Nico and Valerie tidied up and brought the decimated charcuterie board down to the work kitchen.
Valerie, who was in the lead, paused and waved frantically for Nico to keep quiet.
“I can’t stand this anymore.” It was Jenn’s voice, and she sounded somewhere between angry and tearful.
“C’mon, Jenn, you’re making a big deal out of nothing.”
That was David. Nico listened closely and felt a little dirty for eavesdropping, and then dirtier for how invested he was in hearing every detail.
“Nothing? You heard her. I’m never good enough. Do you know how long I tried for her to like me? You know she still won’t ask me to her book club? It’s been years. The last time she said she didn’t think the book would appeal to someone like me. They weren’t reading Thomas Pynchon, for God’s sake.”
There was a pause. “What’s that look supposed to mean?” she demanded.
“What look?”
“God, don’t give me that. You don’t even stand up for me. I quit my job to take care of Fernie because you wanted me to. I volunteer. I keep the house and did it for years and look where that got me.” She paused. “I should try to get a job. We need the extra income.”
“I told you, I’m dealing with it.”
“And I told you, it’s not worth it. You’re risking your family, David. Is that what you want?”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“If you’re worried about them finding out about your pathetic mistake, you know what to do. I can’t be responsible for your lies anymore. David, where are you going? David? David!”
A door slammed and Nico caught Valerie’s hand when it looked like she was about to speak. Better to wait until the coast was entirely clear.
“Damn it,” Jenn said, talking to herself. “Pull it together, Jennifer. He made a bad choice but they can’t find out. Pull. It. Together. You can do it.”
“Mom?”
It was Fernie, luckily coming down the side passage away from them.
“What is it now?” Jenn sounded at the end of her rope.
“When can we go home?” demanded Fernie. “Aunt Penny won’t let me invite my friends up, like she’s queen of the cottage. I can only make content about a lake for so long.”
“You know why we can’t,” said Jenn, voice getting stronger. “Don’t call your aunt that either. You know how she gets.”
“I’m not going to kiss her ass like you do.”
“Fernie!”
“What? You do. It’s gross. You don’t like her. I don’t know why you’re so desperate for her approval. If Dad wants someone to be on boards and run galas so bad, he should do it himself and you could go back to work. You hate being at home and doing all that society stuff.”
Fernie’s voice came closer. Valerie retreated, her shoulder running into Nico’s arm, and he dropped his tray.
The two women immediately stopped talking. “Sorry,” said Valerie as Jenn appeared. “We were cleaning.”
“Right.” She gave the tray a suspicious look, then left, Fernie trailing behind her. Neither offered to help.
“Well, that was interesting,” said Valerie when they were alone.
“Now we know David needs the money from Malcolm’s inheritance, so he has reason to keep quiet if he knew about Rogette.”
Valerie shook her head. “What a bunch. What do you have to say about joining Team David?”
“This might be another point in your favor,” Nico allowed. It certainly looked like David had made a poor decision about something.
“I’m hearing I’m right.”
“Maybe a bit right.”
“Or completely right.” She laughed and nudged him out of the way to the sink when he raised his eyebrows. “Fine. I’m almost possibly right. Are you happy now?”
With Valerie’s touch still lingering, he could honestly say yes.