Nathan didn’t say anything else about them.
“I’m hoping I’m wrong.”
***
By Sunday morning, the kitchen of the rented house was crowded with breakfast dishes, coffee cups, and relatives discussing wedding plans.
I found Mom at the counter washing everyone’s plates.
“You promised.”
“I promised to leave some for you.”
She handed me two plates, then reached for another.
I found Mom at the counter washing everyone’s plates.
Laura sat on the sofa nearby with a book open on her lap.
She took a sip of coffee and grimaced. “I told you I wanted cream, not milk.”
Mom turned from the sink. “I’m sorry. I must’ve misunderstood.”
Laura held out the mug. “Then make another.”
Mom dried her hands and reached for it.
“I told you I wanted cream, not milk.”
Laura laughed. “It really is obvious you never had much education. You can’t even remember one simple thing.”
I set my plates down hard enough to make the silverware jump.
Mom’s face reddened. She lowered her eyes to the mug.
I started toward them.
Then Nathan walked past me. He had heard everything.
“Mom.”
“It really is obvious you never had much education.”
Laura looked up.
Nathan gently took the mug from my mother’s hands and set it in front of Laura. Then he closed her book.
“Nathan, what are you doing?”
He pulled out the chair opposite her and sat down. “You’ve spent this entire weekend reminding everyone how educated you are.”
Laura frowned. “So?”
Then he closed her book.
“So, let me ask just one question.”
She gave him a confident smile. “Of course. Ask me anything.”
Nathan leaned closer. “If you’re so smart, why did you cheat your way through college?”
The smile disappeared.
A fork clinked against a plate behind me.
“So, let me ask just one question.”
Laura stared at her son. “Excuse me?”
“Copying someone’s exam answers. Bringing notes into another exam. Having your father intervene when you were caught.”
Her face changed. “Those incidents were completely misrepresented.”
“Dad confirmed them.”
She turned toward Ronald. “Tell him.”
“Those incidents were completely misrepresented.”
Ronald set down his coffee. “Laura, I told them what happened.”
“You had no right.”
“And you had no right to speak to Rose’s mother like that,” Nathan said.
Laura glanced around the room. “Whatever happened decades ago, I’ve spent my life in education. One mistake when I was young doesn’t change what I know now.”
