“It wasn’t one mistake,” Nathan said.
“Laura, I told them what happened.”
Her jaw tightened. Then she looked toward Mom. “And it certainly doesn’t mean she knows more than I do.”
There it was again.
I thought of the envelope upstairs in our room.
Before I could move, Nathan looked at me. “Rose.”
I knew immediately what he meant.
I went upstairs and returned with the envelope.
I thought of the envelope upstairs in our room.
Laura watched me pull out the cards. “What is this?”
Nathan held out his hand, and I gave him the stack.
“My fiancée came prepared,” he said.
“For what?”
“For exactly this.” He passed the cards around. “A little general knowledge. Everyone can play.”
“What is this?”
Laura laughed once. “You’re serious?”
“You just said education makes you more knowledgeable than Rose’s mom. So let’s see what all of us actually know.”
Mom touched his arm. “Nathan, we don’t need to do this.”
“You’re right. We don’t.” He looked at Laura. “But she just insulted you because she thinks a diploma makes her smarter.”
“So let’s see what all of us actually know.”
Laura lifted her chin. “Fine.”
Nathan handed her a card. “Phones away, please.”
A few relatives laughed and began placing theirs on the counter.
Laura didn’t move.
“Mom?”
“My phone is in my bag.”
“Phones away, please.”
“Great. Then it can stay there.”
For a second, she looked at him without speaking.
Then she placed her handbag beside Ronald’s chair.
Nathan handed me the first question.
I understood.
Laura didn’t move.
“What was the Boston Tea Party?”
Everyone began writing.
Mom frowned at her card.
Laura wrote quickly.
When we compared answers, hers was correct.
She leaned back. “Was that supposed to be difficult?”
“What was the Boston Tea Party?”
“No,” Nathan said.
I looked at Mom’s card.
She had written only: Tea protest. Boston Harbor.
“Mom?”
“I don’t remember the details.”
Laura smiled. My stomach tightened.
Maybe bringing those cards had been a terrible idea.
I looked at Mom’s card.
“Next one,” Nathan said.
I read a question about a nineteenth-century novel.
Laura knew it. Mom didn’t.
Laura’s smile widened.
“Rose,” Mom murmured, “this really isn’t necessary.”
I almost stopped.
Maybe bringing those cards had been a terrible idea.
Nathan caught my eye.
Nobody was supposed to know everything.
I read the next card. “What does hardening off seedlings mean?”
