Page 104 of The Housekeeper

Elyse looked from her hands to the floor. “I didn’t want your father wasting money on new rings when these are so beautiful.”

“We’re going to have them reset,” my father added. “Make them more to Elyse’s taste.”

“She must be dynamite in bed,” Tracy whispered.

“What’s that?” our father asked. “You have something you’d like to say, Tracy? Unlike your sister, you’ve been very quiet up till now.”

Tracy took a deep breath, then rose to her feet. “Just that an announcement like this calls for a toast. Where’s the champagne?”

“What a wonderful idea,” Elyse said, clapping her hands.

“I’ll go get a bottle,” my father said, quickly exiting the room.

“I’ll get the glasses,” Elyse added, following after him, “and some cheese and crackers.”

“Are you kidding me?” I said, spinning toward Tracy as soon as they were gone. “What was that all about?”

“What was what about?”

“ ‘An announcement like this calls for a toast’?”

“What was I supposed to say?”

“How about what you really think?”

“What good would that do? As Dad so eloquently pointed out, what’s done is done. And what’s that expression? You catch more flies with honey than with…whatever.”

“Vinegar.”

“What?”

“You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar,” I told her.

“My point exactly.”

“You threw me under the bus.”

“I did no such thing.”

“You made it seem as if I’m the only one who has a problem with this marriage.”

“I just didn’t see the point in antagonizing Dad any more than you already had.”

“Thank you. That’s just lovely.”

“What’s lovely?” Elyse said, reentering the room, carrying a tray containing four delicate glass flutes and a plate of cheese and crackers.

“You are,” Tracy said. “That’s a beautiful suit.”

“Isn’t it? Your father bought it for me. He has such exquisite taste.”

“Who has exquisite taste?” our father asked, striding purposefully into the room with a large bottle of Dom Pérignon.

“You do, of course,” Elyse said with a laugh. “Tracy was just admiring the suit you bought me.”

“Of course Tracy would notice,” our father said. “Where do you think she got her sense of style?”

“Don’t forget about Jodi,” Elyse said, offering me her most pitiful smile. “That’s a very attractive pantsuit you’re wearing, dear.”