Madison nodded.
“Madison,” Lacey began, “I know we don’t know each other, and if I’m offending you in any way I hope you’ll stop me. But I just wanted to let you know how much I’ve always liked your parents. My husband and I are, a little bit—”
She paused and fiddled with a few buttons on the dashboard, cursing softly under her breath when the windshield defogger didn’t at first turn on.
“Anyway, Chip’s dad and I are a little bit removed from a lot of the other families at your school, you know? We just have a little bit of a different life. And I don’t mind that; we moved here because I didn’t want to raise the boys in the city, not because I wanted to pretend my husband worked at a hedge fund. And we moved here a long time ago, Chip is our youngest. And it’s changed a lot. But my point is just that your mother has always been so sweet to me, and she has no real reason to be sweet. The only reason is that she’s just a classy person.”
“Oh,” Madison said, “I’ll tell her.”
They were stopped at a light, and Lacey reached over to touch Madison’s knee, just for a second.
“No,” she said, “you don’t have to. I’m just telling you, for you. I think it’s important to remember that who your mother is doesn’t change just because of what other people might say.”
“Thank you.”
“That said,” Lacey continued, “I don’t know if you and Chip spending time together is such a good idea right now.”
Madison wrapped her hand around her door handle, though they were still minutes away from her house, from the chance to launch herself from this car.
“Really,” she said.
“I’m sure you understand. This is an important year for him, and for you, too—in a different way! It’s just really best that you spend some time with your parents over this break. I’m sure they’d like to have you around. And of course if you need anything at all, you and Chip are friends. We’d be happy to help. I told you how much I’ve always liked your mom. But she must have her hands full, dealing with all these women. Such gossips. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you.”
“I can hop out here,” Madison said. They were at her gate; she didn’t want Lacey to notice the black sedan parked across the street. “Thanks for the ride.”
Lacey, perhaps seized by a spasm of compunction, reached out to clutch Madison’s arm. “Oh, honey, I hope I haven’t said too much. It just struck me that you could probably handle it, were I to be blunt. But I don’t mean any of this to seem like a judgment on you, Madison! Of course not, that would be absurd. But things must be quite—difficult, right now, waiting to see what’s going to happen. And I think it’s best if you don’t involve Chip.”
“Oh,” Madison said, “I always involve boys from school in my most intimate family problems. Why wouldn’t I?”
Lacey smiled, her face vacant, clearly not sure what to make of this, yet.
“Thanks so much for not being just another gossip,” Madison said, and she got out of the car. “Thank you so much, Mrs. Abbott,” and she slammed the door.
THIRTY-SEVEN
That Sunday the boys had a tee-ball game at the fields, their fourth game of the season. Lily had taken them to each game so far without any input from Isabel, who was usually still upstairs at that time of morning. Lily had never suggested to anyone that she found this odd.
This was only one part of her recent campaign—begun sometime after that night Jackson had been at the house—to try not to see things. Not to notice when and if Isabel neglected the kids or ignored their reasonable questions, whether spoken or implied. Not to think about how she herself would have done things differently, since Bob’s initial return but especially since Christmas, since the turning of the seasons. This meant she didn’t clock it when Madison lied about where she’d be, didn’t point anyone else toward these lies. On that day in December, it felt, Lily had made some calculation. She’d allowed herself to step outside the house, all the way out. To watch these people through different eyes, the eyes of someone else, not the grateful girl applying for her first job out of school. And she’d been surprised at herself, at the bitterness that rose up in her like mercury on a thermometer. She was afraid of what she’d do if she indulged it too often, if she lifted the foot she still had on their side of the line and brought it to rest elsewhere.
But this morning, by the time Lily herded the boys into the kitchen for breakfast, Isabel was already there.
“I thought I’d come see the game today! Morning, sluggers.”
She’d dressed carefully, Lily could see: dark jeans, a cashmere pullover that matched her eyes to an uncanny degree, a Barbour jacket. Her brown leather Ferragamo boots, with the thick heel. She’d dressed for the fields, for muddy grasses and climbing up to sit on chilled metal bleachers. She really was going to the game.
The boys stopped short just inside the kitchen door when they saw her. They wore their baseball uniforms, their jerseys thick and boxy on their wiry frames. Their backpacks hung from their hands, dragging on the floor.
“You’re wearing Gran’s jacket,” Matteo said, walking to his mother, fingering the large golden ring hanging from the tip of its zipper.
“That’s right,” Isabel said, carrying the fruit bowls over to the table and pointing the boys toward the banquette. “Gran always wore this jacket. She got a new one about once per decade, but this was her last one, and she gave it to me.”
“And you’ll give it to us,” Matteo intoned, tucking his feet up under him and digging into the food.
Lily remained in the doorway. Was she supposed to leave them here, alone with their mother?
“Well, this one’s too big for you, bub.” Isabel sat down with them.
“Why are you awake?” Matteo demanded, artless as ever. Lily felt some pride at this, the way these boys were so aware of everything going on, and showed such little inclination for concealing their confusion, even their distaste. She felt an ownership of their honesty.
“Do you still want me to drive them?” she said finally. Isabel didn’t respond.
“All right!” Luke cheered, suddenly, the events of the morning just now catching up to him. “Is Dad coming, too?”
“That’s a good question,” Isabel said, then turned to Lily. “I was thinking we could all drive in together. Madison, too.”
“I’m going to go ask him,” Luke said, officious and determined. He climbed down from the breakfast bench and disappeared.
“Is Madison awake?” Lily said after a silence, but then Luke was already back.
“Dad said he’ll meet us at the door,” he said. “When we leave.”
“Luke,” Lily said, “go ask him if he’ll drive you boys right now. Then I can wait, and help your mom get Madison ready.”