My mother-in-law brought thirty-eight friends into my restaurant, ordered the most expensive menu on it, and told them she was paying. Then she started boasting about my husband’s new girlfriend — and I looked across the room at the young woman refilling their water.

Constance opened it and read the top sheet and stopped smiling.

She turned to the second page and went a colour I have never seen on a person.

And then she looked up, because she had finally heard the silence behind her, and turned round, and saw the hostess.

Aurelie had put the water jug down. She was taking her apron off.
PART 5 — ALL STAYS IN THE FAMILY

Constance did not pay the twenty-three thousand. I did not expect her to and I did not chase it, and I have been told by three people that I am a fool about that.

What I wanted was for thirty-eight women to watch her not pay it.

They did. Most of them had left by five. Two came to the pass on the way out and put their cards down for their own share and did not look at me while they did it.