“Everybody is working hard in the ER,” Mom said. “We’ve had staff cuts and more on the way. The workload is getting worse every day. ”

Aunt Charlotte changed the subject. “I cannot understand why you continue to live in that awful neighborhood, Mattie. I mean, it can’t be good for your daughters to live among all those lowclass people. ”

“Oh no,” Mom said, “the girls have nice friends. Brisana is one of Darcy’s friends, and she’s a lovely girl. And your friends are nice too, aren’t they, Jamee?”

“Yeah, right,” Jamee said, glaring at the eggplant dish on the table.

“You see?” Charlotte said sharply. “She dresses in a slovenly way, and she has no manners. She doesn’t even have the courtesy to look at me when she speaks to me. ”

“Jamee,” Mom scolded, “don’t mumble into your food when you’re talking to someone. ” Jamee looked up, her eyes narrow with resentment. “I don’t even want to be here, okay? You act like you’re better than we are. And every time we come here, you make the nastiest food!”

Aunt Charlotte recoiled in horror. “I will have you understand that I make gourmet meals which are raved over by all my friends. How dare you—”

“Jamee,” Mom warned, “you’d better watch your mouth!”

“I won’t!” Jamee yelled, glaring at Aunt Charlotte. “You never, ever come to visit Grandma. You never even visited when she was in her own little house. Sometimes Grandma would cry about it. Now Grandma is dying and Mom takes care of her, but you won’t even come over to help for one lousy day in a month! You’re selfish! You just sit in this ugly, stupid townhouse and spend all your money on ugly, stupid paintings that make me want to puke!”

“Jamee!” Mom wailed, but it was too late. Aunt Charlotte got up and wiped her lips with the corner of her fancy napkin.

“Mattie, please take your hateful, spoiled daughter and leave at once. And never bring her back until she learns to behave like a lady!”

Amid the clatter of Mom and Jamee getting up to leave, Aunt Charlotte came to Darcy’s side and said, “I wish you didn’t have to go. You have that certain something that your sister will never have: class. I’m afraid she takes after your good-for-nothing father!”

Darcy did not say anything. She hurried after her mother. Jamee was already racing down the stairs toward the car. When they all reached the car, Mom began bitterly scolding Jamee. “How could you embarrass me like that? It’s bad enough Charlotte has always looked down on me, with her perfect life—‘You need to get to the salon. ’ ‘You should never have married that man in the first place. ’ And now you’re giving her good cause to say that I’m a bad parent!”