“Just yesterday, for example,” she said. “I was driving in town, and I pulled out of the parking lot at the pharmacy, and the car that was approaching in the lane had to slow down. He honked at me, and I almost honked back. But then I thought, I’d better not. We can’t have word getting around that the Suttons are bullies.” She gave me a conspiratorial little smile.

“Well,” I said, “I can’t honk at people if I don’t have a car.”

I guess I was hoping for some acknowledgment that I might like to drive somewhere at some point. I loved driving. Dad had taken me for the driver’s test on my sixteenth birthday, and I passed on the first try.

“Yes, perfect! So that won’t be a problem.”

Well, that backfired.

“Does that sound reasonable to you?” she asked. “Do you think you can help carry on our position in the community?”

No, I’d prefer to bring shame and scorn to your family. I nodded. “Yes, I think so.”

“Of course we can count on you,” she said, relaxing a little. “I can tell that you’re a thoughtful, caring person. And look at how much Agatha likes you already!”

Uh-huh. I looked at Agatha, who raised her fingers and dropped them. Her eyes were locked on a spot somewhere out in the yard behind me.

“Funny, too,” Laura said. “Making jokes.”

I tried to smile.

Agatha sighed, which caused her mother to check her watch and rise from the table as if we’d been ordered to leave immediately.

“Agatha,” Laura said in a clear, firm voice, “let’s go upstairs and get ready for bed.”

Agatha pushed her chair back and stood up, without turning her gaze from the window. Then we headed back to the stairs in a line, Laura first, then Agatha, then me.

“Do you happen to know the Wi-Fi password?” I asked. I’d rehearsed the question in my head fifty times. I don’t know why it seemed like such an intrusive thing to ask.

“I’m afraid John handles all of the technology,” Laura said. “We’ll have to check with him tomorrow. I hope that’s all right.”

“Sure,” I said. I could fend for myself for one night. “I’d use my data, but there’s no signal.”

“Oh, no,” Laura said. “You won’t get cell service out here. It’s a nightmare. I don’t even carry my phone unless I’m going into town. We do have a landline if you need to make a call.”

Is that what she thought people used phones for? “Maybe tomorrow I can help you get your phone on Wi-Fi,” I said. “I set up all my family’s phones. I was like tech support.”

“Perhaps,” she said pleasantly. “Like I said, John makes all of those decisions.”