Fritz appeared pleased by the exchange. Was he thinking of me? Of our earlier conversation?

“The house is warm.” Amelia fanned herself. She made a show of going to the thermostat and turning it down. The house wasn’t actually warm at all. She returned to offer Lucia more fruit and vegetables, which Lucia declined. She offered her pumpkin bread, which Lucia also declined.

Natalie knelt on the floor next to the pumpkin bread and picked up the sharp knife. “My Aunt Marjorie made us the pumpkin bread,” Natalie said as she gestured with the knife in her hand. “Aunt Marjorie’s a stay-at-home mom, so she has time for stuff like that. Mom works really hard. She uses her brain in a lot of different ways. But not for pumpkin bread.” She put half a slice of bread in her mouth.

I could sense Amelia’s dismay, but I doubt that Lucia was able to.

“Lucia, do you like to cook?” Amelia asked.

“Mm-hmm.”

“I love to cook. It doesn’t come naturally, but I do try. What’s most important to me is the idea of a home. That’s why I wanted to study architecture, because I was drawn to the idea that the design of a home can bring together a family. Fritz and I work on residences.” She turned to Fritz and clasped his hand in hers. He allowed her to take his hand. “We work with families to help create a unifying space. I think that cooking is another way to bring together a family. It’s all part of the same thing, which is how do you use your home, how do you live in your home, how do you bring your family together in your home?”

It was a good save. I was impressed with Amelia’s dexterity.

Lucia uncrossed and crossed her legs again. Give it up, girlfriend, I wanted to tell her.

“Do you have a lot of family nearby?” Lucia addressed Amelia and Fritz.

“We see my sister, Marjorie, almost every weekend,” Amelia said. “My parents retired and they moved to Florida, but they visit several times a year. And same with Fritz’s parents; they’re regular visitors!”

I studied Fritz’s face, then Natalie’s, trying to judge how much of the statement was true, but neither betrayed anything. I had never heard Marjorie’s name mentioned or been aware of any family member visiting the Straubs so far. Amelia was a good liar.

“Who stays with Natalie when you’re both working?” Lucia asked.

“Delta is our wonderful family friend.” Amelia stood and held her hands out in my direction as if presenting me at court. “And she stays with Natalie a lot.”

“Oh, I didn’t realize you were their babysitter?” Lucia seemed to like me more once she had this piece of information.