Harriet said, “But I thought lesbians go around in pairs?”

“Nuns go around in pairs,” said Miss Maddie, brightly. “And those polite young Mormon missionaries who dress so neatly.”

“To answer your question,” Rivera said to Harriet, “as far as I know there’s no rule in the lesbian handbook that says we have to go around in pairs. But I’ll check with the governing board, if you like.”

“Close your mouth, Harriet,” said Miss Zula. “You look simpleminded sitting there showing off your bridgework. Rivera is teasing you, and you’re embarrassing Caroline.”

“Well, there’s nothing new about that,” said Harriet, touching her napkin to her mouth. “I’ve made a career out of embarrassing my little sisters. All four of them overachievers, what’s left for me but bad behavior? I might not be sophisticated, but she loves me just the same, don’t you, baby?”

Caroline said, “If you try not to insult anybody else this morning, yes.”

Rivera said, “Tell us more about this nephew Patty-Cake has dug up for Angie. Maybe he’ll have more luck getting her out of the house than Tony and I have been having.”

“You don’t have a young man?” asked Miss Maddie, turning to Angie.

“There’s someone I date now and then, back home.”

“Five years of nothing serious,” added Rivera, and gave Angie a wide-eyed, not quite so innocent look.

“Five years!” Harriet said. “If you don’t want the man, honey, my advice is to throw him back in and get yourself some fresh bait.”

Miss Maddie held her napkin up to her face when she laughed. “You are terrible, Harriet.”

“Tell the truth and shame the devil,” said Harriet.

“I’m very busy with the film company,” said Angie. “I’ve got no complaints.”

“But you’re such a young woman,” said Miss Maddie. “It’s a shame if you don’t enjoy yourself a little while you’re here. Don’t you think, sister?”

Miss Zula produced one of her rare smiles. “Certainly. We’ll have to see what we can do.”

At that moment, struck by the strange turn in the conversation, by Caroline Rose’s expectant but sober look, and most of all by the expression on Miss Zula’s face, a flash of understanding struck Angie: They had come, finally, to the place Miss Zula had meant them to be. She was going to raise the subject of John Grant, and then there would be nothing to do but tell the story. Angie looked around the table at each woman in turn, and then caught Rivera’s eye.

To Harriet she said, “Tell Patty-Cake I’d be happy to make her nephew’s acquaintance. I’m looking forward to it.”

You’ve got to give the old woman credit,” Rivera said later. “She’s got style.”

“So did Machiavelli,” said Angie.