“What harm can come from it?” I said. “Mrs. Carter invited me. Her husband is on the board of directors of the paper. Maybe I need to say yes or you’ll be fired.”
My father pointed at me, his slate-gray eyes flashing. “Don’t you dare say yes, Rose. No matter what any Carter says to you, don’t you ever say yes.”
“Even to tea?”
He studied his fingernails, his black shoe polish, the Victrola near the window, the newspapers on the coffee table. “Will Montgomery be there?”
“Mrs. Carter didn’t say,” I said.
My father nodded distractedly as he stared out the window at a couple walking arm-in-arm across the quiet street.
I kissed his cheek. “Don’t worry,” I said. “I’m going to drink tea from some fine china with hand-painted periwinkles that cost more than either of us make in a year. I’ll h
