said, smiling. ‘‘I’m not ready for duplicate yet.’’
‘‘You’ll be very good at it, Emma,’’ Marylou said, ‘‘when you’re ready to start. You’re a fine bridge player, and all you have to remember is that you don’t have to get as deeply involved in it as other people do. I never have, and I enjoy playing duplicate occasionally. ’’
Marylou had said as much to me before. She was probably right. I would enjoy it, and my bridge skills had improved enormously since I first started playing, not long after my husband died. More experience certainly wouldn’t hurt, however, and I was looking forward to the educational sessions Paula had mentioned.
Our server, Bree, reappeared at our table with our tea, and she set a tall, cold glass down in front of each of us. Marylou added several packets of artificial sweetener to hers, as did Paula. Sophie didn’t add anything to hers, but I did add one packet of sweetener.
Marylou lifted her glass in a toast, and the rest of us clinked our glasses against hers. ‘‘Here’s to a lovely week of playing bridge and having a good time.’’
‘‘Amen to that,’’ Sophie said. I echoed her, but Paula simply grimaced before gulping down some of her tea.
I glanced up, and over Paula’s shoulder I saw Veronica Hinkelmeier approaching our table with an odd look on her face. She came to a halt beside our table.
‘‘Mrs. Trowbridge, I hate to trouble you at a time like this,’’ she said, but the smirk on her face belied her words. ‘‘But there’s a problem with the credit card you gave us. Would you mind coming to the office with me for a minute? I’m sure we can straighten it out very quickly.’’
The woman made no attempt to lower her voice, and heads turned in our direction as diners at nearby tables heard what she had said. Poor Paula blushed deep red, and I felt very sorry for her. Ms. Hinkelmeier had humiliated her in public, and she made little effort to hide her enjoyment of the scene she had made. Paula seemed unable to respond for the moment, and I was so put out with the Hinkelmeier creature that I spoke before I thought much about it.
‘‘I’m sure that the mistake is on your end, Ms. Hinkelmeier, ’’ I said, letting my voice carry. ‘‘After she has finished her lunch, I’m sure Mrs. Trowbridge will be more than happy to discuss the problem with you. In the meantime you might want to go back to your duties.’’
I used the tone I had often employed with recalcitrant high school students, and Veronica Hinkelmeier was so taken aback by my speaking up that she stood there gaping at us.
‘‘Good day, Ms. Hinkelmeier,’’ I said in the same firm tone. Then I turned to Paula. ‘‘I know you told me what a wonderful place this is, Paula, but frankly, the behavior of some of the staff here leaves a lot to be desired.’’
Sophie and Marylou were hard-pressed not to burst out laughing by this point, and even Paula was trying not to grin. I very carefully did not look in Veronica Hinkelmeier’s direction again, but I could hear her breathing next to me.
Chuckles from some of the tables nearby were apparently more than Ms. Hinkelmeier could stand. From the corner of my eye, I saw her whirl around and stalk off.
‘‘Thank you, Emma,’’ Paula said. ‘‘I was so embarrassed I didn’t know what to say. That woman despises me, and it’s mutual, of course. She’s such a spiteful cow.’’
‘‘You’re more than welcome, Paula, but I have to apologize for butting in like that. I just found her behavior so distasteful I couldn’t stop myself.’’ I said.
By now Marylou and Sophie were openly laughing. Sophie was laughing so hard, in fact, that she had to wipe the tears from her eyes. ‘‘Oh, Emma,’’ she said, ‘‘if only you could have seen that woman’s face. I bet no one has spoken to her like that in years.’’
‘‘They sure haven’t.’’ Our server, Bree, had approached the table with a large tray and a tray stand. She opened the stand, set the tray on it, and began serving our food. I was very impressed with her dexterity and said so.
‘‘Thank you, ma’am,’’ she said, smiling shyly at me. ‘‘And whatever you want for dessert, it’s on the house.’’ Then she winked at me. ‘‘And thanks for telling off old Hinkelpuss. I wish I had the courage to do it.’’
‘‘Isn’t she your aunt?’’