The Lancaster Wife

Daphne

The invitation arrived on my phone while I was sitting across from my mother in her sunroom, the porcelain teacup balanced on its saucer the way she insisted it always be balanced, handle facing exactly the same direction as the spoon.

I read it twice before I said anything.

"Raina is inviting everyone to dinner," I said, setting my phone face down on the table beside my own untouched tea.