Page 59 of Ricardo

“Useful habit for a judge.”

His smile deepens. “Essential.”

The conversation settles into ordinary territory first. The museum expansion. The board’s fundraising target. A city development matter that Patrick refers to in careful, neutral terms.

Mario listens with the mild expression he wears when he is deciding how much a man wants from him and how much he is willing to pay for it.

Victoria speaks when appropriate, and Patrick adjusts to her quickly. Not condescending. Not careless. He is too intelligent for that. But I notice how he measures her. Her background, her usefulness.

Her current position beside Mario. The child she carries. The alliances implied by all of it.

Suzanne watches the exchange with a softer face and colder eyes.

I try not to let Julia’s voice from earlier in the week enter the conversation.

The food was perfect. The flowers were perfect. The seating arrangement was perfect. Sit this way. Smile now. Don’t say that. Wear this. Be grateful. Be careful.

It would be unfair to judge them on the most painful part of their daughter’s evening.

People are rarely at their best in family matters.

I know that too well.

So I give Patrick O’Brien the benefit of his public reputation and the caution due a useful man.

For almost seven minutes, he makes that possible.

Then Suzanne says, “We understand Julia is settling in well with you.”

Mario’s face changes by one degree. Almost nothing.

Enough that I see it.

“She is,” he says. “Very well.”

“I’m glad to hear it.” Suzanne’s smile is composed. “She has always been capable when she applies herself.”

My hand stills around my glass.

There are several ways to praise a daughter.

That one chooses none of them.

Victoria glances briefly toward Mario, then back to Suzanne. “Julia is highly capable. Mario relies on her already.”

“Does he?” Patrick asks, with a small laugh that sounds fond until one listens beneath it. “She’ll like hearing that.”

“I have told her,” Mario says.

“Good. Good.” Patrick nods, then looks at me. “She has always done well with responsibility. Sometimes she simply needs the right structure around her.”

The right structure.

I hear Julia’s voice again.

I take a drink because it gives my mouth something to do besides say something unwise.

Mario speaks before I can. “In my experience, Julia does not require much structure. She requires only clear expectations and room to do the work.”