“You are making a complete fool of yourself in public.”

Martha almost laughed at the familiar comment.

She had heard that exact tone of voice many times before.

It was the condescending voice Valerie used during holiday dinners when she corrected Martha’s cooking habits, or the passive-aggressive tone she used at country club gatherings when Martha asked for simple tap water.

It was a fake manner meant to make others feel inferior.

Martha had tolerated that treatment for years simply because Christopher loved his wife, but she was not going to tolerate it today.