Her mother would never change, she knew that. She was also sure her father knew it too. He wasn't a dumb man at all. He had only interceded in his daughter's behalf to make sure his wife's devious plots didn't destroy both their lives. He wanted to accept all the intrigues that his wife might invent as only his problem.
He would stop working late at the office and that would drive her mad. She would put up with it for a few months before making silly excuses to be at the club, or a meeting, or some other cover for meeting with Johnny Carvel or his successor. And he would nod his understandingly, tell her not to be too late and plod over to his favorite chair in front of the fire like a tired old gentleman.
Grace would trot out to the car and drive off believing she had outfoxed the old man. But as soon as the car sounds faded in the distance the old man would stand up and climb the stairs to see if his dear sweet daughter was resting well.
"No, my mom's not fooling anybody," said Teresa to Eileen.