"Amen." She feels only slightly wrong about not making the sign of the cross. Or about not participating in prayer. She has so so so many more problems.

She's not going to say anything until someone says something to her, she's gonna let them meet her halfway in that minefield if that's something they're planning on doing.

Nick eats in a determined yet expressionless fashion.

"So, Keturah. What sort of things do you do for fun?"

Ah, quiz time. "Oh, uh. I like to read. Histories, fiction. Anything, really."

"Excellent! Serena likes reading too. You too will get along. Serena used to write books, you know."

"That's really cool," she says, before seeing Serena Joy's expression. She looks down at her plate. "I've tried writing things before. I don't think I'm any good at it, though."

"Writing is an appropriate feminine attainment, like teaching piano or charity work with the poor. If you like, I will redo your schedule to give you some time to write."

She looks up, surprised. " - thank you. I would appreciate that a lot."

She mentally reminds herself not to get Stockholm syndrome that easily, they're still dictating her schedule down to the minute and they're still going to violate her and they're still going make her bear a child outside of marriage and they're still going to take the baby from her. The whole thing is still ridiculously terrible. 

Her smile is no less genuine for it.

"Oh, well, you know Serena. All about those appropriate feminine attainments, aren't you, dear?"

"Yes."

Nick, oblivious to this entire conversation, is shoveling meatloaf into his mouth. 

- she really shouldn't respond to that, she should really just shut up.

"I think it's really important that that some people be able to focus on specifically feminine work. It's harder for some people, focusing on really small-scale things like piano lessons and cooking a good meal, but - I think it's really important that someone be making sure that those things keep happening. And it's good to be able to think in terms of asking where God most wants you, and not where you'd most like to be."

Fred laughs. "Oh, I agree with that, you can't be married to Serena Joy Waterford for ten years and not agree with that. It's just-- has Serena not told you who she is?"

"...maybe not?"

"Serena used to be a bestselling author! Courtship, homemaking, parenting, education, relationships, sex-- that last one was a bit awkward! She paid for the down payment on this place."

"Oh, wow." And now she does remember the name. "That's very impressive."

"It is not appropriate for a woman to teach men."

"Then I'm glad you've decided to teach women."

Serena's tone sounds like a warning. "I have not published a book in three years."

For the first time in the conversation, Nick says something.

"They don't publish religious nonfiction written by women anymore. Too much risk that a man would read it."

" - I meant I'm glad you're teaching me and tutoring refugees, ma'am. I appreciate it, and I'm sure they do, too. I'm sorry if it sounded like I was saying anything else."

Should've shut up in the first place.

"So," Fred says, "how about those Angels? I can't believe they lost to the Revelations, we are not going to make the playoffs this year."

"That's too bad," says Keturah, as neutrally as she can.

Fred single-handedly maintains an entire conversation about sports! Which is pretty impressive, because Serena Joy doesn't care about sports and Nick doesn't talk.