Tris knew that her mother had guessed or had known about Marcus somehow. She couldn't figure out which. Tris hadn't thought that she betrayed anything Tobias had told her. She hadn't written it down for her mother to find in a journal or anything. She didn't even have a chance to! She had just found out herself. So how is it that her mother knew something? Tris hoped that the reason she wanted to talk with her was to explain.
They had just about cleaned up everything after dinner when Tris finally broke the silence, "How did you know? How did you know about me and Tobias? How did you know about Tobias and his father? He just told me about that today!" Tris was teetering between happiness at the outcome of tonight, and anger at her mother for keeping something from her. Her mother had also called out her relationship with Tobias when they hadn't told anyone. She had no idea her mother knew anything about that. What was going on?
"Listen, Beatrice. I know you probably have a lot of questions about what I know and how I know it." Natalie said carefully. "But I think its best not to dig up the past. We should just concentrate on the future. We should concentrate on keeping Tobias safe. It's important for you to know that I didn't know about Tobias's situation until I saw you both here today. As soon as I suspected, I did what I could, using what power I had. And I hope to God it's enough."
"But how did you know? When we came here, we didn't get the chance to even say anything. Did Marcus say something before we got here?" Tris was trying to understand, but all she could see was her mother trying to guard her secrets. It felt like she wasn't willing to tell her any more.
"No, he didn't say anything. I could tell something was going on by the way he was acting, and by the way you and Tobias were reacting when you joined us." It sounded like Natalie wanted to say more but she was censoring herself and Tris knew it.
"You knew from something that happened in the past that he was capable of this, and you didn't do anything about it until now?" Tris connected the dots as best as she could. Her mother had just saved the day and now Tris was getting angry with her. None of this make any sense. But if her mother knew about Marcus, why didn't she speak up before this?
Tris could see the hurt in her mother's eyes at her accusation. She didn't know if she was upset because Tris was accusing her unfairly or because Tris was right.
"Look, I'm sorry," Tris said. " I don't know what I'm talking about. But if you tell me, I will understand." Tris felt guilty. Her mother had really helped Tobias today and now she was angry with her for it. She desperately wanted to understand.
"I didn't think Tobias was in any danger before today. I honestly didn't. I knew Marcus a long time ago. I was best friends with his wife, Evelyn. She assured me that he never went after Tobias."
"But Tobias's mother died! Tobias thinks Marcus had something to do with it. Could you have done something to save her?" Tris's mind was reeling.
"I've said too much." Natalie quietly said. She closed her eyes. Everyone had their secrets to keep and this was hers. "Beatrice, please listen, I can't tell you everything. Maybe someday, but right now, you're going to just have to trust me."
Tris could see her mother struggle to keep whatever secret that was important to her. She knew her mother, she always looked out for other people. Tris knew that whatever she was involved in, she had good intentions. She didn't mean to harm anyone. She must have not realized she was harming Tobias by not interfering for him. She proved to Tris that she wanted to help when she championed for him tonight. But did Tris really know her mother? Before tonight, she never would have guessed that her mother would be involved in something like this, in any way.
"Okay," Tris reluctantly said. She did just save Tobias after all. "Thank you for doing what you did. I brought him here and I honestly didn't know how it would go. I couldn't let him go home to his father."
"You know, Beatrice. We are a lot more alike than you think." Natalie said, with a smile.
They were quiet for a moment. The conversation seemed to be over. But there was still something that Tris really wanted to ask her mother.
"And how did you know about me and Tobias?" she was a little embarrassed to even ask.
"Oh come on Beatrice. Your father might be blind to those things, but I'm not." Natalie smiled trying to make Tris more comfortable about the situation.
Tris returned her smile weakly and started to leave the kitchen area and head to her room. As she made it to the door of the kitchen, she stopped and turned around towards her mother.
"Mom, can I ask you one more thing?"
"Of course, what is it?"
"Can you call me Tris from now on? Instead of Beatrice."
Natalie smiled. "Of course, honey. Whatever you like."