“You speak French?” Liam asked.
“I’ve had some lessons,” I said.
“Well, I’m impressed,” Kelly said. “I understand you were in my hospital recently, unfortunately.”
“Yes, a car accident. Julia took good care of me,” I said.
“So, you’re all right?”
“Fine, thank you.”
“Chardonnay?” Liam offered her.
“Thank you, yes,” she said.
Mr. Dolan sat beside her at the bar and looked at both Liam and me with pleasure. Liam knew his drink, a Scotch and water, and prepared it.
“I’m sorry you’re not having dinner with us,” Kelly said.
“It’s a date we made in advance,” Liam explained, and winked. “We’re just getting to know each other ourselves. I’m sure you understand.”
“Yes, of course,” Kelly said. “Perhaps another time.”
“We’ll know after tonight,” Liam joked.
“Where are you going?” Mr. Dolan asked, and Liam told him.
“Good choice. I’ll have to take you there one night,” he told Kelly.
“You’re staying at the Winston House?” she asked me.
“For now, yes.”
“Thanks to my great-auntie Amelia, I discovered her,” Liam said.
“Sounds like something meant to happen,” Kelly Burnett said, and raised her glass. “To destiny. Hopefully good for us all.”
We clinked glasses and drank.
“How long have you been at the hospital?” I asked her.
“Two years this coming December. I’m sure you’ll find Quincy a very nice place to start a new life,” she added. I glanced at Mr. Dolan. How much had he told her about me? I wondered.
“I agree,” I said. I could sense how much she wanted to ask me questions about my background, but I also sensed that Mr. Dolan had told her to hold off on that.
“I think we have to get started,” Liam said, finishing his drink. I finished mine, too. “It’s a small restaurant, and they might not hold the table if we’re very late. Besides, I promised Lorelei we’d have an early night. You guys have a great time.”
He came around the bar quickly, took my glass, and put it on the bar before taking my hand.
“Just be careful out there,” his father said. “You’re carrying a precious company asset.”
We laughed.
“As long as you don’t think of me as an elbow joint,” I said, and everyone laughed again.
We started out.
“I feel guilty not staying for dinner,” I told Liam.