Wash

They reached the entrance to the Threaded Cork and Elijah handed Charity her briefcase and then held the door open for her. The outside of the building had not changed since the last time she had come. It had the old heritage appeal but painted with modernist colours and flare.

Dim inside, Tiffany lights hanging above each solid table clearly showed who sat at each location. Her father was already sitting at a place near the far wall. The back of the restaurant where the bar and wine tasting area had been built was quiet. It would fill after the dinner rush.

Charity led the way to the table and Elijah pulled her chair out for her. Surprised, she managed to remember her manners and whispered, “Thanks.”

“Did you two drive together?” Her father raised a single eyebrow. How he had ever mastered that ability had always bugged Charity, even as a kid. She tried for hours to make only one brow go up.

“I drove.” “I took the subway.” Elijah and Charity spoke at the same time and then laughed.

“We met just outside,” Charity added.

The waitress came by with three wine glasses and two bottles of wine; one red and one white.

“I took the liberty to order a bottle of each,” her father said as he looked at the menu. He smiled at the waitress. “What are your specials tonight?”

After they ordered and filled their wine glasses, Charity pulled a folder out of her briefcase. “I scouted a few places and we have a few options.” She flipped her iPad case open and slid through her apps until she found the one she’d set up. Tapping the screen, she slid the tablet so both men could see the hall set up. “I thought about doing the party at the hospital. You have the large gymnasium you could turn into a high school prom setting.” She suppressed a giggle when both men’s eyebrows mashed together at the same time. “Hey, it may sound cheesy but it would be a huge hit. The entire idea behind prom,” she made small circles with her hand, “what happens after prom. You know, the whole package. Laugh all you want, it will get donators giving.”

The smirk on Elijah’s face told her he liked the idea; the forced smile on her father’s told her otherwise.

She slid the tablet picture to another floor diagram. “This is the old downtown concert building. It’s heritage but has been completely revamped inside. It’s like a Phantom of the Opera kind of building. They have this amazing chandelier that was restored. It sparkles even when the lights are dimmed.” She snapped her fingers. “We could make the evening about diamonds. Make it a platinum, gold, and white evening.”

Her father topped up Elijah’s and his wine glasses. “Quite the opposite of venue ideas.”

“Well, you gave me next to nothing to work with so I’m using every angle to make your evening something you want.” She took a long sip of her red wine, embarrassed at her response and that her voice had risen. Elijah’s piercing blue eyes watched her intently but his face revealed nothing. “Sorry. It’s been a long, busy day and—”

“You always get a tad snappy when you’re hungry.” Her father waved his hand. “Elijah, what do you think?”

Charity glanced back and forth at the two men. She had three more possible locations. Her father had already made up his mind. He just didn’t want to admit he liked it. She knew her first choice would be a no. It had only been to throw the idea of having the gala in the hospital. Her father would have wanted to do that but it wouldn’t be the success it could be. The cheesy suggestion would turn off any thought of having it there. The other possibilities were, well, possibilities. The diamond heritage would be very classy and right up her father’s alley.

Elijah folded his hands on the table. His long fingers and smooth fingernails looked tanned against the white of the tablecloth. “As much as I would love to experience an American prom, I believe the Diamond place is more suitable for your birthday.”

Charity smiled. “Agreed. What about you, Dad? I also have some other ideas.”

The waitress arrived with their dinners and set their orders in front of them.

“In lieu of your snap turning into a roar, I settle for the Diamond thing as well.” Her father set his napkin on his lap.

Inhaling the delicious aroma of roast chicken, Charity felt giddy. Possibly from the wine, the hunger, or getting her dad to agree to the location, she elbowed him lightly. “Wonder where I get that from?”

Chapter 6

They ate their meal with light conversation, Elijah and her dad doing most of the talking. They discussed hospital issues and a number of upcoming surgeries. A sense of wistful dreaming filled Charity. She had chosen to drop out of medical school and had absolutely no regrets, but that didn’t mean she didn’t miss it. For one millisecond she wondered if she had stayed, graduated and become a doctor, would she be sitting at this table talking with them about upcoming surgeries and post-op procedures?

She poured her second glass of wine of the evening and glanced around as she savoured her first sip. The lights had dimmed and the crowd had changed to a slightly younger generation. The bar was getting busy and the noise level had risen a few notches.

“… You two stay, finish the wine. I’ll go and pay the bill.”

Charity blinked and focused back on the conversation at the table. Her father stood and rested his fingers a slight moment on her shoulders as he stepped past her.

“Can you come by the hospital tomorrow or do you have an early return?”

She nodded. Her flight didn’t leave until one p.m. “I can stop by. No problem. Thanks for dinner tonight.”

“My pleasure. It was good to see you.” He turned to Elijah. “You’ll walk her to her car?” When Elijah nodded he added, “I’ll see you at the hospital shortly.”

She shifted in her seat so she could watch her father leave. He walked straight, smiled pleasantly at the hostess as he paid the bill, and disappeared out the door, never turning back to wave or glance at them. Her lips pressed tightly down. The next six months were going to be a challenge. How her mother stayed happily married to the man was beyond her understanding.

“What is it with the two of you?” Elijah’s husky voice broke through her thoughts.