‘No rush to get back to the hotel. Have a very merry Christmas, Amy.’
The whole family stood on the stoop and waved her off. Amy watched the tail lights disappear around the corner, until her dad put his arm around her shoulders and led her back into the kitchen, which was already clean and tidy.
‘It’s good to have you back, honey,’ he said, switching on the coffee machine. ‘Are you okay? You’re okay for money?’
‘Dad, everything is fine.’
He gave her that cocked-head quizzical look he’d given her as a kid when she’d been keeping something from him, that ‘Dad knows everything’ look. He’d always trusted her to do the right thing then, and he didn’t say anything now.
‘I can’t believe you asked Georgia how much her apartment was worth,’ said Amy, sitting down at the kitchen table and giving him an embarrassed half-smile.
‘I did not.’
‘You did.’
‘So I’m interested.’
‘It’s not the done thing. It’s rude.’
‘What’s rude?’
‘To ask personal questions. Questions about money and how much you earn.’
‘Says who? The Queen of England?’
He handed her a cup of coffee and sat opposite her.
‘She’s a nice lady,’ he said, taking a sip.
‘You sound surprised.’
He shrugged.
‘Didn’t know what to expect. Y’gotta admit, it’s kinda a strange set-up. I mean, why’s she not with her own family at Christmas?’
‘Yeah, well, you shouldn’t have kept bringing her family up, either. She doesn’t seem to like talking about them.’
‘I thought there might be a story there. You know, something we could have helped with?’
Amy fixed her hands around her coffee cup.
‘What do you mean?’
‘It’s just a bit odd. Why isn’t she with her family? Or friends? Why does she have to come to New York with a stranger? It doesn’t make sense. Not a nice fancy lady like that with money.’
Amy shrugged.
‘I met her cousin’s son in London, but I could tell there was some history going on.’
‘See? You should ask her. Might do her some good to talk about it.’
‘Georgia’s not like that. The English aren’t like that. It’s rude to ask.’
‘What is it with this rude thing? Maybe the lady’s got a problem. Maybe she wants to talk about it to someone.’
He snorted again, shook his head.
‘Each to their own, I guess. Anyway, how’s London treating you? You still working at the bar?’