Minding Frankie - Maeve Binchy [66]
“Why don’t the clergy provide the priest with a place to live? They do have these flats, I believe.…” Moira needed to know the answer to everything.
“He doesn’t want that. Says it’s like living in a religious community and he’s more of a lone bird, really.”
“And why didn’t you go and stay in Katie’s flat, Lisa, rather than here?” Moira asked.
Lisa looked at her impatiently. “Are you ever off the job, Moira?” she asked, annoyed.
Emily stepped in to make peace. “Moira has all the best qualities of a social worker, Lisa. She is very interested in people.” And then she turned to Moira. “Father Flynn was installed before Lisa needed to move. That’s right, isn’t it?” She looked around her good-naturedly.
“That’s it.” Lisa was brief.
“Exactly.” Katie was even briefer.
It would have been churlish to ask any more, like why Lisa had needed to move, so very reluctantly Moira decided to leave it there. Instead she said that the chicken was delicious.
“Just olives, garlic and tomatoes,” Lisa said, pleased. “I learned it from Emily, actually.”
They seemed a normal enough group and there was no sign of alcohol anywhere during the meal. Moira sometimes wished she didn’t have such a strong instinct for when things were going to go wrong. And she had felt this about Noel from the very beginning.
Anton’s restaurant was advertising Saturday lunches. Moira decided to invite Dr. Casey, to return the hospitality at Quentins.
“There’s no need, Moira,” Clara had said.
“No, of course not, but I’d enjoy it. Please say yes.”
It didn’t suit Clara at all. Normally she had an easy lunch with Frank Ennis on a Saturday and then they went to the cinema or a matinee at the theater. Sometimes they went to an art exhibit. It had become a relaxed and undemanding routine. But what the hell, she could meet him later.
“That would be delightful, Moira,” she said.
Moira booked the table. She would like to have that easy confidence that Clara had. She would like it if they knew her in Anton’s and made a fuss of her, as had happened with Clara in Quentins. But that would never happen.
When she went to make the table reservation she was greeted by Anton himself. He was indeed very charming. Small and handsome in a boyish way, he pointed around the room.
“Where would you like to sit, Ms. Tierney? I’d love to give you the nicest table in the room,” he said.
She pointed out a table.
“Excellent choice. You can see and be seen there. Are you inviting a friend?”
“Well, my boss, actually. She’s a doctor in a heart clinic.”
“Well, we’ll make sure you both have a good time,” he said.
Moira left feeling ten years younger and much more attractive. No wonder this girl Lisa was so besotted with the boy. Anton was truly something special.
· · ·
And he had not forgotten that they were to be well looked after. As soon as she entered the restaurant, she was greeted as though she were a regular and valued customer.
“Ah, Ms. Tierney!” Teddy said, as she gave him her name. “Anton said to look out for you and to offer you and your guest a house cocktail.”
“Lord, I don’t think so,” Clara said.
“Why not? It’s free.” Moira giggled.
And they sipped a colored glass of something that had fresh mint and ice and soda, some exotic liqueur and probably a triple serving of vodka.
“Thank God it’s Saturday,” Clara said. “Nobody could have gone back to work after one of these house cocktails.”
It was a very pleasant lunch. Clara talked about her daughter Linda, who was very anxious to have a child and had been having fertility treatment for eighteen months without success.
“Any babies coming up for adoption in your line of business?” Clara asked.
Moira gave the question serious attention. “There might be,” she said, “a little girl, a few months old now.”
“Well, I mean is she available for adoption or not?” Clara was a cut-and-dried person.
“Not at the moment, but I don’t think she’s going to last long in the present setup,” Moira explained.
“Why? Are they cruel to her?”
“No, not at all. They are just