The last secret_ a novel - Mary McGarry Morris [41]
The sole meunière is very good, Kay is saying, or if he wants something quick, any one of the salad grills.
“Quick is good.” He leans close to Kay, touches her arm. “Then I could still eat with you ladies and not get the heave-ho.”
Kay gestures for the waitress, who takes his order. Caesar salad with grilled chicken and a glass of soda water, one slice lemon, one lime. He asks if they'd like another glass of wine.
“No, thank you.” Her first words.
“I think I will.” Kay laughs. “It's been a long week.” Kay isn't missing a thing here, Nora knows, her own coldness, Eddie's push to keep the conversation going. He asks Kay what line of work she's in.
“Real estate. Mostly residential.” She finishes her wine.
“You're kidding! I wish I'd known. All week I've been out looking at properties. We need a couple acres, six or seven at least. Part of a consortium. Mixed-use housing, that's our specialty. The whole spectrum, luxury, middle class, right down to low rent. Subsidized. With the right connections. Faith-based, if we can.” He smiles at Nora.
“Sounds like quite an undertaking,” Kay says.
“It is. That's why when I saw Newsweek, the article that mentioned Sojourn House, I figured what the hell, what've I got to lose, I'll look up my old friend Nora while I'm here and maybe she can steer me in the right direction.”
“Well, if she can't,” Kay says, watching Nora, “I don't know who can.”
“It's not looking good, Kay.” He sips his soda water. “I seem to be striking out here. Big-time.” His eyes settle on Nora with cold mocking light. Bitter, somehow, as if there has been an actual business proposal that she has spurned.
“Excuse me,” Kay says, putting her napkin on the table. “I'll be right back.” She heads toward the stairs, down to the restrooms.
“So, how're you doing?” he asks, grinning at Nora.
The waitress delivers his salad. The minute she leaves, Nora leans over the table. “What is it? Why're you here? What do you want?”
“Help.” He smiles. “A helping hand, that's all. To make up for lost time. Chances I never had. Opportunity.”
“So this is about money, then, isn't it?” She is almost relieved.
“It's been a long time. How do you put a price on that? On time? I don't know,” he sighs. “You tell me.”
“So how much? How much do you want?”
His laughter is sad, regretful. “You don't get it, do you? But then, why should you? Nice family. Nice town. Nice life. Hey! Maybe if I hadn't been so worried, driving back and forth tryna find you, maybe I'd'a gotten away, too.”
Kay is chatting her way back through the crowded dining room. Eddie stands and pulls out her chair.
“Thank you.” Kay smiles up at him, then at Nora, her quizzical gaze seeking direction. “A gentleman, how very refreshing.”
Nora has just closed her office door when the phone rings.
“What was that all about?” Kay asks on the other end. “I feel like I just got sucked into a tornado or something.”
“I'm not really sure,” Nora says, trying to steady herself on the half-truth. “I haven't seen him in years, and now he shows up, acting like … well, you heard him, like I'm some vital part of his networking plan.”
“I know. Vague, wasn't it?”
“I'll say.”
“How'd you know him?”
“I'm not even sure.”
“Well. Be careful. There's so many scams around,” Kay says.
“I know. And strange people.”
“I'd put him more in the hungry category, you know what I mean?”
“I don't know, maybe. Anyway, I better get started here.”
“He is nice-looking, though, you have to admit that,” Kay allows in a low purr. “Those eyes, they go right through you. I wouldn't mind showing him a parcel or two.”
For Nora the rest of the afternoon drags. Hard to concentrate. Her thoughts wheel