Page 59 of Lessons in Love
“Aren’t they sort of the same thing?”
“Maybe.” She laughs again. “So tell me.”
Walking back onto the sidewalk, I smile and raise an eyebrow. “Let’s just say . . . maybe.” I leave her with that, now laughing myself.
“You’re incorrigible, Hardy.”
“So I’m told.”
I reach the bar and pull the door wide open. Time to face the music. My eyes haven’t even adjusted between the glaring white of the snow outside and the dim lighting inside when I hear that familiar clasping of hands, and then, “Hardy, darling.”
“Hi Mom. Hi Dad.”
Leo stands up from behind the bar with a bottle of champagne in hand. “Your parents are here.”
“Yeah, thanks for the heads up.”
“My pleasure. Or maybe it’s been yours for the last two hours.”
Glaring, I remind, “My parents are here.”
“I know,” he replies, chuckling. Leo’s busy pouring three glasses while I hug my mom and then my dad because he’s become a huggy bastard since he retired.
“What brings you by?” I hand them each a glass.
My mom tilts hers to tap against mine. “Cheers.”
After we drink, my dad leads us to a table. “We were in the neighborhood.”
We settle in, and I ask, “Brooklyn? That’s quite a ways from the neighborhood of another state.”
“Connecticut’s not that far,” my mom says. “Anyway, we wanted to get some shopping done in the city.” She looks around. “The place is looking good. You’re keeping it very clean.”
“We have a service. They’re paid well.”
“Good. No one wants to hang out in a sticky, stanky bar. A nice kempt establishment brings in nice kempt customers.”
“Yes, we like catering to our upscale clientele.”
My dad says, “So business is good?”
“Solid. I might need to hire a few more bartenders in the new year. I’m also considering bringing on some wait staff.” I take a sip and set the glass down and spin it by the stem between my fingers. “Remember Eddie? I just gave him a promotion to help manage the place. I’m going to start focusing more on the overall operations.”
My mom smiles. “You hoped when you left New York finance you would not work as much, but here you are working more I suspect.”
“This time it’s for me—solely and good for my soul.”
She asks, “Speaking of souls, you mentioned at the fundraiser that you might have met someone? How is that going?”
“If I remember correctly, I told you I didn’t.”
“Do you really think I don’t know your tells. I’ve known them since you were three, Hardy. You couldn’t hide behind a lie then and you can’t now, so tell us so we don’t have to worry about you.”
“You don’t have to worry about me. I’m good.”
“Happy?”
“I’m happy.” Medium. Her lips purse. “Fine. Mostly.”
