Small talk gave way to easy conversation, and by the time their meals hit the table, they were laughing together like lifelong friends.Claire’s cheeks hurt before she had even made a dent in her food.Harry was in rare form, delivering what Claire considered his greatest hits: stories about youthful mischief, drunken escapades with Hamish, and humiliating tales from her childhood.No matter how many times she heard them, she never tired of watching her father work a room.He played ringmaster, lion tamer, and clown all at once.Somehow, the hours slipped by unnoticed.By the time they looked around, the restaurant had emptied, leaving them alone with a waitstaff of six eager to finally call it a night.
"Claire tells me you're quite a movie buff," Harry commented as the last of their dishes were cleared.
"Guilty."Jay shot Claire a knowing look.
"Says you're pretty good with a quote or two."
Jay nodded.“I do like Hollywood trivia."
"Well, let's see if you know this one."Harry cleared his throat and glanced in Claire's direction.She shot him a stern look, a warning to tread lightly."My son's my son until he gets him a wife, but my daughter's my daughter all of her life."
Claire dropped her head for a moment, her face flushed with embarrassment.Harry poked her hand and smiled, so proud of his clever contribution to their game.Silence enveloped the threesome as Jay stared off in quiet reflection.
"I think you got me, sir,” Jay said.“It sounds familiar, but I honestly have no idea."
"Nineteen fifty.Spencer Tracy.Father of the Bride."Harry winked at Claire as he brought his martini glass up to his lips.
The ride out to Hamish's estate was anything but quiet.Harry offered to hire a car and driver for the weekend, but Jay refused.Instead, he rented a gorgeous sedan and chauffeured Claire and her father himself.The previous night hadn’t ended until after one o’clock.The three of them had sat around Claire’s flat swapping stories after they left the restaurant.It had been one of the best nights Claire had enjoyed in recent memory, and she hated to see it end.Once again, she and Jay shared only a warm embrace outside her door.She wondered whether his resolve was as fragile as hers.Saying goodnight grew harder every time.
Hamish and Molly were waiting outside to greet them.Tears formed in Claire’s eyes as she watched her father and uncle wrap their arms around one another.Their reunion had been a long time coming.Hamish welcomed Jay with a hearty handshake.Molly, with a tight hug.Hamish sorted everyone into their respective bedrooms, with strict instructions to quickly get settled and back out to the patio for lunch.
They dined, while a host of workers swarmed around them in preparation for the party.Two white tents were erected.Tiny lights draped the branches of every tree in view.Tables were delivered and chairs were placed.Caterers, florists, and the sound check guys from the band moved in and out of focus as the party of five sat making Bloody Mary toasts amid the flurry of activity.Hamish and Harry's voices grew louder and louder as each tried to one-upthe other with a collection of tall tales.Their audience howled, eliciting several curious looks from the hired staff.
“Wait a minute.It was three," Hamish insisted.
"No, it wasn't, Ham.It was one.One."Harry held up a bony finger."Don't forget you'd been drinking Singapore Slings all day.Your vision was slightly impaired to say the least.”
"Let's split the difference and call it two then," Hamish suggested, giving Molly a playful squeeze.
And so, it continued for another hour, until Molly stood and announced her need to tackle party details.Claire offered to help but Molly refused.
“You and Jay are guests, and I want you to behave as such,” she demanded.
Harry stood with the aid of a cane and yawned.Hamish followed, both opting to catch forty winks apiece to ensure tip-top condition for the evening's events.Everyone jumped ship in a matter of seconds, leaving Claire and Jay alone.
"Was it something I said?"Jay asked.
"I think we've been ditched,” Claire answered.
"Listen, maybe we should lie down for a while.We were up late last night."
"I'm honestly not the least bit tired,” Claire said.“Are you?"
"Not really.I'm only a six-hour a night kind of guy anyway."
"Well, Hamish's place here is like a carnival.There's horseback riding.Canoeing on the river.He's got a fabulous library, and an enormous home theater.He even has a two-lane bowling alley, if you're interested."
"You know what I'd really like to do?"
"What?"she asked.
"Take a walk,” Jay said.“Just breathe in some of this fantastically clean, country air."
Claire stood and smiled."That sounds like a great idea."
They returned to the house and left each other at the top of the grand staircase, Claire turning left while Jay made a right.Inside her suite, she quickly changed out of her dress and into something more suitable for traveling the landscape.She'd just pulled on a pair of hiking boots someone knocked softly on the door.
"Come in," she called.
