Page 39 of People Skills

Simone lists the ingredients, and suddenly she and Xavier are chatting as if they’re old friends. Xavier is asking Simone about how she got the place started, the decor and fit-out, and the piano, and then Simone is telling him about her staffing woes. She moves away to serve someone else, and I turn to Xavier.

‘You know, Hillary told me you were an excellent piano player.’

‘Oh no, I’m not. She made me take lessons for years as a kid.’

‘You were the headliner of a recital when you were five years old.’

‘Is that what she’s telling people?’

‘I don’t know about people, but that’s what she told me.’

‘I was a headliner if headliner means being one of ten children playing at an end-of-year concert for friends and family. I haven’t played in years.’

‘Play tonight,’ I say.

‘No way.’

‘Come on. One song.’

‘I don’t know any songs.’

‘Hillary said you played like an angel and it broke her heart when you stopped.’

‘I hate that you have all these tidbits memorised. How is this stuff coming up in the office?’

‘It’s my job to know important facts about my boss and her family.’

‘That’s an important fact?’

‘It is.’

‘What other facts about me do you know?’ He leans his elbow on the bar. His knees are turned towards me.

‘In terms of major injuries, you hurt your knee skiing about ten years ago. And you broke your arm when you were in primary school.’ I pause, in case he wants to dive into that traumatic memory.

‘You could be my biographer,’ he says.

‘I could.’

‘We need to even the playing field here. It’s my turn to ask questions.’

I shake my head. ‘My life is very boring. No piano recitals ever.’

‘Well, start thinking of some interesting tidbits because you’re my research project.’

I give him a look.

‘No, I’m not.’

‘Yes. You are. I’ve decided. My research project is Charlotte…’ He pauses. ‘Wait. I don’t know your surname.’

‘It’s Dapkus.’

‘Dapkus,’ Xavier repeats.

‘It’s Lithuanian. My dad’s parents are Lithuanian.’

‘Nice. My research project is Charlotte Dapkus, who is part Lithuanian and part?’ He pauses.