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-Thatcher, you're just in time to rescue us from being put under a sociological microscope," Asher Eaton said.
"Really? Well, rescuing people is my business." he said, still holding his smile on me like a flashlight.
All I could do was stare back.
"Good," Asher said. 'Let me introduce you, then. Isabel, this is our son. Thatcher Eaton."
"We've met," Thatcher Eaton said before I could. "Sort of, that is."
"Really? How?" Bunny Eaton asked, now perking up again. "You must have been visiting the courthouse first, then. He practically lives there." she said.
"Mother. really."
"A more dedicated, determined workaholic you won't find anywhere, even in New York." she continued,
"Mother," he warned,
"I have been after him for years now to slow dawn, relax, and have some fun. One would think he came from one of those puritanical families, an entirely different world with different values and religious principles. He'll have to marry a librarian, and one who works in the law library at that." she continued. She looked very serious and very angry about it.
Thatcher sighed deeply and shook his head. "Look at the two of you. Did you just come home?" he asked. "I stopped by expressly to see if you two behaved, and, as I feared, you haven't. Again," he added, his eyes wide.
Asher stood up. "It's your mother. She doesn't know when to say 'uncle.' "
"Right, go on and blame it all on me. I have the wide shoulders. I can bear it," she said with great drama. Then she yawned so wide and long I thought it would last a full minute. "Let's go to bed. Asher. Miss... I'm sorry. What was your name?"
"Isabel Arnou."
"Amou. Amou? What is that?"
"Portuguese," I said.
She raised her eyebrows. "Do we know anyone in Palm Beach who is Portuguese. Asher?"
"Only the Brazilian ambassador. Bunny." "Oh, is he Portuguese?"
"That's what they speak, and that's where his family hails from. Portugal."
"Well, how am I supposed to remember that? If you're from Brazil. it seems to me you should speak Brazilian. Why else do they call it the Brazilian Court Hotel, for instance? Why don't they call it the Portuguese Court Hotel?"
Asher stared at her a moment, "I'm tired," he said. "Bunny."
"Good night, Thatcher," she said, and stopped to kiss him on the cheek. Then she turned back to me. "I do hope I'll see you when I'm more awake. Isabel." she said.
"Me, too." Asher said. "Come back tomorrow, say about brunch time, all right?"
"I'm not sure." I said.
Of course you will," Thatcher volunteered for me. "I'll see to it. Dad."
"We'll have lobster. grilled," Asher promised. And we can talk all about the social ills of Palm Beach society. I'll try to invite some criminals."
Bunny Eaton laughed and put her arm thr
ough his, leaning her head against his shoulder.
I watched the two of them leave. Thatcher and I confronted each other for a moment, and then he smiled.
"Look," he began. "if we weren't fated to meet like this, we wouldn't have met. I'm sorry I was showing off for my associate this morning,"
