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It was taken during the cocktail hour and captures Tom, in three-quarters profile, speaking to someone she doesn’t recognize, probably an Avignon executive. He’s wearing a sports jacket she’s never seen before, and his hair is a little shorter and slightly less silver than it is now. What Emma notes most of all is the discomfort in his expression. Not that she doubted Tom, but she’s glad to see proof of the toothache.
And yet he wasthere, and she wishes he hadn’t been.
Just please, for god’s sake, she thinks,don’t let Eric mention the coincidence to anyone. She shouldn’t have even raised the topic of Miami with him.
Checking the time, Emma sees that it’s already twenty to six, which means that no matter how much she hustles, she’s going to be a little late for dinner. Fortunately, traffic turns out to be light, and she finds a parking spot easily.
Tom’s already inside the Whelk, sitting at a shiny wooden table and reading something on his phone. Since it’s early, the restaurant’s only a quarter full, and he has an area to himself. The small candles on all the tables have already been lit and flames seem to twinkle everywhere.
“Hey, you,” she says, sliding into the seat across from him. “So sorry to be late—I lost track of the time.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m just glad you were up for this.”
“So what’s going on at work? Is it anything serious?”
“Things aren’t lining up the way they should, but fortunately it seems to be an accounting error. Dan’s in the office now, crunching numbers, and he says he should have a better idea by the time I get back.”
“That’s a relief,” she says. “But I’m sorry you have to deal with the aggravation.”
“Well, seeing you is already putting me in the right frame of mind.” He cocks his chin toward the menu on the table. “You want the usual tonight, sweetheart?”
“Sounds good.”
Tom signals for the waitress and requests several of the restaurant’s signature appetizers, including deviled eggs and a dozen raw oysters.
“So tell me more about your presentation,” he says, filling her glass from the bottle of sparkling water on the table. “I’m so glad it went well.”
“Yeah, they seemed very pleased with the research.” Emma shares a few of the more interesting findings she and Eric presented but doesn’t bring up her flubs—because mentioning those will only draw attention to how agitated the Webster situation is still making her feel. Before the meal is over, however, she’ll have to tell Tom about all the crap Dunne expects him to do.
“Scott did a really nice job of running the meeting,” she adds. “He sends his regards.”
“He’s a smart guy, a real dynamo.”
“He said something that surprised me, though—that he thinks he used to get on your nerves when he was at the agency.”
Tom nods lightly and cups the small glass jar used as a candleholder on the table.
“He’s not totally wrong. You worked at the agency long enough to know I hate ‘yes people.’ I’m eager to hear opinions other than my own,plusgive those opinions consideration. But at a certain point I decide what I want and there’sno need for further discussion. Scott never quite seemed to get that.”
Just then, their food arrives and they each slide items onto to their plates.
“Huh. Would he keep pressing?” Emma asks, curious.
“Yup. I’m sure he never meant to be obnoxious. He’d just sometimes have trouble letting go, even when it should have been clear I’d made up my mind.”
“Please promise to let me know if I’m ever guilty of that, will you?” she says.
Tom reaches across the table and lays his hand over hers. “I will. But you intuit me better than anyone I’ve known, Emma.”
She smiles and takes a breath. “Well, I’m glad I have those points in the plus column, because you’re not going to be happy when you hear the latest from Dunne.”
Tom’s eyes narrow. “Has there been a new development?”
“No, I’d asked him to call me so I could fill him in on the Miami business.” She leans in, lowering her voice. “I was praying he’d tell me it was no big deal, but he’s concerned about it.”
“I don’t see the problem. We didn’t meet that night, we didn’t speak, and no one would claim otherwise.”
“Dunne says it’s one of those coincidences cops don’t like. Since Webster is probably going to contact you, he’s recommending that you do the same thing he had me do two years ago.” She explains the task and all the steps it entails.
