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“Oi! American is it?” she said cheerfully, her cheeks rounding to perfect red circles with her smile.
“Is it obvious?” Brett flashed that winning smile of his. “I’m Brett. This is my daughter, Jubilee.”
The woman was dazed by Brett. She stared a little too long at his mouth. He winked. She shook her head, probably internally chastising herself.
“I’m Fiona,” she said, putting her hand over her chest as if there was any ambiguity about who she was introducing. “We don’t get too many tourists in these parts. Are you here to see the castle?” She meant the Strathlachlan castle, which was just skeletal ruins. Then there was also the newer castle, which could be rented for events.
I was curious to see the ruins. There was something beautiful about nature’s destruction. But I didn’t know if we’d have time for something like that.
“Absolutely,” Brett said, smiling as she led us through the restaurant to a cute little booth. “Taking my daughter through a bit of sightseeing before she leaves the nest.”
The woman looked at me and smiled. “Oh, bless you. So nice to see a father and daughter spending time together.”
I sat across from Brett and took off my jacket. A lamp made of colorful stained glass sat low over the table, held by a rope that came down from the ceiling. The colors of light danced, giving the place an ancient and ethereal glow.
The inside of the restaurant was cramped and busy with the low hum of chatter. There was no music playing on speakers. No wi-fi to speak of, either, which was announced on the chalkboard over the bar.
“Don’t want the ladies of the town thinking you’re dating me?” I teased Brett, referring to how quickly he had introduced me as his daughter.
“I would dissuade everyone of that notion if I could.” He looked at me. “No man worth his salt needs to date someone young enough to be their child.”
I was sure that the jibe was meant for Alastair, who was only a couple of years younger than him.
Where was Alastair having dinner? Was he with the woman he texted? Had he moved on from me so quickly? Not that it mattered. It’s not like there was really anything between us.
“Don’t look like that,” Brett cut into my thoughts. He suddenly sniffed, then grinned. “I thought that having you as a daughter meant I got to skip the whole boy-crazy phase.”
“I’m not boy-crazy,” I mumbled, pulling my thick hair over my shoulder and toying with the ends.
“I thought you normally dated women.” Brett casually said. “Your father used to say that with a sense of relief. Was he wrong?”
“I don’t have a…”
“Don’t fucking say it.” He said, pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration.
He wasn’t that mad, though. I could tell. This was a little dance we now did.
“I do sometimes date women,” I confessed, “They’re easier. But gender’s not… really an issue for me.”
“Fair enough.” Brett said, perusing the menu. “For what it’s worth, I’d rather you end up with a woman.”
I took a straw out of the pocket of cutlery on the table and tore off the paper wrapping.
“Why is that?” I asked.
“Women are just… better.” He shrugged. “I won’t wax poetic about misogyny and the patriarchy.” He flipped the page on his menu. “But a woman will be less likely to abuse you. She’ll be more likely to encourage your career instead of sabotaging it.” He got to the end of the menu and perused the drinks. “She’ll be more likely to accept fifty percent of the mental load when it comes to maintaining a household or raising kids. Or so I’ve heard…”
“Oh? So you expect to have grandchildren?” I said with a smile.
“I expect your first son to be named Jericho. Yes.”
I blew the paper of the straw, and it hit him on the forehead.
“We’re not supposed to say that name,” I stage whispered to him.
He nodded, acting chastised.
He called Fiona back to us and ordered himself a Bitter & Twisted Golden Ale. I opted for a vodka tonic. He ordered a Shepherd’s pie, and I opted for fish and chips. Brett and I tended to fall into silence, and neither of us felt the need to fill the space. Brett liked to watch people, and so did I.
