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I offered my hand. “Zack Hogan. I'm thirty-seven years old and I am a part owner of Hogan Brothers Building Services in town. I have two younger brothers; Lance is thirty-one and Neil is thirty. I'm not, and never have been, married and I'm not in a relationship at the moment. Now, will you have lunch with me?”
The corners of Natalie's mouth twitched upwards as she fought against a smile.
I watched as she raked her eyes over my body. “Have you decided yet if I'll do?”
She blushed. “I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be rude.” Her previously stiff stance seemed to soften, and she sighed. “Yes, Zack. Iwillhave lunch with you...Thank you.”
“Is your car here?”
“Yes.”
“Your car, my car, or would you prefer to walk into town?”
“I'd like to walk. I do far too much sitting down.”
I offered my hand and she glared at it like it was a snake ready to strike. “I don't want you to trip over on the soft ground since you’re wearing heels.”
She slipped her hand into mine and we strolled in silence to Green Ginger, a popular Chinese restaurant in the middle of town. I pushed open the door and encouraged Natalie to enter first. Lei Ming, the owner, greeted us.
Her eyebrows quirked upwards on seeing me with a female. It was rare for me to patronise the place with a woman. I'd been burnt badly a few years earlier and now preferred to work and concentrate on my business.
“Table for two Lei. We haven't booked.” I smiled at my friend.
“You know you never have to book, Zack.” She lifted two menus and a wine list from the counter. “This way, please.”
The table was tucked away at the back where the light was diffused—Romantic. I offered to take Natalie's jacket thinking she would be more comfortable while we ate. She refused to remove the garment despite the restaurant being warm. I shrugged and pulled out a chair. Natalie sat as she thanked me.
After taking our drink orders, Lei Ming left us to peruse the menus.
“Do you come here often, it appears the owner knows you?” Natalie asked.
“Once a week. I love Chinese food and they have the very best.”
Lei Ming placed mineral water in front of Natalie and a glass of red wine in front of me. We gave our orders, and she again left us alone.
I sipped my wine before lowering the glass to the table. “Tell me about yourself. Are you from around here? I don't recall ever noticing you before. Believe me, if you were a regular in town, I would have noticed you.”
Natalie took a long swallow of her water before gazing at me. “I know you mean well, and I don't mean to be rude but it's none of your business.”
I sipped at my wine while studying her face—she radiated anger and hurt. “You are obviously angry and hurt about something which has happened in your past. Why else would you have behaved the way you did in church? And, toward your Grandmother who was a woman my brothers and I admired a great deal. A woman most of this town loved and admired. I don’t mean to step out of line, but it would probably help to talk about your feelings and anger. If not to me, maybe to someone professional.”
She surprised me by laughing but it wasn’t a happy laughter. It was more like a bitter cackle of disbelief. “You have no idea what my grandmother was really like. How long had you known her?”
“About five years—since I moved to town. She was very helpful when my brothers and I were starting our business. If not for her, we would not have been as successful as we are.”
She remained quiet for a moment, and I watched her carefully. She seemed torn about whether she should tell me anything about her or her grandmother.
When her eyes met mine, they were glassy with tears. “You obviously liked the bitch.” She swallowed hard. “I hated…hate her with every fibre of my being and will until the day I die. Coming here with you may not have been such a good idea.”
She started to stand but I covered her hand with mine. I didn’t want her to leave.
“Please, stay. I promise we won't discuss your grandmother again unless you are ready and it's your choice to do so.”
She eased back into her chair. “I don't know if I'll ever be ready. People around here adored her. They had no idea what she was really like...except for George, and he refused to do anything about what was happening.”
Her voice was quiet, laced with pain. What had the old woman done to cause her granddaughter so much bitterness and to garner such hatred? I vowed I would make it my mission to find out, but why? Why did I feel an overwhelming need to help Natalie?
~*~
