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I’ve drunk alcohol before. This isn’t going to kill me.
“How has that boy been treating you?” Eda asks conversationally.
Arnie will understand if I have one drink, right?
“Good. Yeah,” I reply a little awkwardly. “For an arranged marriage, I guess. He’s nice.”
“Ah, I understand,” Eda winks at me. “You had many men after you, so you don’t want to settle down.”
“That’s not really… No, I didn’t,” I finish lamely.
Eda gasps so loud the bartender—who has been studiously crafting our drinks—almost jumps out of his skin.
“I do not believe it, my darling.” She leans forward to twirl a piece of hair around her finger. “You have blossomed into something quite beautiful. Can I not convince you to marry one of my useless sons instead?”
My responding chuckles aren’t entirely forced. “You’d have to take it up with my brother.”
The bartender places two amber-colored drinks in front of us and disappears. I eye the sweet-smelling liquid nervously.
“He will not be persuaded,” Eda admits as she takes her glass and holds it out to me. “Please forgive me for trying.”
There’s nothing left to do except follow suit. Our glasses clink together, and I succumb to the alcohol.
It’s surprisingly bitter despite the bubbling aftertaste. I could probably nurse this one glass for hours before anyone became suspicious. The thought soothes me somewhat.
“Have you been working with my brother long?” I ask conversationally.
“A few months,” Eda supplies readily. “After your father passed, I assumed I’d never hear from him again. But you Maguires always take me by surprise.”
I grimace at the mention of my father. If what Eda said before was true, that meant my father is partially to blame for my addiction. And right now, I don’t think I have enough information to begin processing that.
Eda mistakes the look on my face entirely. “Do not be jealous, darling. I’ve never takenConnorout for drinks. Our meetings are always strictly business.”
“Were you not close to him?” I find myself asking. “Before, I mean.”
Eda’s face saddens. “Your brother and sister were a little older when your mother passed. To them, I was just another colleague of your father’s. They both managed their grief by distracting themselves with work. Something that you didn’t have the privilege of.”
“Aimee always worked hard.”
“I suppose it’s been a while since you’ve seen your sister,” Eda comments before backtracking. “My apologies. Your brother told me a little about the situation with Padraic Duffy.”
“Yes, well. It’s a strange situation,” I say, suddenly a little guarded.
“I actually happened upon her not so long ago,” she casually offers in response, as if she’s not dropping a bombshell.
“What?”
Eda nods. “It was at a ball. The Duffys throw one every year. It’s more of a networking event than anything else. But there she was, beautiful as ever in this new fancy dress. Seemed very surprised to see me.”
My stomach churns a little. Yet another thing Aimee forgot to mention. Did it slip her mind, or was it intentional? She’s never hidden her distaste for Eda before. It tracks that she would want me to stay away from her. It’s just so hard to trust her anymore.
“She never said anything,” I say quietly.
Eda’s eyebrow raises slightly. “So you have spoken to her?”
Shit.I take a sip of alcohol by way of stalling.
“We had a brief conversation over the phone,” I lie through my teeth.
