Christmas at the Restaurant (The Nantucket Restaurant #2)(32)

“I’m trying to acquire a taste for it. It’s what a lot of these guys drink. It’s not too bad. It grows on you.”

They got their drinks and Alex led her over to a sea of suits. The first person he introduced her to was Cory Lawson. She’d seen him before, of course. Everyone knew who Cory Lawson was. She’d waited on him at the bar a few times before he headed to a table where he usually ordered the most expensive things on the menu and always picked up the tab. He never brought a girlfriend in, though, not since Mandy and her sisters took over the restaurant. So, as much of a jerk as she’d heard he was to Mandy, Gina was glad he never crossed that line of flaunting his dates there.

“Nice to meet you, Gina. I recognize you from Mimi’s Place, of course. The food is wonderful there. I’ve always been a fan.”

“It’s very nice to meet you too.” Gina noticed he was drinking scotch, too, and smiled. So, that’s where Alex got it from.

“This is my fiancée, Hannah.” Cory introduced her to his much younger girlfriend. Hannah was very pretty, but had a somewhat pained expression and didn’t look like she was having a very good time. She also noticed that Hannah was the only person who didn’t have a cocktail. And a moment later, she saw Hannah pat her stomach and whisper something to Cory before heading to the ladies’ room.

“Hannah’s a little under the weather,” Cory said. “Morning sickness, but hers happens morning, noon, and night.”

“Congratulations,” Alex said.

Cory smiled. “Thanks. She just gave me permission to share the good news. We’re both excited.”

Gina wondered if Hannah was as excited as Cory. She hoped so. Hannah was very young, and they hadn’t been dating all that long. She likely conceived early on as most people didn’t share the news until the baby was about three months along.

Someone else came over to talk to Cory, and Alex introduced her to the rest of the people in the office. She met the two admin support women, who were lovely. There were several other analysts and two more senior level guys, Jim and Todd, who were in the role that Alex aspired to. They were both Portfolio Managers. They had a swagger about them, and it was clear that they loved what they did. Alex’s face lit up as they stood talking.

Their wives came over, each holding a glass of wine, and were introduced to Gina. Bethany and Jessica both had the upscale, preppy look that was so often seen on Nantucket. They were both blonde, with razor straight hair that fell to the tops of their shoulders, and dresses that Gina had seen in the local shops and couldn’t begin to afford.

They were friendly to Gina until one of them recognized her. “You work at Mimi’s Place, right? In the bar.” Her expression when she said ‘bar’ looked as though she’d bit into a sour lemon. Gina knew that look. It meant she’d just been dismissed as inferior to them.

She smiled proudly. “Yes, I manage the bar and sometimes the dining room.”

“I worked in a restaurant one summer, when I was in college. I hated it and swore never again,” Bethany said.

Gina suspected that she probably wasn’t very good at it. Restaurant work could be challenging and not everyone could keep up with the fast pace. Or had the right temperament for it.

“I knew better than to even try,” Jessica said with a smile. “I think I’d be horrible at it.” She seemed a little bit nicer, and Gina just smiled back in response.

“Do you want to go sit?” Bethany asked. Jessica nodded.

“Nice to meet you, Gina,” Jessica said as the two of them turned to leave.

“We have room at our table, if you guys want to join us,” Alex invited them.

“Sure, lead the way,” Jim said.

Stacy looked up with interest when they all returned to the table. Introductions were made and Bethany was unimpressed to learn that Stacy not only had three children but also waitressed at Mimi’s Place with Gina. Jessica was polite, though.

“That sounds like hard work, working at the restaurant and raising little children.”

Stacy smiled. “It keeps me busy.”

“Well, maybe if it works out with John, you won’t have to work as much,” Bethany said. “Neither of us work.”

Gina couldn’t imagine not working. “Don’t you get bored?” she asked before she could stop herself.

Bethany laughed. “Hardly. We joined a ladies’ golf league at the club and we’re active with local charities. Cory’s ex-wife Mandy used to do a lot of charity work with us, before the divorce. I hear she’s working at your restaurant now. That’s such a shame.”

Gina had to keep from letting her temper show. “Mandy is one of the owners of that restaurant, and she told me she was dying of boredom and eager to work. She loves it there.”

“Hm. Well, good for her.” Bethany lifted her glass as the waiter came around to indicate that she wanted another. She turned to Jessica and the two of them chatted, talking softly so that no one else could hear them.

Stacy leaned over and whispered to Gina, “She’s horrid. Poor Todd to be married to her. I know John said Todd is a great guy. All the guys are, it seems.”

“Alex seems to really like it there.”

A waiter carrying a silver tray with sweet broiled Nantucket scallops wrapped in bacon stopped by their table and everyone took a scallop or two. A moment later another tray come by, this time with puffy wonton chips topped with diced raw tuna mixed with chili oil, lemon and avocado. More appetizers followed and everything was exquisite.