Lois Richer - A Will and a Wedding

Jeff picked up the glass and held it aloft.

“A toast to us, Cassandra.”

She frowned at him and he laughed.

“Don’t worry,” he told her. “It’s nonalcoholic. I guess that’s another detail you should know. I don’t drink. Ever.”

His voice was cool, almost hard and Cassie wondered if she should ask why. The dark look on his face was not encouraging, however, and she decided discretion was the better part of valor. Slowly she picked up the slim, fluted crystal and tinkled it against his.

“What are we toasting to?” she murmured.

“To us and the solutions we’re going to find to our disagreements. All of them.”

As she sipped the bubbly concoction, Cassie looked around curiously. The restaurant glowed warmly in the flickering light cast off smoothly polished oak walls. It was a gracefully elegant room with brass fixtures, potted flowers and tall willowy plants strategically placed here and there to provide privacy for its diners. The sound of softly soothing classical guitar played in the background as the tinkle of good china, silver and crystal rang out occasionally.

“I’m having a steak,” Jeff declared, laying down the huge menu. “What would you like?”

“I’ve heard about this place,” Cassie mused, staring at the preponderance of items listed. “A friend of mine said the veal is excellent. I’ll try that.”

Somehow, Cassie felt Jefferson Haddon wouldn’t understand that her friend Moira had only been able to enjoy the veal on her twenty-fifth anniversary because her children had surprised their parents. He probably had no idea that not everyone frequented Vicenzo’s on the spur of the moment.

The waiter bustled away to return seconds later with their soup, a delicious mushroom blend that teased and tantalized her tongue.

“I don’t recognize all of these greens,” Cassie admitted when her salad arrived. “But the dressing is fantastic.” She licked her lips at the flavor of it only realizing how childish her action was when Jeff’s laugh rang out.

“It’s nice to see someone enjoy their food,” he assured her. “And you don’t have to worry about dieting, thank goodness.”

Cassie grinned.

“Are you kidding? With kids around all the time, I’m lucky if I get to eat.” She peered up at him through her lashes. “Why are we here, Jeff?”

She watched as a tiny flush of pink colored his cheeks.

“I, um, well, you see I was hoping that, well,” he stopped, obviously at a loss.

Cassie smiled. For once it was nice to see the elegant, assured Jefferson Haddon stumble for the correct phrasing.

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