CHAPTER TEN
Linda led the group into the formal dining room that held a massive cherry wood dining table and had twelve chairs around it. Each place setting for the ten guests was set with what appeared to be very expensive china. An exquisite vase sat in the middle of the table and was overflowing with gorgeous bright flowers.
Randall was talking with a middle-aged couple at one end of the table, and he smiled as the group entered the room. “I don’t know about everyone else, but I’m starving. I hope you are all hungry.”
“I’ve placed name cards around the table so everyone knows where to sit,” Linda said, pointing to the small white linen cards at the top of each place setting.
“I also want to introduce you all to Joe Klein and his wife, Carol.” She gestured to the couple standing with Randall. “Joe is my real estate agent and introduced me to this beautiful property.”
David couldn’t be sure, but he thought he saw Joe wink at Linda during the introduction. Very odd. He quickly forgot about it as everyone found their respective spots at the table. Linda had definitely gone all out for this, and he sensed that Ellie was feeling uncomfortable after the exchange in the library. He put his hand against the small of her back and led her to the table. She smiled at him gratefully.
David found himself sitting next to Ellie, who was sitting to the left of Randall. David wondered if Randall had any input into that. Linda had also placed Randall at the head of the table. He nodded politely to Randall but he planned to keep an eye on him and any unwelcome behavior toward Ellie. Linda was to Randall’s right, across the table from Ellie. Joe Klein was across the table from him. Joe’s wife sat next to Joe, and then Melanie, with Herbert sitting next to David. Kevin and Eric were on the end facing each other.
Once they were seated, Randall stood with his wine glass in hand. “I’d like to thank everyone for coming together on such short notice. I can’t tell you how much this means to Linda, and how much she enjoys and respects each and every one of you.”
David was surprised that Randall was giving the toast. The man’s relationship with Linda appeared more serious than anyone had let on. Linda just sat and gazed up at Randall with a satisfied smile on her face.
“So if everyone would be so kind as to raise your glass, I’d like to make a toast to the beautiful woman at my side and her wonderful friends.” Randall raised his glass just a touch higher, but David thought he saw a brief glance down at Ellie.
Everyone else took their wine glasses in hand, and murmured a second to Randall’s toast before taking a sip.
David saw that Ellie hesitated before taking a sip. “I’m not usually a fan of red wine,” she whispered to him. “Linda, this is an excellent wine,” she said a bit too loud across the table to her friend.
David wondered what had happened to her in her life that made her worry so much about outward appearances. He thought that the small digs that had been taken at her expense in the library may be weighing on her, and it surprised him to feel a twitch of anger. Ellie seemed so strong at times, but so frail at others.
“Thank you, but I can’t take credit. Randall picked it out,” Linda said as she raised her own glass.
“Of course he did,” Melanie Wilson uttered in a low undertone.
“What, dear?” Linda glanced down the table at Melanie.
“Nothing, nothing, Linda. I was also complimenting Randall on his fine wine selection,” Melanie said into her wine glass.
From what David could tell from his short acquaintance with Melanie Wilson, it seemed almost impossible for her to keep a rein on her tongue. He saw a look on her husband’s face that was a mixture of chagrin and exasperation.
If Linda heard the sarcasm, or sensed the tension at the table as everyone waited for her response, she appeared not to notice. “Of course,” she said, smiling at Randall.
At that moment Jeffrey and a female server appeared in the doorway carrying plates. They gently set a lush green salad in front of everyone and Linda seemed pleased. “Please, everyone, let’s eat.”
The tension bled away, and everyone was quiet for a time as the dinner began in earnest. David was feeling full by the third course, but the food didn’t seem to be stopping. Linda herself ate little, even with a gesture from Randall. She seemed more focused on the real estate agent at her side, and then ensuring that her guests were having a good time. Soon multiple conversations were going on again, and a comfortable buzz filled the air.
“Linda tells me you’re a doctor, David.” Randall’s soft voice cut through the din like a knife.
David cleared his throat and wiped his linen napkin across his lips. “Yes, that’s correct. I’m finishing my residency at the hospital downtown.”
“Excellent. Being a doctor is a fine profession.” Randall nodded appreciatively. He raised his wine glass and spun the rich liquid within for a moment, looking into its depths. “It is very demanding of you, though, I’m sure. I mean time and energy wise.”
“I manage.” David shrugged. “I enjoy what I do so that makes it all very worth it.”
David saw Ellie smile at him with a look of pleasure. David hoped that the person that he would ultimately choose to spend his life with would appreciate that. He knew it was a hard choice to be with someone who had a job that was practically a marriage itself. But he thought Ellie may be different given that she was a business owner and he was sure that required a lot of her time.
“Are you are hoping for a family someday?” Randall persisted.
“Of course. Just because I have a demanding job doesn’t mean that I don’t want to have a wife, kids, house, the whole thing,” David said. He didn’t understand where Randall was going with his line of questioning. The rest of the table had quieted and everyone else was listening now as well.
“But being there at life’s crucial moments; now that’s the stuff that makes life worth it. Seems like it would be a shame to start a family and then not be able to be there when it matters,” Randall said, swirling the wine in his glass.
David saw that although Randall was trying hard to appear nonchalant, he was actually watching Ellie’s reaction closely. Was it possible that the man was trying to warn Ellie away from him?
“There’s no reason I can’t be there when I need to be.” David was starting to get annoyed. He didn’t understand why he had to justify himself to this man. Plus he remembered having a similar argument with his father. His father had said something about…sacrifices. And being willing to make difficult decisions.
“I don’t mean to offend.” Randall held up his hands in a mock gesture of peace. “I just know that when the demands of a career come knocking, other things will be…sacrificed.”
Randall’s word choice was strange, especially given David’s memory of the disagreement with his own father. “Are you talking from experience?” David retorted. He felt everyone at the table lean forward in anticipation. Ellie’s hand came from under the table and rested on his forearm, and he wondered if she thought he was going too far. But David didn’t like to be bullied, especially by someone he had only just met.
“The ramblings of old man,” Randall laughed. “Feel free to ignore me. The energies of youth are beyond my grasp now.” He looked at Linda and smiled. “Other things are much more important to me these days.”
David shook his head. He should have expected Randall’s deflection. The intensity of the emotions the short conversation raised within him surprised him. He could tell that the time for questions had passed, and as the negative energy welled inside him he realized that he felt…yucky. It was exactly the feeling the group had been trying to explain to him.
“Is everyone enjoying their supper?” Linda asked, looking away from Randall. Her gaze settled on Joe Klein, although the question had been directed to everyone. Murmurs of approval came from around the table. David noted that Joe seemed annoyed about the interaction between Linda and Randall. Although no words were exchanged, he saw Linda pat Joe on the arm. He wondered if
Linda’s natural exuberance had rubbed off a bit on the agent, and if he wasn’t a bit sweet on her. Everyone seemed sweet on Linda.
“Well, if everyone is finished, then, I’d like to give you the grand tour. We can finish with coffee and cognac in the library,” Linda said. “And if you are all very good, there will perhaps be a little sweet thing waiting as well for dessert.”
“Oh goody.” Kevin clapped his hands together in anticipation, and everyone laughed.
As they stood, Jeffrey and the server emerged from the kitchen and started clearing away the dishes. Linda led the guests back to the great hall where they had entered.