She grins, peering again at the elegant script before setting the menu down. “Well. I’ve never had oysters before, so I’m still not sure what the best fit for me will be.”
I meet her eyes. “I’ll make sure you’re taken care of.”
Our waiter appears. He’s a young man with short blond hair wearing a dark vest over a white button-down.
“Good evening, and welcome to Brassica. My name is Hans and I’ll be assisting you this evening.” He leans down. “Have you been here before?”
“I have, but my lovely companion this evening has not,” I say.
Hans nods. “Great. Would the lady like a tour of the menu?”
“The gentleman has already talked me through it,” Bianca says. “Are there any specials tonight?”
Hans nods. “Our chef has prepared a fabulous blackened sea bass, and we also have Irish soda bread pudding for dessert in honor of St. Patrick’s Day.”
My blood runs cold at the mention of the upcoming holiday—and my birthday. But I’m not going to bring that all on Bianca right now.
“I think we’re actually ready to order right now, if that’s all right.”
Hans pulls out a pad. “Of course. Any drinks?”
I look over to Bianca. “Would you like a cocktail or something?”
She shakes her head. “No, thank you. I’m fine with water. Maybe a nice dry white wine with dinner, depending on what the gentleman orders for me.”
Hans grins, turning to me. “And what would you like to start with, sir?”
I give the menu a final onceover. “The lady will have the Emperor’s Flight, the sampler. And I’ll have…the Black Pearl Reserve.”
Hans nods. “Both excellent choices, sir.”
I pick up the wine menu from the center of the table. “Do you have a recommendation of a wine that will pair nicely with those options?”
“Yes, sir.” Hans leans over my shoulder and points. “If you like your wines on the dry side, I recommend the Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine from the Loire Valley in France. It’s quite dry, with a splash of acidity to brighten it back up. Should wash those oysters down with a clean finish.”
“Excellent. We’ll have a bottle of that, served with the oysters.”
“Wonderful.” Hans tucks his notepad into the pocket of his vest. “If you need anything else, please feel free to flag me down.”
“Thank you, Hans.” I nod to him as he whisks away before turning back to Bianca. “While we wait for the oysters, tell me. How did you decide to pursue a singing career?”
Her cheeks pink at my words. “The classic answer to that question is that the career chose me.”
“Is that accurate?” I lean in.
She exhales sharply through her nose. “Not really. With some people in the industry, you hear these stories about how they were discovered by a college professor at an open-mic night, told that they simply had to join their program. For me… I just always enjoyed performing. Ever since I was a little girl.” Her eyes droop slightly. “Taking on a role offered me a chance to escape the real world. Pretend I was someone I wasn’t.”
“I get it. I think that’s why people love to go to the theater, too. It gives them a chance to escape too.”
Come to think of it, I started going to the theater not long after my initiation into The Club. I begged my parents to buy me tickets. I never put two and two together until right now, but I was definitely using it, at least partially, to distract myself from the memories of that horrible day in the Dimpsey house.
I shake the thought from my head.
I’ve gotten pretty good at that.
“When the time came to choose a college major, musical theatre was the only option I found worthwhile,” Bianca continues. “I went to Oklahoma City University, got a BFA there.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Oklahoma City? I wouldn’t think they’d be especially known for Broadway stuff.”
