Phoenix tried to control his clenching stomach muscles. The queue moved ahead, and though he was next in line, he couldn’t gain enough self-control to close the gap between him and the cashier. He waved the woman forward, “Please—”
She looked at him askance and turned to the barista. “Caffe Americano, two Splendas.”
Phoenix composed himself enough to join her. “Double espresso, black.” He pulled out his credit card, “I’ve got these,” he said.
“You paying for laughing at me?”
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t laughing at you. But I would like to pay.”
They waited at the counter for their brews. He didn’t know what overcame him. “Would you like to sit for a moment and delay the tax filing further? I’ll try to explain my jocularity.”
She nodded with such conservation of motion that he wasn’t sure it was assent.
When their drinks arrived, she double-fisted them and followed him to a small round table.
She sat and put out her hand. “Catarina Dubrovski; friends call me Rina.”
The last time he’d laughed this much was with a woman who couldn’t be part of his life. Phoenix grimaced. He rested his cane against the wall to shake her hand. “Phoenix Walker.” He settled into a chair and tried to get serious.
“Ms. Dubrovski, I hope I’ve not offended you. I work in advertising, and we had a creative idea about bots replacing actuaries. It was hysterical but too offensive to be produced.”
“Well, Mr. Walker, there’s nothing funny about actuaries.”
He took a sip of the scalding espresso and used the pain to still his mirth. “Well, Ms. Dubrovski, I’ve laughed more just now than I have in a month.”
“If the idea of actuaries cracks you up, it must’ve been some serious month.”
“Yea, it’s not been a great few months.”
She nodded and pulled out a business card. “If you ever need an actuary here’s my number.” She wrote her personal contact information on the back of the card.
He peered down at it. “Your office isn’t far from mine.”
“I’m here on assignment from Toronto, and I’ve picked up some tips, like don’t try to find an uber on a rainy day, and don’t buy the homeless a sandwich ‘cause they just want the money.”
He was suddenly inspired by the idea of her being a welcome diversion at an upcoming family commitment. “Have you ever experienced Thanksgiving in America?”
“Not yet, but call me. It’d be fun to spend Thanksgiving being laughed at.”
CHAPTER 31
SIXTEEN SALTINES
Phoenix
THANKSGIVING, THURSDAY NOVEMBER 22
Caleb and Rina accompanied Phoenix to Uncle George and Aunt Betsy’s brownstone. Mom embraced her boys. Phoenix turned to introduce the woman behind him in the foyer, clothed in a metal-gray interview-ready suit. “Rina is on assignment in New York from Canada.”
The large-framed woman offered a handshake.
Mom took it, and eyed Rina with an appraising expression like a physician discovering a pernicious infection. Aunt Betsy hurried over and hugged her sister’s boys. “You two get better-looking every time I see you!”
Too polite to say so out loud, Phoenix leaned on his cane towards Rina. “Not sure how I should take that. Last time she’d seen me, I’d just been run over by a train.”
“She didn’t say anything about my appearance. Does that mean I look worse than someone who’s been run over by a train?”
Phoenix nearly choked laughing. That’s what he needed, someone to wisecrack over his accident. He caught sight of Caleb’s scowl.
