“Or you. It’s a problem.”
She disappeared back into the bathroom.
“Robbie knows a place in Chinatown. Little family spot on Beach Street. His office is around the corner and he swears by their dumplings.”
“Dumplings on Valentine’s Day.”
“Better than overcooked poultry on Valentine’s Day.” Her voice echoed off the tile. “Wear something nice. Not fancy nice. Just... nice. Like you didn’t roll out of your boyfriend’s bed four hours ago.”
“I didn’t roll. I walked. With dignity.”
“You had pillow creases on your face.”
I couldn’t argue with that.
I showered, put on jeans and the green sweater Diane said made my eyes look like a person who had feelings, and let her clip her mother’s gold earrings onto my ears.
“There,” she said, stepping back to assess. “You look like a woman who has her life together.”
“Appearances can be deceiving.”
“That’s the whole point of earrings.”
I called Jack from the kitchen phone. He picked up on the second ring.
“Change of plans,” I said. “We’re going out.”
“We said we didn’t need?—”
“Diane is insisting. She wants to meet you properly, and apparently her boyfriend Robbie knows a Chinese restaurant in Chinatown that will change our lives.”
There was a pause. “A double date.”
“I know. It’s very normal. Try not to panic.”
He laughed—a real one, surprised out of him. “I don’t panic.”
“You panicked when I found the letter in your trash can.”
“That was a controlled emotional response.”
“You went completely white.”
“I’m Irish. I’m always white.” Another pause, and when he spoke again, his voice was warmer. “A double date sounds good. I’d like to meet the famous Diane.”
“She’s already preparing to judge you. Fair warning.”
“I’d expect nothing less from your best friend.”
The restaurant wason Beach Street, wedged between a bakery with roast ducks hanging in the window and a shop selling ceramic lucky cats. No sign in English, just Chinese characters in red neon and a handwritten menu taped to the glass door.
Inside, it was bright and loud and exactly the opposite of every candlelit Valentine’s dinner happening across the city. Formica tables. Fluorescent lights. A fish tank by the register with a single enormous goldfish that looked like it had seen things. The kind of place where the food was extraordinary because no one was wasting money on ambience.
Robbie was already there, holding a table near the back. He stood when he saw us and his face split into the grin Diane had described—easy, warm, the kind of smile that made you feel like he’d been waiting all day to see you specifically.
“Maggie!” He pulled me into a hug like we’d known each other for years instead of one loud night at a club. “Good to see you again.” He turned to Jack and extended his hand. “And you must be Jack. I’ve been told to be on my best behavior tonight, which for me is a significant challenge.”
Jack shook his hand. “Jack. I’ve been told nothing, which probably means I should be worried.”
