‘Well, I actually found the descendants of each box and returned it to them, but there was also another box, an eighth one,’ Mia said. ‘And it had my aunt’s name inside.’
‘But tell us! What was inside?’ his mother asked.
‘Nothing was inside, that’s the frustrating part, whereas every other box was filled with clues,’ Mia shared. ‘But what Idid find in her home was this old notebook, containing drawings of fairies, along with this bottle that was hidden with her box. Which would appear to indicate that my aunt was responsible at the very least for creating the label on the bottle.’
A conversation broke out in French around her, and Mia looked to Joe to translate.
‘What is everyone saying?’ she asked. ‘And why do they look so animated?’
Joe leaned in, closer than she’d expected him to. ‘They’re interested because my great-grandfather was arrested for the illegal production of absinthe during the war. That’s why I knew my mother would connect with your story,’ he said. ‘He fought against Prohibition in the United States, then came here and was soon faced with the same challenge, only with absinthe.’
‘Why didn’t you say something yesterday?’ Mia asked.
‘And ruin all this fun?’ He leaned back in his chair. ‘You’re the most interesting person I’ve met in a long time, and your story was too good not to share with my family.’
His smile was full of mischief, and she found herself shaking her head.
‘Long before my family established a legitimate gin business, my great-grandfather and his brother were infamous for their absinthe production. My great-grandfather was arrested, but his brother wasn’t, and thankfully when he’d served his sentence he had a business to return to. And once it was legal again, they began to produce it once more,’ Joe told her. ‘It’s what fuelled my passion to make the great cocktails of the past for a new generation to enjoy, knowing that the drink has such a rich history. And I like that there is a nod to my family’s heritage in what I do.’
‘So there truly is more than a chance you’ll be able to help me?’ she asked. ‘You and your family might actually be able to help me track down where this bottle originated from?’
But it wasn’t Joe who answered her as his thigh brushed against hers; it was his mother.
‘If anyone could help you find answers to your questions, Mia, it would have been my grandfather.’
Would have?Her heart sank. ‘He’s passed?’
‘He has, but that doesn’t mean we can’t still help you. We have contacts in the business all over France, and it would be my great pleasure, especially since you’ve travelled here looking for answers.’ She smiled. ‘And maybe because my son clearly likes you so much.’
Mia swallowed, not daring to glance at Joe.
‘I’ll reach out to some old friends who might be able to help in the morning,’ she said, as she carefully lifted the small bottle and looked between the label to the open page of sketches. ‘But until we can find out more, why don’t you tell me how you met my son? You said that it was something to do with this mystery of yours. Someone who sent you to his bar?’ His mother laughed, giving her son a look that made Mia wonder whether they had fooled her at all. ‘I think I would like to thank whomever it was.’
Mia glanced at Joe, who touched his thumb to her shoulder and ran a distracting circle against the silk fabric of her dress there that felt very muchnotlike a charade.
‘Maman, I just remembered that I have to introduce Mia to everyone else,’ Joe said, gesturing for her to come with him. ‘I promise I’ll bring her back later, and then we can tell youallabout how we met.’
‘Well, Mia, I hope we can help you find the answers you seek,’ his mother said, before giving her son a smile that suggested she wasn’t done with him yet. ‘Why don’t you bring Mia to lunch on Saturday, and then we can put our heads together, no? See what we can figure out, and I’ll make that call tomorrow.’
Mia glanced at Joe, but he only smiled and turned to her, and she had no idea what her response was supposed to be. Did heeven want to see her again? Would he truly want her at a family lunch? It felt like this was taking their charade a little too far; but still, if his mother was prepared to help her…
‘Mia?’ he asked, seeming to leave the decision in her court.
She wasn’t sure what was happening, whether he was playing a game, or his mother was, or whether it was simply a warm invitation, but if it helped her to discover more about Hope…
Mia bit down on her lip for a moment before nodding, hoping that Joe didn’t regret his decision to invite her to the party in the first place. ‘I’d love to. Thank you.’
Joe ushered her back through the crowd, and it took her a moment to realise that he was pointing her towards the bar.
‘So when you asked me last night, did you really need a date?’ she asked.
The corner of his mouth tilted into a half-smile. ‘If I’m honest, I liked the idea of seeing you again. But I wasn’t lying about how aggressive my sisters and mother are when it comes to my dating life. Or lack of,’ he said. ‘It seemed like a beneficial arrangement for both of us.’
She sighed. ‘But you don’t feel just a little bit guilty that your mother thinks we’re together?’
Joe shrugged. ‘I like her to think I’m happy,’ he said. ‘I also knew she’d love to hear about your family mystery, which is one of the reasons I asked you to come.’
‘Are you not happy?’ she asked, wishing the words hadn’t come out of her mouth the moment she said them. ‘Sorry, I shouldn’t have asked that.’
