Page 129 of Out of the Gold

“Yeah, we made plans to go to dinner tomorrow night.”

“I’m sure you’re going to enjoy getting to know both him and his fiancée. Well, I should go, your mother will be back here soon. I love you, Princess.”

“Love you too, Daddy.”

Tossing the phone next to the uneaten salad, I decide it’s time for bed. Not that sleep ever comes.

The next night, I enter the restaurant late and King’s already seated. We never got to know each other growing up, and this is our first try at reconnecting. Joining the table, I give my big brother a hug and shake his fiancée’s hand. “Sorry I’m late. I got caught up with a design in the office.”

“I can imagine how busy you must be, Miss Lead Costume Designer.” He smiles, the corner of his hazel eyes—so much like mine—crinkling. I explain about my hiring process and what I’ve been up to with the designs.

“Please, tell me about yourselves. I had no idea you were into real estate.” I glance at my brother.

“That’s because I wasn’t.” He laughs. “Angie, here, is a great teacher. And motivator. And co-star.” He leans over and kisses her cheek.

Ignoring the shot of jealousy racing through my veins, I look at Angie for clarification, her big diamond ring blinks at me. She tells me about how they were brought together by their reality show and how she hated him on sight.

“The feeling was mutual,” King says, reaching for his bourbon.

“And then it wasn’t,” Angie continues with their story, including their attending one of Hunte’s concerts at Jones Beach this past summer.

King picks up the narrative. “We saw him and Sara a couple of weeks ago in Chicago, when we were there for a real estate convention. We had a nice time. It’s really great to have reconnected with him. And now you. Family means a lot.”

His sincerity sends warmth through every part of my body. “I like getting to know you, as well. And I’m so very sorry I wasn’t around this summer when you were in the hospital.”

He waves his hand. “I’m fine now. Everything’s been taken care of by the cops. And we’re planning our wedding and looking for a house out in the Hamptons.”

“It took me a long time to convince your brother we needed to stay within our means and not buy a multimillion-dollar house.”

They gaze at each other and move in for a kiss. The love radiating between the two of them causes me to fix the napkin on my lap. “I’m happy for you two.”

King smiles at me, his white teeth almost sparkling with happiness. “So tell me, sis, what’s up with your personal life? I know all about your job, but what do you do outside it? Do you have a special someone?”

“No.” I bet our parents put them up to asking me.

King confirms my suspicions. “Dad mentioned what happened at dinner.”

They look at each other. Angie affirms, “We don’t mean to pry.”

I play with the knitting needles in my hair. “I know you don’t,” I say, because it’s what’s expected. We sit in awkward silence for a few minutes.

Angie tries to rekindle our conversation, “Your brother and I go to the beach to clear our heads. What do you do here in the City to relax?”

Her question brings me up short. “Well, I go out with my friends.” That sounded normal.

She breaks off a piece of bread for her and King, and offers the basket to me. After pouring olive oil onto my plate, I dip the warm bread into it. So reminiscent of Italy. I drop the bread, uneaten.

Angie continues, “The City is so busy all the time. While it must be nice to go to new restaurants, do you find them relaxing as well?”

I consider her query. “Not really. But it’s fun. I wouldn’t have suggested this place if I hadn’t found it with my friends before the movie shoot.”

The waiter brings our entrees. King salts his without tasting it, and Angie rebukes him. I like her. He needs a woman’s hand, since he’s always seemed so hard to me. She’s softened him around the edges. I take a bite of my beef Wellington. While I’ve enjoyed this dish before, tonight it’s tasteless. I’m sure it has everything to do with my current emotional state, and not a reflection on the chef’s culinary talents.

Angie swallows her steak and exclaims, “Well, I’m certainly glad you found this place. It’s great.”

I force my face to reflect her excitement and try my dish again. Still unappetizing. I cut up several pieces of the beef, moving them around my plate. King finishes his meal first and I push mine away from me. Angie takes her time, savoring every last bit.

King lifts his bourbon to his mouth, eyeing me speculatively. “How did you enjoy working on the movie? Was it much different from your job on the show?”

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