Page 26 of Kiss Me at Midnight
“Um...” Lily set down her fork and dabbed at those lips Jud liked so much. “Paulo says he has two left feet, but you were so beautiful that he had to approach you.”
“That’s my sugarbae.” Rachel leaned over and nipped Paulo’s arm with her teeth. “I could just eat him up.”
The small piece of avocado on Jud’s fork fell back to his plate. Abe’s cheeks reddened.
“No biting at the table,” Dotty reprimanded Rachel in a calm voice, as if talking to a misbehaving toddler.
Paulo gently cradled Rachel’s chin in his big hand and said something softly before planting a light kiss on her forehead.
Across the table, Dotty sighed. “I’m starting to wish this cruise was dubbed or subtitled in English. Or maybe Paulo should talk less and just worship Rachel with his eyes.”
“Lily can translate,” Jud said, just as curious as Dotty about what was going on.
Everyone at the table turned to Lily, who was blushing profusely.
“Paulo basically said biting is only for…” She swallowed and started over. “Like my grandmother said–no biting at the table.”
Abe cleared his throat, looking as if he could use a change of subject. “Jud, tell me about your movie.”
Their plates were whisked away, replaced by a shot glass of cream of turnip soup.
Jud downed his in one gulp before leaping into his pitch. “It’s a coming-of-age story about the daughter of Mississippi moonshiners who must choose between her parents and the life she wants for herself.” It was an interesting story that was going to require nuances in the telling.
Abe emptied his wine glass.
“Are there superheroes?” Dotty slurped her soup.
“No.”
“Aliens?” The old woman slurped again.
“No.”
“Serial killers?” Dotty stuck her finger in the shot glass and swiped up the last of her soup with it.
“No.”
“Is it a musical?” Dotty licked her soup-coated finger clean.
“No.”
“I see now why you’ve been having trouble getting financing.” Dotty set her soup shot glass back on its tiny serving plate and wiped her hands with her napkin. “It’s missing the wow factor. What do you think, Abe?”
Jud’s sole investor looked like he might be having second thoughts. It only poked at Jud’s existing doubts. Was he ready to direct? Should he focus on his acting career a few years more?
“I don’t think our opinion matters. It’s a quiet film,” Lily said in Jud’s defense. “A piece of Jud he feels an artistic need to express.”
“Oh.” Dotty blinked. “Art house.”
“Yes,” Jud said feeling a wave of gratitude toward Lily.
“I never watch those,” Dotty said.
“More wine, please.” Abe held up his class.
Rachel gave her father a speculative glance.
The next course was served. Two cherries wrapped in fried strips of duck breast and sprinkled with curry powder. It turned Jud’s stomach.
