Chapter Four
Ant resigned himself to a long and boring hour as they met Bridget’s prospective beau at one of the local restaurants. It was a pleasant place. Ant and Bridget had dined there alone before and the food was always tasty, with generous portions, and the staff was friendly without being overbearing about it.
Gregory was already waiting for them – a tall, soberly dressed man who was definitely older than the early thirties he’d told Bridget he was. Ant made a mental note to explain to Bridget there were far more reliable ways of judging a person’s age than their hair color. The wrinkles on the neck were a dead giveaway, as was the small age spots on the back of Gregory’s hands.
“Doctor Channon, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” Ant fought not to grimace as Gregory shook his hand in that firm “no-nonsense because we all know I’m in charge” way. He eyed Able, who was sitting by Ant’s leg. “Does that dog have to be here? I’m sure I’ve told you I have allergies, Bridget.”
“Bridget never said anything about it to me, but then we have been very busy lately,” Ant said quickly. Bridget’s face let him know Gregory had never said anything about allergies before. “It’s fine. Not everyone is comfortable around animals. However, Able goes with me everywhere and I make no exceptions to that. I’m happy to sit elsewhere and enjoy my meal on my own, while you two enjoy yours. If you’ll excuse me I’ll see if the owners have a spare table…”
“No. Wait.” Gregory clearly realized he’d overreacted, and he inhaled sharply. “My apologies, that was rude of me. I’m sure that… dog…won’t be any trouble. I just wasn’t aware you required the services of a support animal, Doctor Channon. Please, have a seat. Bridget, sit down. You’re hovering.”
Hovering? Ant quirked an eyebrow at Bridget. Her cheeks were bright pink, but her eyes were flashing, a clear sign she was not impressed with her beau’s behavior. He took the seat next to his sister and indicated for Able to sit next to him, instead of under the table which is where Able usually preferred to be. There was a good chance Gregory would kick Able and then claim the dog had bitten him. Gregory sat across from them.
“Now, then, I’ve already ordered for us. I’m sure you won’t mind. Doctor Channon, you were explaining about your support animal. How does he…”
“Excuse me,” Ant interrupted quietly. “Please tell me you didn’t presume to order food for me and my sister before we had even arrived. Is that normal?” He glanced across at Bridget who was shaking her head.
“Of course, I did.” Gregory was all teeth. “Honestly, this place does its best, but the food takes an intolerable time to arrive after ordering. I’ve personally never seen the point in people sitting around an empty table making small talk. Get in, order, eat, and get out is the only way to dine out in my opinion.”
“I see.” Ant could remember many long hours he and Bridget spent drinking, laughing, and enjoying a relaxing meal. Some of them at the restaurant they were in. “Can I ask what was ordered on our behalf?”
“I ordered Bridget the fish, lightly steamed with a naked salad.” Gregory leaned across the table and patted Bridget’s hand. “I know you don’t have a problem with the extra pounds you’re carrying, but we want to keep an eye on that figure of yours. As for you, Doctor Channon, I ordered you and me the special of the day – it’s a soup that is both filling, nutritious, and remarkably inexpensive for what goes into it. A definite win in my opinion.”
Ant couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He took a closer look at Bridget – she was clearly having trouble getting any words past her lips. “I don’t eat soup. Bridget doesn’t eat fish of any kind because she is actually allergic. You lied about your own allergies, you’ve lied to my sister about your age, you’ve presumed to order for a man you’ve never met before, and told my sister, in front of me, that you think she is overweight and to stop hovering, when she was simply waiting for you to move out of her way so she could get to her seat. Bridget, do you really need me to say anything else?”
“Oh, Ant, I am so sorry.” Ant could tell Bridget hadn’t decided whether she wanted to ream Gregory a new one or cry. “I didn’t know…”
“What have you got to be sorry for?” Gregory genuinely looked surprised. “The man is telling it like it is. A man after my own heart. Doctor Channon, seriously, all joking aside. Believe me when I tell you I have no interest in your sister at all beyond the opportunity of being able to meet you. Women never seem to understand the nuances of serious and intelligent conversation. You on the other hand, your work in the magical community and in particular with the extensive work you do for the police.”
He chuckled, hand on heart. “I confess I’m a bit of a detective buff in my spare time. Nothing much in the way of field experience of course, but I have read extensively on the subject including case notes dating back the past hundred years. If you don’t mind me saying so, you are a very attractive young man. Have you ever considered taking on a mentor? Someone a little older than yourself, who can help guide your career…”
“Excuse me, can you tell me who ordered the fish and the soup, please?” Jenny, one of the servers and daughter of the owners smiled at Bridget.
“I’ll take one of the soups, thank you.” Bridget was clearly fuming.
“Bridget, I said the soup was for Doctor Channon,” Gregory protested. “I ordered you the fish.”
“I’m allergic to fish, you asshole.” Picking up the bowl of soup Jenny had placed in front of her, Bridget threw it. The bowl landed on the table, it’s contents splashing all over Gregory’s suit. “That’s for calling me fat.” She reached across and grabbed the second bowl from Ant’s place settings and threw that, too. “That’s for hitting on my brother.”
Gregory was dripping with the soup by this time – chunks of meat, sauce, and carrot falling off his jacket. “Bridget!”
“Don’t you ‘Bridget’ me in that tone of voice.” Getting up, Bridget smiled at Jenny. “I’ll take the fish dish, too, if you don’t mind.”
“Go right ahead.” Jenny’s eyes were dancing.
Taking the plate, Bridget stormed around the table.
“Don’t throw it, don’t throw it.” Gregory ducked, his arms raised trying to protect his head.
“I wasn’t going to throw it. But you can take your lightly steamed fish dish, with its naked salad, and choke on it.” Swiping the fish off the plate, Bridget mashed it into Gregory’s face before tipping the salad greens over his head. “I can’t believe you were chatting me up just so you could get close to my brother. You absolute asshole.”
“Here, here.” Ant stood up and clapped, jolting when the other patrons in the restaurant also joined in. Even Able gave a single encouraging bark. “Jenny, dear, can you please charge this meal to my card, and perhaps find Bridget and me another table? I don’t think Gregory is staying.”
“But Doctor Channon, Anthony, please. I just wanted to talk to you. I have so many ideas. We’d be so good together.”
“Able. Clean up.” Ant clicked his fingers, taking Bridget’s arm as the dog sprung into action. Jumping up on the table, Able started cleaning up the fish and soup left on the cloth, wagging his tail in Gregory’s face, before turning his attention to the food all over the man’s suit.
There might have been screams of “He’ll eat me, the beast. He’s eating me,” before there was a sound of a chair crashing, feet running, and the slam of the door as Gregory left. Ant ignored it all. He knew Able wouldn’t do anything like that. He was a well behaved dog.
“So, do we want steak tonight, or is this a situation where you want to eat dessert first?” he asked his sister.
“Whatever you want is on the house,” Jenny said, showing them to another table. “Dad said that’s the best entertainment he’s had in here all year.”
“Then we’ll definitely have steak and tiramisu for afterward,” Bridget said as she leaned on Ant’s shoulder. “Why do I do this to myself? Why?”
“This was one of your more amusing choices,” Ant said, patting his sister’s hair. “Remember Evan? Now come on and let’s eat. Your love life might be sorted, but I still have a scene walkthrough to do tonight.”
“Do you think I’ll ever meet someone who is right for me?” Bridget smiled her thanks at Jenny as she took her seat.
“Yep.” Ant sat opposite her, and Able crawled under the table.
“Is that a promise from the other side?”
“Call it intuition.” Ant grinned and when Bridget glared at him, he winked.