The Resident (part twenty-seven)

Chapter Four

An Odd Man Out

(part twenty-seven)

A year later, they were married at Oathbreach Farm.

At Christmas. The promise had woven itself in, and once their friendship arrived to Claudie’s sharing his apartment, she talked about Christmas as a given, cookies she might bake, if Gina could maybe teach her, the sort of dress, a wintry dress, not white but something fun…

“Would you wear a tuxedo?” she asked.

Hesitation.

“Wear a sweater. I like your sweaters.”

Bitterness, did he see any? Would he know the subtleties, to save himself? He tried: “We can both wear sweaters.”

“I like that best! But I want a skirt with a train.” She danced, and mocked gauziness flowing through her hands. “Well, a veil, too… Or a hat.”

He had seen the magazines she’d bought, bride-models in Stetsons, cocked top hats. “Dallas Does It Bigger”; “An Equestrian Extravaganza in the Hamptons.”

“An extravaganza skirt,” he said, without helping himself.

“Ooh! I don’t know what that is.”

The phone rang.

His mother said, “John, I appreciate Claudie. She’s lovely. But I think she is not familiar…I guess…with responsibilities. You are going to need a reservation, probably a few months ago. You’d better call Oathbreach pronto.”

Oh. He wished his mother had. Of all gifts, her thinking of things and getting them done, for a son who didn’t and couldn’t, would have been…most appreciated. He called the next day, when they had hours, and the woman told him, “I’m so sorry. We absolutely can’t.”

“But you have a buffet, a holiday buffet?”

“The twenty-fourth, from eleven to three.”

“Is it reservations?”

“Yee-es. But… Let me look in my book.” Pages ruffled. Sucking on a pen came over the line, and John fought dropping the receiver. “How many?”

“How many?”

“In your party.”

“Two.” No, that doesn’t make sense. Wouldn’t Mom and Dad be there? “Um…”

“Two is no problem. You can pick a time.”

“What if four?”

“Have you been here?”

Stacy from the phone shadowed Aura, Director of Guest Services, who wanted them to see what the seating was. Under the light of French doors (the escape end; he always thought of public spaces that way), were brass-legged divans, brown-black leather, four cube tables, white. He took a seat, invited, and looked across. The dining room advanced under columns to a pair of half-walls, a corridor and stairs.

“Each banquette is considered for two people, but you’re basically reserving the meal. If you don’t mind these…and so it costs less. We have tables held for members’ first refusal. One might come open, but if you’re really planning a wedding…”

“We’ll bring in the green sofas and move these modern blights out.”

40

An Odd Man Out

The Resident (part twenty-eight)

(2025, Stephanie Foster)