Robert's Rules by J.F. Riordan

Author:J.F. Riordan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Beaufort Books
Published: 2018-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

As he had expected, Jim’s blind date had been, if not a fiasco, then a waste of time. The woman was the niece of one of the summer people, not a regular on the Island, and therefore an unknown quantity. He had taken her to an event at the arts center, and she had fidgeted and yawned throughout. Afterward, out of politeness, Jim invited her for a drink, but as soon as she accepted, he regretted doing so.

They drove separately, and met in the parking lot of Nelsen’s. Jim held the door for her, and they went in. Eddie greeted them with a smile and a raised eyebrow. Jim gave him a look of long suffering.

The drink made her chatty, and the speed with which she downed it made Jim—who was no teetotaler—a little nervous. Unhappily, he offered to buy her a second one, which she accepted. She talked for a while about a television show she liked. When Jim mentioned that there had been northern lights the night before, she was uninterested. Jim mentioned a book he was reading about Frederick Olmstead, the great landscape designer. She yawned, and said she didn’t read much.

Jim could well believe it.

After she had finished the second drink as rapidly as the first, the conversation died, and Jim was not in a mood to attempt resuscitation. They sat in silence for an interminable five minutes before she decided to end their misery, as Jim had hoped.

“I guess I’d better be going. My favorite show is on in a few minutes.”

Politely, Jim stood, and signaling Eddie that he’d be back, walked her out to her car.

“Bye,” she said, and drove off without a thank you.

Jim watched her go, and then went back into Nelsen’s and sat down at the bar. Eddie, who was busy, came over to check in.

“You owe me for that,” said Jim.

Eddie grimaced. “Sorry, man. Seemed like it was worth a shot. At least maybe it got your mind off…you know…for a while.”

“Actually,” said Jim, slowly, “it kind of made it worse.”

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