The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer

Author:Mikki Brammer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: St. Martin's Publishing Group

28

“Don’t make my drink too strong, Leo.” I sat down at his dining table ready for our next bout of mahjong.

He bent industriously over his bar cart stirring a bourbon concoction, a wizard to his cauldron. Ice clinked against the glass like wind chimes. With a satisfied grin, he slid the drink in front of me, the comforting smell of bar soap radiating from his skin as it always did.

“How’s that new job of yours going?”

“Claudia? She’s a really interesting woman—reminds me of you, actually.”

Leo eyed me with a skeptical half smile. “A rich white woman on the Upper West Side reminds you of me?” His tone was playful but his message clear.

“Okay—I mean her cheeky sense of humor, yearning for the good old days, and love of bending the rules reminded me of you.”

“Well, of those qualities I’m guilty.” Leo sipped his drink, then smacked his lips a few times in deliberation. “A little too much lime, I think.”

I sipped mine cautiously. “I think it’s delicious.” I grinned at him. “Am I disappointing you with my less-than-discerning palate?”

“You’ll learn soon enough, my young protégée.”

I handed him the dice. “Your turn to roll first.”

Cupping them in his lithe hands, he shook the dice dramatically beside each ear as if rattling a coconut. “I hear you’ve been spending a lot of time with our new neighbor.”

He tossed the dice onto the table. A two and a four.

“Sylvie? Yeah, she’s really nice.” I collected the dice and shook them sideways in my palm. “We’ve hung out a couple of times—went for coffee, did a yoga class, she made me dinner—things like that.”

I dusted my hands with satisfaction as my toss revealed a five and a six. Leo shot me a mock glare.

“Sounds like a budding friendship, if you ask me.”

Self-consciousness set my cheeks aglow. “It’s probably too soon to call it that.” I hoped my shrug appeared sufficiently nonchalant.

“Well, I think Sylvie’s a great addition to the building.” Leo sipped his bourbon again. “Not least because she shares my love of neighborhood gossip.”

“So does that mean you won’t be talking my ear off so often about the neighborhood’s dirty secrets?”

“I know you just pretend to disapprove of it because your grandpa did. Of course, a gentleman like him would never engage in that kind of behavior. But you know what?” Leo leaned forward and lowered his voice. “I think deep down he enjoyed it as much as you do, but neither of you ever admitted it.”

I blushed. There were some benefits to getting the neighborhood news without having to make small talk with strangers.

“I miss him.”

“Me too,” Leo said. “Good old Patrick. Hard to believe it’s been thirteen years without him.”

Our game paused as we sat in reflection.

“Leo, did Grandpa ever talk to you about what it was like to have to raise me all by himself?” The ice cubes in my glass formed a lethargic whirlpool. “I mean, I was kind of thrust upon him out of nowhere. I think I’d only even met him twice before that.

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