We were having dinner at home for a change -- not going out to some stupid restaurant. It felt good-- the fire was on in the living room, I'd stuffed a chicken, and we were having a great salad with some of our favorite Napa Cabernet.
Eric seemed to be pretty "up" lately. I guess 'cause Greg had been lying low, minding his own business in the guest house -- and of course, I really felt things were better without Mark Fitzgerald in the picture.
I took the right moment and told him my news.
"I got a call from Eclectic Foods today."
"Oh yeah? Who's that?"
Eclectic Food was this incredibly hot, upscale catering company. My old work, Royal Catering envied their inventiveness because they were always being written up in the entertainment trade magazines. I was sure I'd told Eric about them before and it bugged me that he didn't remember -- I sure as heck was gonna remember Tyler O'Brien -- his new famous patient.
"They want me to come in for an interview." I mumbled.
Eric swallowed some of the Cabernet, wiped his mouth and turned to me,
"You really want to get back into that whole mess again, Drew? It's such a dead end."
"Offers aren't knocking at the door, darlin'."
He knew I was right. He knew I was bored too, but he gave me his same old pitch again, telling me to, "Relax, honey -- it's not often you get this kind of time off and you're working wonders with the house. You deserve a break, especially till this thing with Rudy Marinaro blows over. I don't want you to stress yourself out if this winds up in court."
I wanted to say 'Who said this was going to wind up in court?' but drank some water instead. I swear to God, Eric was more caught up in this court thing than I was!
"I'm not calling Mark Fitzgerald, if that's what you're suggesting, Eric."
He was taken aback. "Drew, Mark Fitzgerald has nothing to do with this."
"I know, Eric. This is about the fact that a really good company has expressed interest in me and it feels good. It feels great," I paused. "I'm going on the interview."
"Great, go. I want you to. But don't blame Mark for being frustrated, Drew."
Why did I get the feeling that Eric and Mark were friends and I wasn't? I suddenly felt, for the first time ever, that Eric was keeping something from me.
I looked at him.
He was clearly nervous about something...
"Have you been seeing Mark Fitzgerald, Eric?"
