“Let’s go say hello to Stacy and John. Maybe we can sit with them?” Gina suggested. She was glad to see a familiar face. She really liked Stacy and knew she rarely got out, as she was usually either working at the restaurant or home with her children.
“Sure. John’s a good guy. I want to introduce you to everyone too.”
They made their way over to Stacy and John’s table.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” Stacy admitted.
“I just said the same to Alex.” They chatted for a bit and then Alex wanted to mingle. “Can I set my purse next to you? We’ll be back soon.”
Alex led her first to the bar, which was set up in a corner of the room. “What would you like?”
“Chardonnay, please.”
He ordered a scotch on the rocks for himself.
“I didn’t know you were a scotch drinker?” He’d had beer when they’d gone out before.
“I’m trying to acquire a taste for it. It’s what a lot of these guys drink. It’s not too bad. It grows on you.”
They got their drinks and Alex led her over to a sea of suits. The first person he introduced her to was Cory Lawson. She’d seen him before, of course. Everyone knew who Cory Lawson was. She’d waited on him at the bar a few times before he headed to a table where he usually ordered the most expensive things on the menu and always picked up the tab. He never brought a girlfriend in, though, not since Mandy and her sisters took over the restaurant. So, as much of a jerk as she’d heard he was to Mandy, Gina was glad he never crossed that line of flaunting his dates there.
“Nice to meet you, Gina. I recognize you from Mimi’s Place, of course. The food is wonderful there. I’ve always been a fan.”
“It’s very nice to meet you too.” Gina noticed he was drinking scotch, too, and smiled. So, that’s where Alex got it from.
“This is my fiancée, Hannah.” Cory introduced her to his much younger girlfriend. Hannah was very pretty, but had a somewhat pained expression and didn’t look like she was having a very good time. She also noticed that Hannah was the only person who didn’t have a cocktail. And a moment later, she saw Hannah pat her stomach and whisper something to Cory before heading to the ladies’ room.
“Hannah’s a little under the weather,” Cory said. “Morning sickness, but hers happens morning, noon, and night.”
“Congratulations,” Alex said.
Cory smiled. “Thanks. She just gave me permission to share the good news. We’re both excited.”
Gina wondered if Hannah was as excited as Cory. She hoped so. Hannah was very young, and they hadn’t been dating all that long. She likely conceived early on as most people didn’t share the news until the baby was about three months along.
Someone else came over to talk to Cory, and Alex introduced her to the rest of the people in the office. She met the two admin support women, who were lovely. There were several other analysts and two more senior level guys, Jim and Todd, who were in the role that Alex aspired to. They were both Portfolio Managers. They had a swagger about them, and it was clear that they loved what they did. Alex’s face lit up as they stood talking.
Their wives came over, each holding a glass of wine, and were introduced to Gina. Bethany and Jessica both had the upscale, preppy look that was so often seen on Nantucket. They were both blonde, with razor straight hair that fell to the tops of their shoulders, and dresses that Gina had seen in the local shops and couldn’t begin to afford.
They were friendly to Gina until one of them recognized her. “You work at Mimi’s Place, right? In the bar.” Her expression when she said ‘bar’ looked as though she’d bit into a sour lemon. Gina knew that look. It meant she’d just been dismissed as inferior to them.
She smiled proudly. “Yes, I manage the bar and sometimes the dining room.”
“I worked in a restaurant one summer, when I was in college. I hated it and swore never again,” Bethany said.
Gina suspected that she probably wasn’t very good at it. Restaurant work could be challenging and not everyone could keep up with the fast pace. Or had the right temperament for it.
“I knew better than to even try,” Jessica said with a smile. “I think I’d be horrible at it.” She seemed a little bit nicer, and Gina just smiled back in response.
“Do you want to go sit?” Bethany asked. Jessica nodded.
“Nice to meet you, Gina,” Jessica said as the two of them turned to leave.