"So Rosie was here and you didn't tell me?" Denny looked confused between Alan and Brad. Alan sighed and Brad thrust his hands into his pockets.
"So you did know her name then Alan?" Brad said pointedly. Alan looked between them both and sighed again. This was a situation he didn't particularly want to be in, but of course Brad had gone into Denny's office as soon as he returned from court to tell him about Rosalie coming into the office.
"I met her at the party and helped her to get a taxi home. I don't think that means I know her."
"But you did speak to her, and you didn't tell me?"
"You were in court, Denny."
"So?"
"She wants to speak to you and I'm not getting in between that. I invited her to the firm party tomorrow."
"You're dating her now?" Brad asked.
"No he isn't, she's married."
"It's not a date per se, I'm just inviting her to a party."
"See, he isn't dating her – she's my daughter, that would just be weird." Denny sat in his chair and smiled. "I will speak to her and then we will have a lovely evening dancing with the go-go dancers."
"Whoa hang on, she's your daughter?!"
"Yes Brad, please get with the program before you spend time panting over her at reception. Now if you'll excuse me I'll be going to get on with some work." Alan stalked out of the room.
Rosalie was in a boutique in Boston looking at dresses for the party. She flicked through the rails looking for inspiration, and pulled out a black sequined gown. Her phone rang and she fished it out of her bag.
"Rosalie Moran speaking."
"Alan Shore calling."
"Well hello, what's the occasion?"
"Denny knows you're coming to the party, Brad knows you're his daughter, they both think you're still married and somehow no one has worked out you're living in my home and we're having lots of good sex."
"And I'm dress shopping so it sounds like you're having the better day." She put the gown back on the rail. "How did it go?"
"He's looking forward to seeing you. He thinks you'll kiss and make up."
"We probably will. Should I tell him I know?"
"Please don't. I think he wants this to be a beautiful reunion for you. Plus he wants to dance with the go-go girls."
"Nothing could sound more like my dad."
"What sort of dress are you looking for?"
"One that won't rip easily when you're taking it off I suspect."
"Perhaps I should meet you for lunch and have a preview of what it would look like if I were to take it off." Rosalie laughed and picked out the one she knew she had to have.
"It's a little late for lunch. I'll meet you for dinner if you're not working late?"
"I'll do what I can but there's a hearing I need to attend at 4pm. Perhaps just a drink?"
"I'll find a place and see you there."
It was 7pm and Rosalie was sat in the window of a jazz bar, drinking a glass of wine. She was surrounded by shopping bags and was watching rain drizzle down the windows as Alan walked past. He felt his heart skip a little as her face brightened when she saw him. She looked beautiful – her face a little flushed from the weather, she was in jeans and a lemon and grey striped V-neck sweater and heeled boots. Her slightly damp hair was in a messy bun, and as Alan walked in he grinned as he pulled a pencil from her hair as he kissed her.
"Has this been in there all day?"
"Ugh, probably. I was making notes around the map of the dig site in Arles and then I realized I needed to get a dress."
"And half the boutique looking at the bags," he said as he sipped his scotch which had been waiting on the table.
"What are you, my father?" She grinned.
"I'm… an interested party, I suppose."
"It was a joke Alan, don't get in your head. I'm not waiting for a marriage proposal." She drank her wine and looked out at the rain again. "Was it bad? With Dad?"
"It was difficult. I didn't know what to say. He's my best friend Rosalie."
"Well we can go our separate ways if you'd prefer. I can get a room somewhere, go to the party, see Dad and head back to New York."
"I don't want that."
"Then maybe we should tell him."
"I just don't know if that's a good idea either. You saw how he was when we kissed."
"Maybe he was just surprised. You know, with his condition." She fiddled with the stem of her wine glass and avoided Alan's eye. She had to admit, the time she'd spent with Alan had been the happiest she had been for a long time. She wasn't sure if it was the sense of temporary holiday romance, which was starting to subside, or the feeling of being with someone who was her intellectual equal, but she was happy. She wasn't sure she wanted to sacrifice her happiness for a man who didn't even remember he'd invited her to a party.
"Let's enjoy our evening and see what tomorrow brings. We don't need to make a decision now."
"No, we don't. And I actually bought you a present whilst I was out shopping."
"Oh?" Rosalie picked up a bag, took out a box and slid it across the table. Unwrapping the ribbon and opening it, he saw a set of chocolate coloured lace lingerie nestled in tissue paper.
"I thought they'd be a nice colour on you," she said with a seductive smile. "Why don't we have another glass of wine and then take your present back?"
"It's not even my birthday," Alan grinned, and kissed her. He ran his hand up under the back of her sweater, his finger tracing her spine and she kissed him harder. He murmured softly, "Are you sure you want another drink?"
"I want you to enjoy your present and sometimes that means waiting."
