Thursday June 27 Ambrose visits again

She picked Ambrose up at 2:00. She watched him approach. He was still the tall and lanky 18 year old she met so long ago but now he had steel grey hair with dark eyebrows over his large brown eyes. He had a few crinkles around his eyes but his cheeks were smooth. His full lips and a broad chin balanced out his face. He looked a little tanned from their outing earlier in the week. Bobbie kissed him and said they were going right to the motel. He enjoyed the drive. “The motel looks really nice. A lot better than old street view pictures.”

She parked around back and they went in the back door. “We’ll take the elevator.”

The Doors opened and he looked around. “The ceilings are so high and there is so much light. He went to the dining room and looked out the floor to ceiling corner window. “This is a nice view of your mountain. Is that building part of the motel?”

“Partly, My registration is there but there are a few offices upstairs and down with reception there is a small art gallery.”

“I see.”

“This is all my place. I have the dining room, kitchen and living room on this side and guest bedrooms and my office are here and my bedroom and my media room are back there.”

“This is amazing Bobbie, where’s Fossy?”

“His little bed is over here and I put his litter in There. Here he is on his bed with his toys. I’m glad you like the place. So you’re going to be staying with me in my room. Would you like to take your bag in and maybe get a bit more comfortable?”

Mark came to the door with their salmon and Bobbie went out to thank him.

“Mink told me to ask if he was here yet.”

“Tell them yes, you’ll see him tomorrow at my little soiree, I might need a little help.”

“I’ll tell Mink they can serve drinks tomorrow night, they’ll be thrilled.”

She put the salmon in the fridge and Brose wandered into the kitchen .“Trouble with the staff?”

“No, nothing like that, they want to meet the boss’s new boyfriend”

“I see.”

“It could be a good thing, I’ll have lot’s of help tomorrow evening.”

“I see you hung my painting?”

“Thank you so much, I did, I don’t actually remember posing on that rock with the blanket so artfully draped over me.”

“I used a little artistic license.”

“So, do you like to barbecue?” Said Bobbie, changing the subject.

His eyes lit up. “I am a master! ”

Bobbie remembered fondly that Alex liked to barbecue. But so did Johnny, George and Greg. So maybe it was just a guy thing.

There was a knock on the door. Her mom and Jamie and Jarrod came in.

They moved towards the door. “Brose this is my mother Dr. Florence McNally and my brother James McNally and his partner Dr Jarrod Smith.” Then she turned to Brose and said. “This is the honorable Ambrose Hennessy.”

“It is a pleasure to meet you all.”

Florence took his hand and said. “Please, you can call me Florence.”

“You all can call me Brose.”

“All right guys, why don’t head over to the roof deck and take in some views and some spritzers?”

Bobbie led them down the hall to the door to her deck. They stepped out onto the large deck. It had 4 chairs and a table and two lounging sofas and two swivel rocking chairs that were all designed to be used outdoors. There was a small bar peninsula and storage in along the wall of the apartment behind it. A few plants were scattered around to obscure the view of the HVAC systems on the other side of the roof.

“Wow!” Said Jarrod. “You have all the views up here. He walked over to the rail. “Is that the river where you go tubing?”

“Yes.” Said Bobbie “And you can just see the festival grounds over there that we’re setting up for Saturday. I know at least that there will be a coffee booth and a good chili and sourdough at the booth run by us.

“You are singing with Johnny on Saturday as well.”

“Yes Mom, you’ll see Johnny tomorrow evening too. I’m having a mojito and will make one for anyone who wants one.”

They all wanted mojitos. Bobbie took a nice chcouterie board out of the small fringe and put it on a table by the sofas and started to mix the drinks “Brose, can you give me a hand?”

“Of course.” Bobbie made the drinks and Brose delivered them.

They all got comfortable. Florence said. “Parliament is in recess now, until the fall, that gives you time to meet with your constituents but you must have more time for yourself too.”

“With the finance portfolio, I don’t really take a break. We have no parliamentary duties but there is committee work and international obligations so I still go into the office most of the time.”

“How long have you been finance minister?” Asked Jarrod.

“Almost 3 years, since this government formed, that’s when I was elected. There is an election in another year maybe 2, we’ll see after that. So Florence may I ask, in what discipline is you’re doctorate?”

“I’m a medical doctor. I ran one of the first female led obstetric practices in the region and I had an office in my home. I was a founding member of our local Planned Parenthood and taught at the local university, where I am sill emeritus. I still sit on the national board of Planned Parenthood as well.”

“That’s impressive, My mother would probably love to meet you. Truthfully I don’t see her very much.”

“I’m a psychiatrist.” Said Jerrod.

“That’s how he copes with Jamie.” Teased Bobbie. “How is your renovation going Guys?”

“It looks really good. They are finished painting. We were going to paint ourselves it but it was worth it to get professionals.”

Brose stood up. “Can I get anyone another drink?”

“I’ll have water.” Said Jarrod. “I’m driving. I wanted to ask how you and Bobbie met? I know Bobbie was a fairly senior civil servant, did she meet you there?”

“We first met when we were really young, I was 18 and a bit of a bully and Bobbie was 16 and very cool. We were at sailing camp and she could sail so well and play guitar and she wore a Walkman everywhere, I had never seen a Walkman before and I was a rich kid. Somehow, I kind of won her over and we were close friends.”

“He’s lucky he’s a really good kisser. Then we met here, when he was giving a talk at the university and we reconnected. I never really heard you call yourself a rich kid before.”

“I spend a lot of time not being too ostentatious or too conspicuous with my spending. I respect hard work and I guess I want people to know I work hard too. I didn’t feel that way at 18.”

“You left out the most dramatic part of the story.”

“Jamie, we’re not going to tell that part anymore, out of respect for Alex and the boys.”

“You’re right Bobbie.”

Jarrod stood and said. “Finish your drinks guys, we’ll let these two get their dinner. Thanks Bobbie and nice to meet you Brose.”

See you tomorrow said Bobbie standing by the elevator. She went into the kitchen and got out a big tray for the food. She had salmon marinating in a bit of lemon and maple syrup and she had foil packets stuffed with sliced, seasoned potatoes and carrots. Simple and good. She carried it out and asked Brose to turn on the barbecue.

“Your family is pretty nice Bobbie.”

“You’ll like them more when you get to know them. You already know Mom as well as you are ever going to. She might let you do her a favour if she likes you. Jamie and Jarrod are both really great.”

They dined on the deck, under the stars and Brose said it was the best meal he’d tasted in a long while. They were happy and full and the deck was getting cool so Bobbie loaded up the tray and Brose carried it in for her. They gave Fossy his medicine and went to bed. Bobbie grabbed her laptop.

“Are we going to stream a movie? I have some reports I can look over if we’re not.”

“I’m just going to do a little planning for tomorrow night.”

“I see.”

“I have these spreadsheets, they’re really lists, but there are a few procedures and contact information and notes and suggestions in here too. I have an old one from when I had Friday night dinners in Cit City but I’m working on a new one for here.”

“He leaned over her shoulder. “That’s a lot of spreadsheets. You even have a spreadsheet for ordering Chinese food?”

Bobbie clicked it open. She went to a page and added his name to a check list. “What’s your favourite Chinese food dish?” She asked, clicking an embedded link in the spreadsheet. A menu popped up. Brose pointed to Singapore style noodles on the menu. Bobbie typed it in and it turned Blue. The next time I order, I go though and check you name and whomever else is coming and the order is compiled and sent to the restaurant.”

“It goes automatically?”

“Pretty much, it takes a couple clicks so I can make sure everything’s OK. It’s a bit of a pain to update pricing information. I maintain it regularly so it’s not too bad”

“That’s actually very useful Bobbie. You could set it up for other take out foods too.”

Bobbie laughed. “I could make it an app.” Using air quotes.

“Why is that funny? I think it’s a neat little idea.”

Bobbie smiled awkwardly and let it drop. She and Alex used to say “Let’s make it an app.” Any time they saw something they liked. It got quite silly. That wasn’t something she could share with Brose.