Kim visits Montreal

[noteful]

It's not that difficult to find Sylvain Gagné's restaurant. It is, as Meg said, written up in several guidebooks.

And late morning isn't a bad time to arrive, at least on weekdays -- the breakfast crowd has gone, the lunch crowd isn't really there yet. There's no line out the door, no wait to be seated, just a hadful of patrons lingering over coffee at the tables on the sidewalk in front of the restaurant.

It's a beautiful summer day in Montreal.

Comments

[noteful]

"Alain and his brother and their parents, through the years," Meg provides from the doorway.

"Hello, Kim."

[bannion_sight]

Kim swings around, smiling.

"Hi, Meg."

She looks past her sister, just to check, and then lowers her voice so it won't carry.

"Okay, I have to say, he's pretty great."

[noteful]

"He's cute, too," Meg says, coming into the room.

"How are you?"

[bannion_sight]

"No argument there."

She pushes a lock of hair back from her face, tucking it behind her ear.

"I'm okay." Beat. "I had a good visit with Mom and Dad."

[noteful]

"That's good," Meg says.

"So everything's . . . I mean, you guys talked about all the stuff . . . you needed to talk about?"

[bannion_sight]

Kim nods.

[noteful]

"And, um, how did that go?"

[bannion_sight]

"It went okay, I guess. Pretty much as well as it could," Kim tells her.

"Mom was worried at first, then -- I think she likes knowing that someone's inherited the gift."

[noteful]

"I'm sure she does," Meg says.

Especially that it's Kim.

There's a slight pause.

"I got your note."

[bannion_sight]

"Oh, good," she says. "I mean, I figured you would, but I wasn't sure when."

[noteful]

"The bar has moved itself into the kitchen, here, when it wants to be," Meg says, with a shrug.

"You're . . . I'm glad you're . . . better.

"Are you headed to Toronto after this?"

[bannion_sight]

"Helpful of it."

A deep breath, and Kim nods confirmation.

"Yes," she says, simply.

[noteful]

"Do you know what you'll say?" Meg asks.

[bannion_sight]

"Some of it."

The look on her face is both rueful and wry.

"I guess I'll figure out the rest as we go."

[noteful]

Meg nods.

That wouldn't be her approach, but . . . well, it's not hers to approach.

"Good luck."

There's another pause.

"So, are you tired or hungry or thirsty or anything? You must have caught a really early train."

[bannion_sight]

"Thanks."

"And you're right, I did," she admits, "because the next best option would have gotten me here pretty late."

"I wouldn't say no to coffee."

[noteful]

"Why does that not surprise me?" Meg asks, faintly amused.

"Do you want to wait, or . . .?"

[bannion_sight]

"Because you know me?"

Kim shakes her head.

"Your call, Meg. I'm the guest here-- you tell me."

[noteful]

"Technically, we're both guests here."

Meg thinks for a moment.

"I'll be right back," she says.

[bannion_sight]

"Okay."

Hastily, she adds,

"Or we could go out somewhere, or-- I don't want to be any bother--"

[noteful]

Meg shoots her older sister a look that's somewhere between tolerant and amused. "That does make it easier for you to grill me about Alain," she concedes.

"Let me just tell them we're going."

[bannion_sight]

Her quick grin is impish.

"I'll admit the thought had crossed my mind. Go ahead, I'll wait here."

[noteful]

"Crossed, doubled-back, and set up camp, no doubt," Meg says.

"Be right back."

It only takes a minute or so.

"There's a place a couple blocks from here," she says, when she comes back in. "I can't vouch for their coffee personally, but Alain likes it."

[bannion_sight]

"Then it must be worth a try, right?" she teases.

[noteful]

"Well," Meg says, mock-primly, leading the way back out to the street, "he has very good taste."