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]

"Honestly? He tends to play it a little cool for smitten to seem quite . . . Certainly he did the night we met.

". . . leads you to ask what?"

[bannion_sight]

"Exactly," she points out, "which is why I said it."

Beat.

"So just how serious are you two?"

[noteful]

"I don't know," Meg says.

"I . . . probably should have seen that question coming, shouldn't I?"

She's quiet for a moment.

"I . . . I don't know that he's the one, but I also don't know that he isn't," she says, finally.

[bannion_sight]

Kim's smile is soft.

"Well, there's time."

[noteful]

"And no reason to rush.

"I mean, I haven't known him that long, right?"

[bannion_sight]

"Right. After all, March was only, what, five months ago?"

[noteful]

"There abouts," Meg says.

If she knows how long she's known Alain more precisely than that . . . well, it's not written anywhere that she has to admit to that fact, right?

"I just . . . I don't know, I . . . I really like him, Kim."

[bannion_sight]

"He seems really likable," she agrees. "If you ask me, I'd say it's clear you've got good taste."

[noteful]

"Well, you didn't meet Brian," Meg says, a little wry.

Kim didn't miss much there.

"But . . . I think my taste has improved since then, yes."

[bannion_sight]

"I prefer to think of him as the exception that proves the rule," she says, loftily.

[noteful]

"I prefer to think of him as little as possible," Meg offers.

She shrugs.

"It's the point of university, right? To learn things?"

[bannion_sight]

"Lots and lots and lots of things," Kim promises her.

Beat.

"French included."

[noteful]

Meg leans forward slightly, and drops her voice to an ever-so-confidential mock-whisper.

"Oh, that's much better to learn as an extracirrucular."

[bannion_sight]

Kim giggles.

"I'll take your word for it. I mean, you're the expert!"

[noteful]

Meg giggles, too.

"Hmmmm. You'll have to, because I am not sharing my tutor.

"I'm really glad you came today."

[bannion_sight]

"So am I."



"And maybe, if you want -- I'd love to have you come for a visit in Glastonbury, someday."

[noteful]

There's a pause, and then Meg smiles.

"I was going to say that could be complicated, with planes and time and all . . . but . . . I guess it doesn't have to be, does it?"

There's a shortcut.

[bannion_sight]

"Not at all," Kim agrees, smiling back.

[noteful]

"Well . . . we'll have to figure that out, then."

[bannion_sight]

"Sounds good to me. But for now --"

Kim picks up her glass and raises it in a cheerful toast.

"--let's just enjoy being here."

A beat, and a quick grin.

"Because along with everything else? The food is fabulous."

[noteful]

À votre santé," Meg says, cheerfully.

"But so that we're clear -- if you try to eat half my dinner, I may be forced to stab you with my fork."