Page 94 of Come to Me

Still, I smile. "She's great in it. You're lucky. Your daughter is very talented."

She nods and her eyes turn back to the bar. There's a need to her expression, like she'd kill for a drink.

She seems sober enough. But who knows?

"Would you care for a drink?"

Should I agree?

Then again, I'm not her keeper. I can't stop her from doing what she wants to.

I motion to the bar. "After you."

Her eyes light up, but she tries to play it off. "Just to pass the time."

Of course.

I offer to help her out of her coat, but she shakes her head. We move to the bar, making small talk about the weather while we wait. She's trying to have a conversation. That counts for something.

Barbara orders a glass of white wine. She watches the bartender pour like she's watching a work of art. Her tongue slides over her lips. Her pupils dilate.

"How was the trip?" I ask.

Her eyes stay on the wine. "It was a long drive, but it was nice."

The bartender hands over our drinks and I pay. I consider warning Barbara that we can't bring our drinks into the theater, but I doubt she's going to have a drop left in her glass come curtain.

Barbara downs half her glass in one sip. She offers another smile, weaker than the last one. "I didn't know Alyssa was seeing someone."

"You two are in touch?"

She shakes her head. "No. It's been a while."

I bite my tongue. "How long has it been?"

She shrugs. "She's a very independent girl."

There isn't a hint of sadness or regret in her voice. She can barely bring herself to care that she isn't in touch with her only daughter.

But she's here. That has to count for something.

"I'm sure she made efforts," I venture.

"A few years after she moved to L.A., but we got into a fight and she made it clear she didn't want to speak to me anymore."

Yet she's here now.

"What happened?"

Barbara finishes her glass. "That's a family matter. Excuse me." She moves to the bar, waits in line, and orders another glass of wine.

It's ten minutes to curtain now, but I'm still certain she'll finish in time.

When Barbara returns, I offer her my most charming smile. She and Alyssa may not have the greatest relationship, but she must want to reconnect.

"Alyssa told me that you work in real estate."

"Yes."