Page 40 of Single Malt
“Wow.” Carrie looked impressed. Then she tilted her head, as if a thought had just occurred to her. “Carson McCrae? That’s your brother?”
I chuckled. “Yes, that’s him. I thought you might have heard of at least one of them.”
Carrie looked over at her husband. “He’s the one who designed Bryne’s wedding dress.”
Gavin started to nod but frowned before the movement was complete. “Wait, didn’t she get the recommendation from someone on one of her shows?” He looked at me. “You said your one sister is an actress?”
“Yes. London McCrae,” I said. “She’s been in a few off-Broadway shows and did some guest spots on some TV shows. She hasn’t had any main parts yet, but she’s worked pretty steadily in the theater since she moved here two years ago.”
I definitely sounded like a bragging brother, but I’d never apologize for being proud of my family. The way the Mannings smiled made me think they were the same way.
“Bryne is Gavin’s niece,” Carrie explained.
A memory suddenly came forward. “Bryne Dawkins?”
“Yes,” Gavin said. “She kept her last name after she got married.”
“I remember London telling me about her.” I forced my mind back to those memories. “When London was a freshman in college, she and a few of her friends came to New York and saw a show where the lead was this woman named Bryne Dawkins. London loved her. She said that Bryne was only a year or two older than her and was such an amazing actress already.”
“Was itCollide?” Carrie asked.
I thought for a minute and nodded. “That sounds right.”
“That was Bryne’s first leading role,” Gavin said.
“And one hell of an opening night.” The wry tone of Carrie’s voice and the look she and Gavin exchanged made me think there was a story there.
If this went as well as I thought it would, maybe I’d get to hear it.
“Anyway,” Carrie turned back to me, “your brother worked a miracle. The shop holding Bryne’s original dress had a fire, and her dress was ruined. London heard about it and told Bryne to see Carson. He made her an entirely original dress in only a few months, and if you’d have seen it, you’d know just how big of an accomplishment it was.”
I chuckled and smiled, another surge of pride at my family going through me. “That sounds like him.”
“Bryne and Dax had nothing but good things to say about him,” Gavin said. “Talented family you have there.”
“You have no idea.” I chuckled. “Ever heard of MIRI? Or CarideoTech?”
“Both, actually,” Gavin said. “I’ve dabbled in some tech.”
“He designed a couple apps before that was really a common thing.” Carrie beamed with pride. “He’s brilliant.”
“And my wife is overstating.” Gavin put his arm around her and pulled her against his side. “Yes, I made a couple apps, but that’s nothing compared to what CarideoTech has done.” He narrowed his eyes. “MIRI, I understand, obviously. McCrae International Research Institute. Founded in Scotland, but it’s also on the West Coast too.”
“My father is Patrick McCrae,” I said. “I was actually born in Scotland.”
“How are you connected to CarideoTech?” Gavin asked.
“My stepbrother is Austin Carideo. We’re also involved in real estate, marketing, and investment, motivational speaking. Another brother is a Professor of Education at John Hopkins, and one more plays football in England. Sorry, soccer. One step-sister works in art restoration, and the other is an architect.”
“That’s a lot.” Carrie was slowly shaking her head. “Do you mind if I ask–”
“Sixteen.” I laughed. “You were going to ask how many of us there were, right?”
Gavin looked at Carrie. “Please tell me you don’t want that many. I’m good with the ones we have.”
She laughed, and the warmth between the two of them made me smile. I might not have been looking for what they had, but it was good to know it was out there all the same.
Time passed quickly as we talked, but without any windows in the office, I hadn’t realized just how much. Nearly two hours. Since I didn’t have anything else scheduled on my calendar, when Gavin extended an invitation for me to check out the club itself as it prepared to open for the day, I accepted.