Chapter 73

We met Tom Hathaway at six and were seated a couple minutes later.

"Order anything you want, Tom. I've got the tab."

"It's not necessary," Tom said. "I can manage on my own."

"Let him pay," Jeri said. "He's doing penance for being a douche bag."

I laughed. "Really, let me pay. It will make Jeri feel better if I suffer a bit. Jeri, would you like to share a Chilled Seafood Plateau?"

"No thanks, I think I'll have the Cedar Wrapped Barkley Sound Salmon."

"Then I guess I'll have the Sterling Silver NY Steak with grilled tiger prawns. The Seafood Plateau is too much food for one."

Tom decided on the Grilled Pork Tomahawk and since we were all eating strongly flavored food, I ordered the Silent Bishop Merlot, made in British Columbia.

After ordering, we chatted a bit. Tom was a successful businessman, who'd grown up in Washington; in