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“The pleasure is all mine. It’s all mine.” He turns to Ben. “And, Ben, my son. So good to see you, finally.”

My son? Does Ben know him?

“You know this is my favorite restaurant in Boston,” Patrick says. “It’s great to be able to show some New Yorkers what we’ve got going on up here.”

“I love Boston,” Ben says. “In fact, I’m in the area for a few days because my brother has some business interests locally and I’m taking the opportunity to hang around.”

“You’re close with your brother?” Patrick asks Ben.

“Yeah,” Ben says, and he pauses. “He’s a really good guy. Smart…in business, but in his heart too.”

Patrick nods. “I like that description. Smart in his heart. I get it. My brothers and sisters are all still with us, and I’m grateful to God for that. Just knowing they’re here—there’s a lot of comfort in that.”

Ben nods. “I get that.” He says it like he really understands what Patrick’s saying, but does he? Does he take comfort from Bray?

“Your brothers and sisters have already seen the worst of you. They know how dreadful you are. There’s no scaring them off.”

Ben laughs, and I give a careful smile.

“Do you have siblings?” Patrick asks me.

“A brother and a sister,” I say.

“Are you close?”

I nod enthusiastically. “Very. We’re in business together. Worth, my brother, isn’t involved in the day-to-day operations of our hotel in New York, but my sister and I work in the business.”

“It’s a family business?” Patrick asks, an expression of surprise on his face.

“Yeah.” I glance across at Ben, and then look directly at Patrick. “Worth owned the building, and was renovating it to be apartments and I pitched the hotel idea to him.”

“He’s either soft or you’re very persuasive. A hotel is a much bigger risk than apartments in New York.”

“You’re right about the risk. But Hotel on Ninth Street is about more than making as much money as possible. Of course we want to make money, but I told Worth that I wanted our family bonded by something good.” I pause, wondering whether I should continue, but I decide Patrick probably appreciates the truth. “Worth raised my sister and me. It was difficult for all of us, and I wanted something other than those difficult years to be what brought us together. I think that helped him see what I was trying to create.”

Patrick regards me as he nods. “And how has it done?”

I laugh. “It’s been expensive. And it’s taken a lot of blood, sweat, and tears, but it’s something we’re all proud of. It’s a place of work, but it’s also a place we’re creating memories in. Not just for ourselves, but for our guests as well. It’s a really positive place to be.”

Patrick turns to Ben. “Have you been to this hotel?”

Ben nods. “My best friend recently had his engagement party there. I can’t say it has a family feel. That’s not the vibe. It’s very glamourous. But it feels…intimate. In fact, I hadn’t thought about it until Avril just said, but the fact that it is owner managed is reflected in the feel of the place. There’s a real attention to detail.”

I gaze at Ben. Is that true? Does he feel that way about Hotel on Ninth Street or is he just faking it for Patrick? I’m not sure what’s real and what isn’t anymore.

Ben must feel me looking at him because he turns, and when he catches my eye, he quickly looks away and turns back to Patrick. “Are all your siblings in Boston?”

Patrick shakes his head. “My two sisters and one brother. My other three brothers are scattered about. One stayed in Ireland, one’s in Idaho, and another went to London.”

The pleasant conversation continues throughout lunch. At no point does anyone mention the reason we’re all here—because I want something Patrick has. When we’ve finished, Patrick says he has to leave, and he gives first me and then Ben a hug. “I’ve had a lovely lunch. It was great to meet you both.”

I expect Ben to say something—that doorknob confession-slash-request—but he just thanks him and tells him he’ll stay in touch.

When Patrick leaves, Ben asks for the check, and I whisper under my breath, “Well, that was a complete waste of time.”

“Sir, your guest has paid the bill already,” our waitress says.

“Are you sure?” Ben asks.