Free Appointment with a Smile by Kieran York Page B

some sheds where I keep gardening equipment. There’s a double-garage-sized art studio on the side of the house.”
    “It sounds lovely.”
    “Thank you.”
    The waiter appeared, and we ordered. Carrie continued to keep us entertained and seemed very smitten with Esther.
    The cuisine was modern European. The aromas in the warm, intimate setting were extraordinary. I ordered cottage pie, and Bethany ordered stuffed trout in wine sauce. We then split them so we could sample. Both were delicious, and the accompanying pinot grigio was excellent.
    In between bites, Bethany said, “May I ask why it is you prefer staying only in Colorado?”
    “I strongly suspect it’s from my childhood.”
    She leaned nearer with a look of interest. “Why is that?”
    “I spent my childhood traveling from one parent to the other. They were divorced when I was four. I went from Texas with my father to Kansas with my mother, and the wonderful interludes between were spent with my grandparents in Colorado. I attended college in Colorado and decided to live there.”
    “Esther told us you live in a suburb of Denver, the foothills.”
    “My maternal grandparents resided in Littleton, Colorado. I stayed with them so much as a child that I came to love the area. My brother and I went to school there. After Molly left, I moved from Denver to my current home.”
    Bethany raised her eyebrows. “Molly? The woman Esther says you’re still intrigued with?”
    “She’s the one. And Esther has a big mouth.” I spoke loudly enough to get Esther’s attention.
    Esther bristled and said in a mocking tone, “That’s right. I told her every little boring detail of your life.”
    “Esther, what crawled up your trouser leg?” Carrie asked.
    “I knew Danielle would complain.”
    Carrie was an attractive woman with exaggerated gestures and a loud, showy exterior. But one sensed that down deep she was extremely sensitive. She dressed with a youthful, urban look. She wore a pale jade top with an exotic print. Gold-tone designer embellishments studded her cognac-colored skirt. Gold bangles lined her arm and jangled when she lifted them while she talked.
    In short, she was larger than life. Her rust-colored, stylishly trimmed hair rested on her shoulders. Her eyes were blazing and sorrel. Her makeup was perfect for her light complexion. And she was as funny as Esther had advertised.
    Carrie shrugged at Esther. “There are times I’d like to send Esther on an all-expense vacation to the ASBO.”
    “ASBO?” I asked.
    “Anti-Social Behavior Order. It is not a good thing.”
    Both Carrie and Bethany chuckled at the comment.
    “Sounds perfect for Esther,” I agreed.
    “That’s why I love the travel industry,” Carrie said. “I can send the doolally arses on their way. The farther the better at times.” She patted Esther’s shoulder. “You, my little sunbeam, are hard work in the best of times.”
    I looked at the smiling faces around the table and found that, much to my surprise, I was very much enjoying the evening.
    “Molly looks like a lovely woman,” Bethany told me.
    “How do you know?”
    “Esther told us about your exhibit. I dropped by the gallery on the way here. I noticed a couple of paintings of a woman. One was titled Reunion’s first Glimpse .” Her gaze followed my every move, as if she were closely scrutinizing my reaction. “And I’m guessing that would be Molly.”
    I sipped my wine. “Yes.”
    “You painted it with immense love.”
    “Certainly it’s painted with immense something.” My voice trembled a little.
    “Your eyes show how wounded you are.”
    I couldn’t deny her guess. I glanced away and took a quick bite. “This cottage pie is delicious. Are cottage pie and shepherd’s pie the same thing?” I’m sure it was painfully obvious I was moving the conversation to safer ground, and Bethany let it go.
    “Cottage pie has beef in it, and shepherd’s pie is from lamb.”
    “I love the Brits for their