Chapter 67

Lydia took her seat at the dining room table. “It was so nice of you to go to the trouble of making this dish again, Eric. I really enjoyed it when we were here before.”

“It was no trouble at all,” Eric said. “And salmon has always been one of our favorites. Try to save a little bit of room for the rhubarb pie I have waiting for us. Carlton, why don’t you do the honors and pour the wine? There’s a newly opened bottle of Pinot Grigio in the refrigerator.”

Carlton looked at Eric. “I presume you and Philip talked about your book while you were slaving over a hot stove?”

“Yes, we did,” Eric said. “The publisher dangled a carrot in front of me, and I promised to have the finished manuscript in his hands by the end of July.”

“How big a carrot?” Carlton said.

“An advance royalty payment large enough to pay off the mortgage on my house,” Eric said.

“You’re kidding,” Carlton said.