He glanced her way and shrugged. He continued to dance as if we were the only ones out there, but I couldn’t concentrate. I kept looking back at the booth. Finally, I paused.
“What?” he asked. “Don’t tell me you’re tired already.”
“No. I’m just concerned about your sister. That man bought her another drink. That’s too much. She’s had enough.”
“Yes, Mom,” he joked.
“I’m serious, Liam. She already had too much.”
He changed expression and looked at her again. “Okay,” he said, pausing. “Let’s see what’s what.”
The moment we started off the dance floor, the man Julia was talking to rose and walked away.
“Who was that?” Liam asked, looking after him.
“I don’t know,” Julia said. “He claimed I was the nurse for his mother when she was brought to the ER a few months ago. He told me I was very nice. He said if anything happens to him, he wants to be sure I’m on duty at the ER.”
“He didn’t tell you his name?” I asked. I saw him disappear into the crowd, almost evaporate.
“I don’t know if I heard much of what he said. He has beautiful eyes. He bought me this drink,” she continued.
“You know you’ve had too much already,” I said.
She nodded. “I guess I’m not out enough. I should know when I overdo it. If anyone should know, a nurse should.”
I picked up her drink before she could sip any more and drank it all in one long sip. “Sorry, I was a little thirsty,” I said.
Both she and Liam were smiling.
“You almost had as many as I had, but you don’t look any different from when we got here,” Julia said. She swayed a little too much when she talked, and I put my hand on her shoulder to steady her in the seat. Then I looked at Liam.
“Maybe you should go home, Julia. Are you on tomorrow?” he asked.
“Not until the afternoon. I’ll be fine. Just don’t expect me at breakfast,” she added, laughing.
“I’ll drive you home,” he told her. “And I’ll take you home,” he added, turning to me. “Unless you want to wait here.”
“No, I’ve had enough,” I said.
“Oh, I don’t want to spoil your good time,” Julia moaned.
“You haven’t. It’s because of you that I had a good time. C’mon,” I said, taking her hand.
Liam paid our bill and followed as we started out, Julia a little unsteady but quite happy.
When we reached the entrance, she paused and looked back, wobbling a little. “Where is he?”
“Who?”
“That guy who stopped by to tell me what a great nurse I am. I thought I’d say good night.”
I looked, and so did Liam. “I don’t see him, Julia.”
She shrugged and leaned over to whisper, “He was more interested in you than me, anyway.”
“Me?”
I looked again for him, and then we headed out to Liam’s car. I looked around in the parking lot, too, but saw no one who resembled him.