As for the restaurant, Ethan's declaration that it wouldn't be fancy was contradicted by the plush carpet, silk lined walls, hovering waiters thick on the ground but discreetly so, and again no prices.
'What is this thing about no prices!' she said in an exasperated tone then blushed as she realised how gauche that sounded. 'I know, I know. Darlene told me. If you need to know the prices you can't afford them. It's a tad too pretentious, for my liking.'
'We can go elsewhere if you like.' Ethan didn't seem put out by her outburst though the amused grin of the waiter on a waiters wage, hastily wiped off, showed he agreed with her opinion.
'Do you like it here?'
'The meals are superb as is the view. It's also only a block from the office. It's main selling point.'
'Then here we stay. I'll just have to grin and bear it.' She accepted, grinning.
Ethan conferred then ordered a boutique wine from a young vineyard called the 'The Olives' for them both. Her respite as they perused the short but enticing menu and placed their orders was short lived as he returned his attention fully back on Jem. A blast furnace wouldn't make her melt this fast, she conceded.
'Does the view seem familiar at all?'
'Sort of, like the other night, but then all Australians would recognize that view. Most foreigners would as well, the Opera house and the Bridge being unique as they are. Whether I'm recognizing them from a postcard or as an icon of my home town I can't tell you. It's so frustrating, these gaping holes in my memory.'
'Never mind…all good things take time.' Ethan raised his glass in a silent toast.
Jem didn't know if the toast was to her memory returning or that she was the good thing that Ethan was going to take his time with. She kind of hoped she was.
'Let's hope so.'
At Ethan's quirked eyebrow questioning her hope that it would take time she clarified. 'Good…I hope it's good…my life.'
No missing person report had her worried. Maybe she wasn't "good" and there was no report because people in her life didn't miss her or worse were glad she was missing. Like the country song "Earl" who was a "missing person that no one missed at all." Could someone feel the way she felt, deep down, that she was a worthwhile person that would be missed but who lead a life that was a contradiction? A "good" girl living a "bad" life? Surely not. Grasping that thought like a talisman Jem looked Ethan in the eye and raised her glass in return.