“Bloody Mary, of course. I know it looks rotten, and doesn’t taste the best either, but it works. Trust me, I’m Irish. We know the best cures.”

Kim sat up. “All right, but if this doesn’t work I’m holding you responsible.” She narrowed her eyes. “Like I should for last night—as I recall, the grappa was your suggestion. As was the wine and then the beer...”

“Ah, would you stop it, last night was great craic. And the Germans were only too delighted to share their stash with us. Here—” She handed her the drink.

Their chat was interrupted by the sound of singing coming from the kitchen and each gave the other a conspiratorial look.

“How is she so goddamn chipper?”

“I have no idea,” Annie replied. “I was full sure she’d be out cold for an entire week after all we drank, but she’s better off than either of us. Not a bother on her.”

“Think the innocent act is real?”

“Looks that way,” Annie said. “Lousy, I know, but when she walked in here yesterday my first thought was: there’s someone that could seriously use a makeover.”

Despite herself, Kim laughed. “You said you do hair, right? Maybe you could offer her some of your expertise.”

Colette announced that breakfast was ready a few minutes later and both Kim and Annie made their way back to the kitchen and the waiting meal.

Kim picked at her scrambled eggs, even though they were really good. The entire meal was. She was impressed. She couldn’t boil water without starting a fire. It was fortunate that Colette would be around while she was here; might save her on some of the eating-out expenses.

She remembered now that the English girl had also reacted with considerable enthusiasm last night to her suggestion about the cookery class. Maybe she should just let Colette go along instead, and Kim and Annie could reap the benefits.

“So what are we doing later?” Annie asked eagerly.

Kim looked at her, realizing that, like it or not, she seemed to have made some new friends. She hadn’t really considered what she would do while here, she just needed to get away. But maybe some companionship would be a good thing?

As long as they didn’t spend all their time partying.

“Dunno,” she replied noncommittally. “Did you have something in mind?”

“There’s this brilliant place downtown I went to the other night. A late-night bar actually cut into a cave,” she enthused, eyes shining. “Great crowd and the music is the biz. We could do our own thing today and maybe meet up later for a bite to eat and head there after?” She turned to Colette for a response.

“Great,” the English girl replied with a smile. “Sounds like fun.”