"Worth more than all the cups and saucers combined." Ray was interested; however, he didn't have time for all this. He didn't know how to bring up the subject of Tammy. He had to make up a reason for coming there and find an excuse to leave.
"I was given the collection ten years ago in payment for a large debt. Just a couple crates of extremely well-packed dishes, as far as I knew. Didn't even unpack them for three years. Didn't know what they were. He took out a dishtowel and wiped the cup. "Cream or sugar?"
"Are you mad? Don't tell me you'd serve coffee in that rare cup."
"I bring them out like now, for my own harmless amusement. I'll hand someone a priceless cup to use without saying anything. Most people don't react, the more knowledgeable might say, 'What a nice cup.'"
"You said harmless amusement, however it's evil to expose something irreplaceable to possible destruction. If your guests don't know the value, they might get careless and drop it."
"Don't knock evil, evil is exciting. When it ceases to be exciting, I'll lose interest. I broke two when I first got them fooling around like this."
"Not my place to disagree, but you see the moment you learned about the uniqueness of these antique pieces, it became your duty to safeguard them for all time. One never truly owns antiques; one simply caretakes them for the next generation. You may not see it that way. Even so, you're now their custodian and protector. As when you save someone and then become responsible for them for the rest of their life."
Towson continued to fill the irreplaceable cup with hot coffee. Ray reluctantly accepted the cup and saucer. He didn't need this extra anxiety on top of his nervousness from this morning's episode with Loraine. He realized this man was sharp and would soon get beyond all these social niceties and demand some answers. Why did Tammy direct him here anyway?
"Excellent. Now down to your business for being here. You must have something going for you, if Meg Emerson invited you to her party. That was a high-powered group. Tammy was there, the tall...let's call her healthy looking...young woman. Did you meet her? You were talking with Loraine, right?"
Then Ray understood. They were all at Meg's party. He began to feel more at ease. Now, he could place this man who looked like a dignitary and had moved easily about the party.
Ray also remembered being introduced to an attractive woman his own age. Her degree of beauty was instantly intimidating. That must have been Tammy. How could he have forgotten? He could picture her now, a tall brunette with squared shoulders and high cheekbones who was by far the best-looking woman in the room, if not the state.