Don't Let Him In

Two months later, the Swanns receive a card from a man named Nick Radcliffe. He says that he met Paddy when they worked in a London restaurant together many years ago. He ran into Paddy at Paddy’s Whitstable restaurant a few years ago and enjoyed catching up with him. Nina tells Ash that she does not think she has ever met Nick, but the card is a sweet gesture.

Ash finds Nick on LinkedIn, listed as the owner of a wine bar in London. She looks up the wine bar, “Bar Amelie,” and suggests to her mother that they visit Nick and ask him to tell them more about Paddy’s life. Nina says that Ash can do that if she wants. When she suggests that maybe Nick will offer Ash a job, Ash is irritated.

Ash has been working at a clothing resale shop in her hometown. After moving to London did not work out, she returned home and took the job, meaning it to be temporary. She also meant to stay only temporarily at her parents’ house, but it has been about six months, and she feels as if she is failing and falling further behind.