HTML derp
She liked his name. He liked that1 His mother had given it to him. "My mother decided I looked like an Alastair," he said with a nostalgic smile. "She said the name commanded respect. I don't know how much it does that, but...well, one can hope!" His expression was slightly knowing when he said, "I like your name too."
And then she settled back to listen to his problems. Alastair was sure he was going to bore her, but she had known what was going on when she invited him. She had to know it would be a sob story about his teenaged son.
"Sometimes it is all you need," Alastair agreed. "And thank you. I suppose I wish I could blame this all on my ex-wife, Marina. She is the one who decided to move, which means my son has to live with me. Yet, I'm the one he's taking it out on."