"Oh." Richard smiled, waving a hand. "It's just a reference to a book. I own it in the hope that someone will one day recognize it and we will be forever joined in our nerdiness." He grinned and spatula'd the last grilled cheese onto a plate, carrying it over to the table.
At her question, he looked up and shrugged. "I'm afraid so. October... didn't agree with me, and that didn't agree with my employer. You in the same boat?" The sandwiches were followed by two large mugs of tomato soup, and then two wine glasses for Vanessa's addition to the party. It seemed like too much of a coincidence for someone else to be in the same situation as he was, but he supposed stranger things had happened. Though that thought alone started a line of reasoning that made him really want a drink.