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Eddie crossed the carpeted lobby of the St. Paul Hotel, its luxurious settees mostly empty of patrons. Rounding the corner, he headed for the entrance to the hotel’s trendy St. Paul Grill nestled in the far corner of the historic building. Hypnotic aromas of seafood, garlic and char sparked his appetite, as did the attractive tall blonde waiting with a smile at the hostess stand. His feet echoed as he crossed the pale wood floor of the restaurant’s foyer.
“Good evening, sir.”
Eddie raised his voice to be heard over the restaurant chatter and clatter. “Good evening. Bracchio, party of three. I’m a little early.”
The hostess checked her computer screen before taking three menus. “Right this way, Mr. Bracchio.”
Eddie followed her, enjoying the view of her curvy young figure as they passed the long, mahogany bar and rows of dining tables. She took him to a recessed area of the restaurant, near a set of enormous windows. A dimming view of Rice Park was on display across the street, the sunlight fading quickly in the west.
Eddie took a seat at the square table for four, its wood buffed to a gleaming shine, place-settings elegantly arranged. He folded his hands as he waited for the server.
A tall, thin young woman, in a long, white apron approached and began filling water glasses.
“Good evening, sir. May I bring you a cocktail while you wait for the rest of your party?”
He looked past her for any sign of Kate. “Ah’, no. Thanks. I think I’ll go to the bar and grab one. Wanna’ watch for my guests.”
“Very good, sir. I’ll check back later.”
“Yeah, thanks.”
Eddie rose from the table and walked across the dining room toward the bar. He stood at the end nearest the foyer, so he could watch for Kate.
Pushing the stool aside, he ordered a Johnnie Walker Black on the rocks and sipped it as he waited. Oblivious to the crowded and noisy room, his thoughts fixated on Kate. He took a quick look in the mirrored wall behind the bartender, lowering his head to see his reflection between the rows of liquor bottles. The lighting was dim, but he didn’t see any obvious hairs out of place.
A sudden crowd of excited voices jarred Eddie from his thoughts. He turned to see a group of young women at the hostess stand talking and laughing. Still no sign of Kate. Maybe she wasn’t coming.
He was about to return to his drink when he saw her. She’d entered the lobby with a tall, extremely handsome, dark-haired man whose thick waves of black hair stung Eddie’s ego.
The husband.
Kate looked elegant in yet another classy dress, this one a black and white floral, flowing just above the knees. Her husband wore a pale pink dress shirt and black slacks.
Standing just inside the door, they stayed clear of the group of women, waiting patiently to be greeted by the hostess. Eddie watched as her husband leaned down to listen to Kate who had said something and then smiled, touching his arm.
Eddie took a moment to admire her. Oblivious to his gaze, Kate bent slightly to adjust the strap on one of her high-heeled black sandals. Eddie’s breath caught in his throat as he watched her shiny chestnut hair fall, briefly hiding the side of her face. His gaze fixed on her hand as it slid down her long, slender leg to her shoe. As she came back up, her hair fell around her face, but she quickly flipped it behind her. Eddie couldn’t get enough of that hair.
She leaned in and whispered again to her husband. Eddie imagined himself in that man’s place. The couple pulled away from each other and smiled as she began to look around. He watched her walk toward the hostess podium. She carried her tall physique with smooth grace, her subtle curves swaying with each step.
When the hostess started guiding them through the restaurant, he grabbed his drink and hurried back to the table near the windows. He took his seat, and pretended to study the contents of the menu.
“Hello, Eddie.”
He looked up and feigned surprise as he rose to greet them.
“Oh, hey. How you’se doin’?”
“We’re doing great, how are you?” Kate asked.
“I’m doin’ great, too. Glad you could make it.”
Kate turned to her husband. “Eddie, I’d like you to meet my husband, Marco. Marco, this is Eddie, the client I told you about.”
Marco smiled and leaned in to shake Eddie’s hand. “Nice to meet you, Eddie. Thanks for the dinner invitation.”
Eddie leaned back, his hand on his chest. “My pleasure. It’s the least I could do after all-a Kate’s hard work.” He waved his hand over the table. “Please. Sit.” He turned to the hostess. “Can you send our waitress over for some drinks?”
“Certainly, Mr. Bracchio.” The young blonde smiled and left. Eddie returned to his seat at the table.
Kate, sitting across from him and next to Marco, leaned in. “‘Mr. Bracchio?’ Aren’t you new to town? How does she know your name already?”
Eddie smiled. “What can I say, Kate?”
The waitress arrived and they ordered drinks. “Ladies first,” Eddie said, his hand out toward Kate.
“I’ll have a glass of your house chardonnay.”
“Manhattan for me,” Marco said.
Eddie wiggled his near-empty glass. “Johnnie Walker Black. Rocks.”
After the drinks arrived and the order was taken, Eddie sat back, relaxed and ready to talk. “So, Marco. I hear you’re from Brooklyn, like me. A mechanic?”
Marco nodded. “That’s right.” He raised his glass to Eddie. “Cheers to Brooklyn.”
Eddie smiled. “Cheers to Brooklyn.”
Marco continued. “I’ve always loved cars. Love workin’ on ‘em. Love drivin’ ‘em.”
“Marco’s an experienced race car driver,” Kate added proudly.
“That right?”
Marco nodded. “Did some drag racing in local circuits. East coast. Nothin’ major. That was years ago. Back in my early twenties. I do love it though.”
Eddie leaned forward, taking a sip of his scotch. “If you’re interested in some extra work, I-gotta’ drivin’ job you might like.”
Marco nodded before taking a sip of his drink. “I am interested,” he said. “I have a full-time job at a station down Payne Avenue a few miles, but I—” he looked at Kate “—I’d be interested in drivin’, too. Some side work would be nice if you’ve got it.”
Eddie nodded. “We could all use a little extra cash, am I right? So, like I told your beautiful wife, I’m gonna’ be in and out−what with gettin’ this restaurant up and runnin’ and other business I gotta’ take care of, so yeah, I could use a driver. A good one.”
“He is a good one,” Kate said, smiling.
Eddie nodded at Marco but kept a discreet eye on Kate. He was enjoying the closeup view. Her beauty was enhanced by the glow of the candlelit ambiance, but it was her smile that truly captivated him.
Eddie finished his scotch and waved the waitress over for another. He smacked his hand on the table. “I trust your wife. So, you can have the job if you want it. I’ll pay you six hundred a week if you drive me around in the eve’nins. Say, eight-thirty, nine, to whatever time I need you. Most nights, I like to get to bed by one or two. Gettin’ older, ya’ know?”
Kate and Marco chuckled at Eddie’s joke.
“Thank you, Eddie,” Marco said. “I appreciate your trust in my wife. I hope you’ll soon see you can trust me, too.”
Eddie raised his glass, and Kate and Marco joined him.
“Salute e cent'anni.”
“Cent’anni,” they replied.
After their food arrived, Kate and Marco proudly talked to Eddie about their son, Lorenzo.
The mood was jovial. Everyone was feeling the drinks and raving about the food when Kate turned to Eddie. “What about your family? Are you married? Your mom and dad?”
Eddie shook his head and frowned. “I was married. She died though. Don’t wanna’ talk about that.” He put his head down and picked at his food.
“Oh, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to—”
Eddie smiled and shrugged, barely pausing. “My father was a piece-a-shit. ‘Scuse my language.” He waved his finger at her. “For sure don’t wanna’ talk about him.”
Kate nodded. “Sorry, again. Your mom? Are you close with her?”
He smiled and nodded. “My ma’? Yeah. We still talk.” He let out a chuckle. “She’s a real good cook. Lives in Brooklyn. She raised me and my brother all by herself after my ol’ man was ah’ ... killed.” He raised his brows. “There I go talkin’ about him again.”
Kate gave Eddie a sensitive smile. “Any kids?”
He waved his fork at them. “No kids. For the best.” He ignored the awkward silence as he continued to eat.
They made small-talk about the restaurant and the food, which led them to talking about the neighborhood and again about Renzo.
Eddie put down his fork and wiped his mouth with the cloth napkin. “Sounds like you’se two gotta’ nice kid. And you—” he pointed to Marco. “You sound like a good father.”
Marco smiled. “I appreciate that, Mr. Bracchio. I try.”
Eddie put up his hand. “Please. Marco, like I told your wife. Call me ‘Eddie.’ We’re friends here, am I right? No need for formalities, ‘eh?”
Marco smiled. “Okay, ‘Eddie.’”
“But,” Eddie pointed his forkful of food at him, “when you’re workin’ fa-me, try-ta be professional in front-a people and then,” he smiled, “I want you-ta call me ‘Mr. Bracchio,’ capisci?”
Marco smiled. “Capisci.”
“You understand. It’s about respect.” Eddie chewed and talked at the same time, occasionally waving his fork, pointing it at them. “And if you don’t got respect, you got nothin’, am I right?”
“You are,” Marco said.
This guy, Marco, Eddie thought. One handsome son-of-a-bitch. It pissed him off. Respectable, too. And being married to this beautiful woman? Goddamn irritating.
“So,” Eddie said, with a mouthful of linguine, how’d you’se two meet, if you don’t mind my askin’?”
Kate looked at Marco, smiled, and turned back to Eddie.
“I was in college at NYU, and had gone to this very crowded bar with my roommate, Nora. I had battled my way to the restroom and when I came back, I ran smack into this guy.”
She nudged Marco with her elbow. Eddie watched as they looked at each other.
“That’s it?” Eddie asked. “A bar? The way you’se two look at each other, I’d-a thought maybe it’d be more romantic than that, know what I mean?”
He laughed loudly at his own joke, and Marco and Kate laughed with him.
Marco took a sip of his Manhattan and said, “Our son, Renzo, would agree with you, Eddie. And you’re right. So cliché, meeting in a bar and all. But, seriously. Look at her. I couldn’t help but fall for her.”
Eddie smiled and nodded as he buttered a piece of bread. “Obviously.” He pointed the knife at Kate. “Go on. What happened next?”
Kate finished a bite of halibut, wiped her mouth and said, “I felt the same way. He was so handsome. He had on this old black leather jacket. And his hair. I mean, look at it,” Kate said, laughing.
Eddie looked at Marco and shrugged and nodded as he chewed.
Kate turned to Eddie. “Anyway, he had this tough-guy persona. Played it cool for quite a while. He was everything my mother didn’t want for me in a man.”
Kate chuckled at the thought of disappointing her mother.
“That right? She want you to marry a churchgoer? A lawyer or a doctor, am I right?”
“Exactly. And maybe that’s why I pursued the relationship even though, at times, I thought maybe he was too much for me. The crowd he hung around with, some of the things he used to do—”
“Like what?” Eddie pointed his fork at Marco. “Kind-a stuff you do back then?”
Marco took a deep breath and flipped out his hands. “Ya’ know. Nothin’ too crazy. A little collections, a few scores. Small-time stuff like that.”
Eddie smiled. “That right?” He nodded as he cut his food. “Okay, alright.”
Marco continued. “And, ya’ know, for a while, I thought, maybe Kate was right. We’d had some problems. She didn’t like my line-a work. We fought about that—like a lot.”
Eddie looked at Marco and then at Kate. “So? You’se two break up, or what?”
Eddie watched her look over at Marco as if to ask whether she should tell the story. Marco shrugged.
“What?”
Kate turned to Eddie, pausing. “I can’t believe I’m telling this story to someone I’ve only just met.” She let out a nervous chuckle.
Eddie noticed she was feeling the wine and he enjoyed seeing her so relaxed.
Eddie tipped his head. “So? We’re all friends now. Go ahead. Tell me.”
Kate moved her plate to the side and folded her hands, resting them on the table. “I got pregnant and he couldn’t deal with that. So I left.” She raised her brow as she gave Marco a side-glance. “Came back here—to St. Paul. Back home. Had the baby and didn’t hear from him for a while.”
Eddie sat back before slapping his hands on the table. “Whoa! Marco! That’s heavy shit.”
“Very heavy,” Kate said, again looking over at Marco who lowered his gaze.
Eddie tried listening to her story, but his peripheral vision caught Marco’s hand reaching over to Kate’s, his fingers weaving through hers as they held hands. For some reason, this tiny gesture stirred something inside Eddie. He wasn’t sure what it was. Jealousy, maybe? Loneliness? Whatever he was feeling, Kate and Marco’s intimacy changed his mood, though he tried not to show it.
He sat back in his chair. “Well, at least you’se two figured things out. You seem like a pretty happy couple, am I right?”
Kate turned to Marco and nudged his shoulder. “We are.”
Marco raised his glass. “Here-here.”
They clinked their glasses and took a sip.
“You’re a lucky man, Marco. I’m not sure I’ve ever met a more beautiful woman than Kate, here.” He reached across the table, took her hand and leaned in, kissing it gently before releasing it.
Kate gave him an awkward grin.
Marco turned to Eddie with a smile. “If I didn’t know better, Mr. Bracchio, I’d think you were makin’ a pass at my wife.” He laughed at his own joke.
“No, I wouldn’t disrespect you’se like that,” Eddie said.
Marco smiled at his wife and moved to stand.
“Excuse me. Restroom.”
Eddie stood until Marco left.
“I like him, Kate. Seems like a good guy.”
Kate leaned on her elbows and nodded. “He is. Thanks for offering him the driving job. He’s gonna love it.”
“My pleasure. I hadn’t thought about it until you brought up what a good driver he was. Plus, I never thought I’d be hangin’ around this long. Now? Looks like I’ll be here for a while.”
“The restaurant will keep you very busy.”
“Yeah, it will. I gotta’ say, I’m lookin’ forward to it.”
The waitress stopped by. “Dessert? Coffee?”
“Yeah, sure. Kate? Dessert?”
“Nothing for me, thanks.” She looked at her watch. “We should really get going. I don’t like leaving Renzo home alone for too long. He might get himself into trouble.”
Eddie laughed. “Kids can’t help themselves, am I right?”
Kate laughed, too. “So true.”
She looked up at Marco as he returned to the table.
“Ready to go honey?”
Marco nodded. “Yeah, okay.”
Kate and Eddie both stood.
“You’se two go ahead,” Eddie said. “I gotta’ take care-a the tab here.”
“Oh, right. I’m so sorry. Can we—”
“Kate. Please. Don’t insult me, now. I invited you’se two. I got this. You go on. Get home to Renzo.” He turned and shook Marco’s hand. “Marco, a pleasure-ta meet ya’. You call me. Kate’s got my number.”
“I will,” Marco said. “Thanks again.”
He turned to Kate as she reached out her hand. He took it and again kissed it gently. “Always a pleasure, Kate. Don’t be a stranger, now, ya’ hear?”
“Thank you, Eddie, for dinner. It was wonderful.”
Marco nodded. “It really was. Thanks again, Eddie.”
Eddie watched as they left the table and rounded the corner until they disappeared. He returned to his seat and called out to his waitress.
“‘Scuse me? Ma’am? Another one please?”
