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Kate’s mother called often, nagging Kate about her plans to return to work, and asking how she was paying her bills. Kate appeased her by saying the insurance money had kept her afloat, which was true. But she didn’t tell her mother that she’d been tossing all of Marco and Renzo’s medical bills in the trash. They died. In Kate’s opinion, they didn’t deserve to get paid, nor did she care about any repercussions.
She didn’t care about anything. Her job, her bills, nothing. She only cared about one thing. And that plan was in motion.
***
Three weeks later, during one of her evening watches, Kate finally got some action. Sal rounded the corner and walked into Fortunato’s. She grabbed her binoculars and was able to get a good look at him just before the door shut behind him. Her heart raced. She looked at her phone. Ten o’clock. She was surprised she’d stayed that late but was glad she had.
Kate watched and waited, her fingers gripping the binoculars every so often to make sure she hadn’t missed him leaving. She ducked low, constantly wary of customers coming to retrieve their cars and encountering a strange woman spying on the restaurant.
After a half hour, she shut off her car and stepped outside. The cold March air slapped her awake. She had no plan as she crossed the dark street and headed for the door to Fortunato’s. A couple was leaving as she arrived and the gentleman held the door for her.
“Thank you,” she said.
He nodded as Kate went inside. The scent of garlic and everything Italian, coupled with the warmth of the room, calmed her nerves, but her guard remained intact.
A young woman approached her. “Good evening, ma’am.”
“Yes, good evening.”
“Kate!”
Seeing Eddie approach, the woman smiled and retreated.
He took her hand and kissed it. Kate cringed at the gesture, but fought the urge to yank her hand from him. Instead, she graced him with her best fake smile.
“Hello, Eddie.”
“What brings you down here this late?”
She was surprised by how excited he seemed to see her.
“I—ah’—was visiting my parents and thought I’d stop in for a glass of wine. You know, after a visit with the parents, one needs wine.” She laughed at her little joke and Eddie joined her.
“Yeah, so true.”
He put his hand on the small of her back as Kate scanned the restaurant. Sal was sitting at the bar, his back to the rest of the room.
“Come on,” Eddie said, “I’ll get you a table.”
“Oh, no. That’s not necessary. I can just sit at the bar—if that’s alright.”
“Sure.”
She followed him to the bar and deliberately took a seat next to Sal, who appeared lost in thought, hunched over a caramel-colored lowball beverage of some type—on the rocks.
“You remember, Sal?”
“Yes. Hello, Sal.”
He sat upright and looked at her, shooting Eddie a strange look.
“Ah’, yeah. How you doing Mrs. ah’—”
“Kate. Call me Kate.”
“Kate.”
“I’m fine. Thanks for asking.”
Eddie turned to the bartender. “Bobby—get this lady a—” He turned to Kate. “Chardonnay, right?”
She nodded. “Very good, yes.”
“Chardonnay. And make it quick, alright?”
Bobby nodded, quickly returning with her glass of wine.
Sal fumbled in his pockets. “I gotta’ go, Eddie.”
Kate touched his arm, hiding her distaste for the gesture. “Don’t go on my account, Sal. Stay. Have a drink with me.”
Sal looked at her sideways, as if she were a ghost. He frowned and shook his head, but Eddie slapped his back.
“Where you goin’? ‘Eh? Where you gotta’ go?”
“I told Mitzie I’d meet her at The Corner Bar, ya’ know. For a drink.”
Eddie laughed. “Forget Mitzie. Stay. Have one more drink.”
Sal looked at Kate like she was poison. “I-dunno. I tole-her I’d be there by now.”
“Bobby!” Eddie shouted to the bartender. “Get Sal one more. Put it on my tab.”
“Awe, geez, Eddie. Come on.”
Eddie slid the drink from Bobby over to Sal. “Sit down. One more, ‘eh?”
“I won’t bite, Sal,” Kate said, with a gentle laugh. She looked at him, gazing at all of his features, hiding her scrutiny with a fake, warm smile.
“Did you say you were going to The Corner Bar?”
Sal grunted. “Yeah.”
“I’ve heard of that but can’t place it. Where is it?”
Sal sighed before answering. Kate observed his right leg bouncing up and down as he clutched his drink.
“It’s ah’—you go down Payne. Several blocks up, I don’t know. To ah’—Beaumont. Take a right. It’s on the corner.”
“Oh, yes,” Kate said. “I know the place. I guess I’ve never paid much attention to it before. “‘Corner Bar.’ That’s rather cliché, isn’t it?” She laughed.
Sal nodded. “Cliché. Yeah. I guess so.”
“The Corner Bar’s a shithole,” Eddie said laughing. “But that’s Sal’s hangout. Been hangin’ out there all his life. Ain’t that right, Sal?” He again slapped Sal’s back. Sal looked irritated.
“That’s right.”
“So, Kate,” Eddie moved into the bar stool on the other side of her. “Tell me. How you doin’?”
Kate took a sip of wine. She hated the question. It seemed that was all anyone asked her these days.
“I’m okay.”
“Thinkin’ about gettin’ back to work soon?”
She took a deep breath and let it out loudly. “Oh, I don’t know. I need to, financially, but honestly, it’s the last thing I want to do. I have no energy, ya’ know?”
“Listen, Kate. You need money?”
She waved her hand. “Oh. No. No. I couldn’t. I wouldn’t.”
“You sure?”
“Yes. I’m sure.”
“Well, if ya’ change your mind, promise me—” he pointed a finger at her “—you let me know.” He waved his hand across the bar to emphasize his point. “You need anything. You call. Capisci?”
She nodded and smiled. “Okay, Eddie. I appreciate that.” She finished her wine and dug for her wallet.
Eddie reached for his chest. “Kate. Please. Don’t insult me. Your money’s no good here.”
She opened her mouth to object, but he put his finger to her lips to silence her. Thankfully, he released it quickly. “Don’t even try it.”
She wrestled herself out from the bar stool. Eddie was quick to take her hand to help her.
God. She wished he’d stop touching her.
“It was nice visiting with you, Sal.”
Sal looked at her without smiling back. “Yeah. You too.”
Eddie put his arm around her, again. “Come on. I’ll walk you to your car.”
Kate hated being treated like his possession, but she knew arguing would be a waste of time.
Outside, the frigid air was sobering. A chill crept up her legs.
She pointed. “I’m right across the street. If you could just watch from here, that would be great.”
“Not on your life. I’m walkin’ ya’.”
Great.
When they arrived at her car, Eddie said, “Jesus, Kate. You park way back here? That’s no good. It’s dangerous.”
She shook her head and hand at the same time. “It’s fine. It was crowded when I first got here.”
“Well, next time, you call me. I’ll find you a close spot, alright?”
“Okay, Thanks.”
He gave her car the once-over. “What? You get a new car? What’s this?”
“Ah’, yeah. The cops—they still have my SUV and I don’t—I can’t drive Marco’s Mustang. And I—I don’t think I’ll ever be able to get into the SUV again either, so I—it’s—”
Eddie put up his hand. “I get it. You don’t have to explain.”
“Well,” she said, “thanks again for the drink.”
He kissed her hand. “My pleasure, Kate.”
God.
“Goodnight, Eddie.”
“Goodnight, Kate. You take care-a yourself.”
She nodded and shut her car door, letting out a sigh as he headed back to the restaurant.
She sat there for a moment, letting the car warm up, putting her quivering hands to her face.
