Chapter 7 - The Woman Behind the Bar
I went back to the Brass Grill.
Not to work.
To say goodbye.
Ray hugged me.
“Look at you.”
I laughed.
“I'm still me.”
“You've got better clothes.”
“That isn't difficult.”
He looked at my ring.
“You married Bellandi?”
“Yes.”
“Jesus.”
I laughed.
“I'm happy.”
He nodded.
“I can tell.”
The diner had changed.
New lights.
New booths.
But the bar remained.
I stood behind it.
Nico entered.
He sat in his old seat.
I smiled.
“Coffee?”
“No.”
“Old Fashioned?”
He shook his head.
“Whatever you make.”
I made him coffee.
He watched.
“You know what I remember?”
“What?”
“That first night.”
“The split lip.”
“Yes.”
“You scared me.”
“I know.”
“I thought you were going to kill Tommy.”
“I considered it.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“Good thing I said no.”
He smiled.
“You saved him.”
“No.”
“You saved me.”
I stared.
“How?”
“You reminded me that protecting someone isn't the same as controlling them.”
My eyes filled.
Then he pulled out a photograph.
It was from the hospital after my surgery.
My father.
My mother.
Nico.
Me.
May you like
Four people who had survived.
A family rebuilt.
