Standing in the middle of her team while keeping a safe distance, Miranda, who enjoyed the limelight, blew kisses to the staff and then raised her hands high above her head again. “Welcome back, everyone! I’ve missed you all so much,” she said. “It’s been a difficult time for all New Yorkers, for the whole world. One thing I know for sure, we’ll get through this if we all stick together and help each other out.”

Everyone nodded and applauded. “As you know, we just got word that the city is going to start ‘on-the-street dining’ and I’d like Villa d’Luna to give it a try. If we stay closed much longer, I don’t know if we’ll ever open again and that would be heartbreaking. When the mayor gave New York City the go-ahead, I thought, ‘All right, Miranda, we can do this.’”

After more applause and nodding Miranda continued. “I’m still working out the logistics. It’s going to be a very different business, this new outdoor Villa d’Luna. Shorter hours, fewer customers and meals served. The good news is that our restaurant will be open again in another week. The bad news is that while I’ve been able to keep all of you on the payroll thus far, I’m afraid I’m going to have to make some staff cuts to stay afloat. I just haven’t figured it all out yet.”

A murmur went through the crowd.

“Even with the outdoor seating, we’ll only be earning a fraction of what we did before,” said Miranda. “I’m working with my accountant all day today on my Covid-19 emergency plan. If we could all meet here again tomorrow morning, I’ll announce how Villa d’Luna will be restructured and which members of the staff will move forward with us in this crazy new world.”

Fifteen minutes later when the meeting broke up, Zoe waited outside for Sean. He had gone inside the empty restaurant to retrieve some personal items left behind when the restaurant abruptly closed in March. Carrying a large, overstuffed oatmeal-colored canvas tote bag with Justice Valley Vineyards emblazoned across the side, Sean signaled for Zoe to follow him.

“What’s all that?” she asked, eyeing the giant bag.

“Swag from all the different vineyards and liquor distributors I work with,” said Sean as he pulled out a few items from the bag and held them up. Each one had a company name or logo printed on it. “They give me glasses, coasters, corkscrews, stirrers, fancy-shaped ice cube trays… you name it. I must have fifty corkscrews at home which is a joke because half the wine today has screw tops. Take whatever you want.”

Zoe plucked out a set of fancy drink stirrers, a corkscrew and an ice cube tray that made cubes in the shape of hearts.