Carolyn, Gene, and I took a cab up north to an Italian restaurant in Ravenswood. Linda was meeting us there, though I didn’t tell Gene. We arrived a few minutes before eight. The restaurant was small, dimly lit, smelling of olive oil, freshly baked bread, and wood smoke. Soft Italian music played through hidden speakers, and on the walls hung old Italian advertisements for products that hadn’t been made since the fifties.

“Reservations for four under Stratton Brown,” I told the hostess. She guided us to a table in the back. Gene sat across from Carolyn and me. He smiled, looking dapper in tan slacks and a vertical striped white shirt beneath a black blazer.

“You look damn good, Gene,” I said.

“I was thinking that very same thing,” Carolyn added.

“Yeah? Well thanks, guys. This old man can still put a few things together from time to time.” He grabbed at his lapels and gave each a firm tug. “So who’s the fourth?”

“Oh, just a friend from work,” I said, intentionally downplaying it.

“Her name is Linda. She’s great. I think you’ll like her.”

He nodded, asked nothing further, and looked at the wine menu. He handed it to me. “Any preference?”

I didn’t recognize any of the bottles. “Nope,” I said. “Your choice.”

He ordered a Barbara d’Alba. Before it arrived, Linda walked in. I had never seen her in anything other than dated pantsuits and almost didn’t recognize her in a dark blue dress that fell to her ankles. Her hair was down and she was wearing makeup, both of which were also firsts. I had to admit, she looked radiant. I gave her a hug and then made introductions.

“It’s great to finally meet you,” she said to Carolyn. “I was getting awfully tired of this one talking about you all the time without knowing who you were.”

“You too,” Carolyn said. I could see that Linda did a double take when Carolyn smiled. I had forgotten how her teeth had affected me when I first saw them, how they must still affect others. “Apparently you’re the only thing that keeps him from going crazy in that place.”

“Ha! None of us can stay sane there forever. I’ve merely slowed the inevitable.”

Gene was silent, looking up at her.

“And you’re the man who lives above him, right?”

He nodded, said yes.

“I’ve heard a lot about you, too.”