Mac let out a laugh that was so hearty it could have shaken the whole building. “Well, damn. You are a woman after my own heart. You enjoy grammar. You will be happy to know I attended the University of the South, majored in English, and even wrote for the Sewanee Review. Daddy thought I was going to play for the other team. But my extracurricular activities told him otherwise. Did you name Elliott’s restaurant, or was it one of those happy coincidences?”

“Both. It was his name, but it was my idea to capitalize on it.” I relaxed, my confidence buoyed.

He pointed to my untouched cappuccino. “Not enough foam?” When I didn’t answer, he said, “I’ll work on that. By the way, I’ve eaten at your restaurant several times. I hope this doesn’t come off as too stalker-like, but I watched you work the room. You sent me an amuse-bouche every time. I love the way you glided from table to table. You seem to value each and every patron. No table felt more important than another. It was as if you wanted each guest to feel cherished.”

That touched me. It was the way I had always described my father. He made it look so easy. In reality, it was really hard work. But because I wanted everybody to feel happy, I had worked on my own presentation.

“So have I scared you away? Are you willing to meet with me in a few weeks when I get back? And don’t worry, your matrimonial artillery is on full display,” he said, pointing to my fresh engagement ring and wedding band. I found myself accepting another proposal with a single word: “Yes.”

Walking into the restaurant that afternoon, I had a little extra spring in my step.

“Hello, wife,” Elliott said and kissed me with a sense of urgency. I smiled. Never in my life would I have dreamed that the descriptor “wife” would find its way to me. We walked into his office.

“I’m starving. I’d do anything for food.”

“I plan to hold you to that later.” He sat behind his desk, preparing a list of the night’s specials.

“By the way, husband, can I have a little money?” He thought I was kidding. “I’m serious. I’ve got to pay my health insurance, I need to get my hair cut, and sometimes when Penny and I are out, she likes to grab lunch at nice places. When you were so sick and I was running the restaurant, I had to turn down some big gigs.”

“I can’t believe you don’t have much money left. We need to get you on my health insurance plan. I don’t appreciate the dig at me.”