“You mean this?” Lisa said, holding up a wad of cash wrapped in a rubber band.

“Yes. You’ll need to give that to whatever charity you’d like tomorrow.”

“Okay,” Lisa said, pulling Bennett’s coat from the hanger. “Here you go.”

“What are you doing? I just got here.”

“Well, if your phone was on, you’d know you could have skipped making the trip. Our Internet is down. Some contractor hit a fiber optic line a couple of hours ago, and the cable company said it won’t be fixed until probably tomorrow. And before you ask, there aren’t any auctions tonight.”

“Yes, I know,” Bennett said, taking her coat. “I guess that means I have the night off then.”

Bennett followed Lisa through the gallery, shutting off the lights as they did. When they reached the alarm keypad by the front door, Lisa opened the panel, entered the code, and stepped outside. She nibbled on her bottom lip for several seconds before turning to Bennett. “Hey…um…since Jimmy blew me off to go to a basketball game, do you want to go grab something to eat?”

What was supposed to be another night spent alone had just changed, and Bennett couldn’t have been happier. “If ever there was a poor decision, it was that one,” she said, locking the door behind her. “Unlike Jimmy, I couldn’t think of a better way to spend the evening. Lead the way.”

***

It didn’t surprise Lisa when Bennett suggested Lisa pick the restaurant, and it didn’t surprise her when Bennett insisted on paying for their meal. It was Bennett’s way, and knowing sports bars and pizza joints were not to Bennett’s liking, Lisa picked an upscale Italian restaurant near Longfellow Bridge.

Exuding the old-world charm of Tuscany, Terra & Mare offered private dining excellence from the food served to the atmosphere presented. Housed in a century-old building, the brick walls showed their age in the mortar, its brightness having faded to tan, and the flooring was hefty planks of walnut marred by decades of use. Chandeliers provided muted lighting, and linen-covered tablecloths, polished china, and mouth-watering aromas emanating from the kitchen added to the ambiance.

After placing their orders, they shared a small plate of cured meats and olives while waiting for their dinner to arrive.

“Have you come here before?” Bennett said, taking a drink of her wine.

“Yes. Mom and Dad brought us all here for Gunnar’s birthday once.”

“It’s quite nice,” Bennett said, surveying the room.

“Yes, it is,” Lisa said before snagging the last olive from the plate. “And speaking of my parents, I spoke to Dad the other day. He said you paid him a visit.”

“I did, yes,” Bennett said, eyeing her dinner companion. “And knowing the relationship you have with your parents, I’ll assume that’s not all your father told you.”