Saul sits in the room, accompanied only by his own curiosity about why he is here. He has gotten very good at waiting. At trusting; at holding himself still. He does this at work, when he has been given a job but not a reason for it; he does it at home, when Sofia is taken by a nameless rage or curiosity or joy but has not explained it to him. He does it every other Thursday night, now, when he waits for Eli to pick up the phone. He did it, once, on a boat, rocking creakily from Europe to America, where the only thing he knew was that nothing was known.

Joey is late. When he pushes open the door Saul stands to shake his hand, to kiss the air next to his cheek.

“Ciao, buddy,” says Joey, “I couldn’t get here any sooner, did you get a coffee? That machine is dusty but it makes a perfect espresso.” As he talks, Joey fills the espresso maker; tamps down the mound of fragrant ground coffee; gestures to see if Saul would like one.

“I’m fine, boss,” says Saul. He is relaxing almost in spite of himself, that trademark Colicchio charm warming him up and weighing him down.

Joey turns around, holding two tiny espresso cups between his thumb and forefinger as though he hadn’t heard that Saul didn’t want any. He hands one to Saul, and settles himself into the other chair in the room. “Okay, alright. I’m ready. Saul. How’s it going?”

Saul is afraid to speak. This is the flipside of working for Eli. His moments with Joey—especially alone—are terrifying. At any moment, Joey could reveal that he knows what Saul has been up to. Never mind that Eli has kept his promise—Saul hasn’t been asked to give him any information on Joey. Saul knows it would make no difference. “It’s going fine, boss,” he says.

“Sofia? Julia?”

“They’re good. They’re great.” Joey and Rosa had supper with them two nights ago. Joey had talked to Sofia just the night before, appearing in the doorway of their home like a specter to ask her if she could be at a restaurant on Sackett this morning to facilitate the delivery of some top-shelf olive oil.

“Good.” Joey chuckles. “It’s been good for Rosa, for us, to have you so close. There’s been a lot of good lately. Sofia—you might have complicated feelings about it, Saul, and trust me, I understand, but Sofia has been a real asset for us.” Joey pauses. “Does she seem happy to you?”