Rose pushes open the door to the restaurant. Vincenzo’s is cut in half by a six-foot-high partition that separates the bar from the dining area. The bar side is dimly lit, the bar long and of polished wood. About a third of the stools are occupied. The dining side, an almost equally narrow space, is packed with tables covered in white cloths. Wicker-covered-wine-bottles-become-candle-holders and mason jars full of pencil-thin breadsticks serve as centerpieces.

Four tables are occupied. Eddie, the woman, and the little girl are seated at the back, near where the partition ends, giving access to the bar, kitchen, and restrooms. Eddie sits with his back to the door.

He must feel safe at Vincenzo’s. Rose hopes to change that.

She wends her way through the crowd of tables until she is standing next to Eddie’s chair. Ignoring her, he continues to study the menu. His date notices Rose is not a waitress, and smiles the way people do when they are not sure whether or not there is going to be a problem.

“Hi,” Rose says with an answering smile. “I’m Rose Dennis, a friend of Eddie’s.”

Eddie lifts his gaze from the menu, then does a classic double take. Rose’s smile widens. “Hi, Eddie, it’s good to see you taking a little time for yourself.” Eddie doesn’t move or speak. In the tradition of Medusa, Rose’s face has apparently turned him to stone.

Rose focuses her smile on his date. “You must be…”

The woman’s smile warms, comfortable now, deciding Rose isn’t going to report that their truck has been towed, or her escort is under arrest for attempted murder. “I’m Tania,” she says. Turning to Eddie, she punches him none too lightly on the biceps. “Eddie!”

Eddie takes on a sheepish aspect. Sheepish. Rose is amazed. In none of her paintings of his face had she recorded a whiff of sheepishness.

“Yeah, uh, Miss—”

“Dennis, Rose Dennis. You worked on my roof.” Eddie’s features flatten like a soufflé in an earthquake. His mouth works as if he’s trying to clean peanut butter off his back teeth. Rose gives Tania a little shrug. “I think it’s all coming back to him.”

“Yeah,” Eddie says woodenly. “Ms., uh, Dennis. This is, uh…” His face goes blank. Tania punches him again. “Tania Edgars, my fiancée” is knocked out of him.

“How do you do,” Tania says as Rose says, “Pleased to meet you.”

Eddie’s face is functioning, but his voice has again abandoned him.

Tania rolls her eyes theatrically. They are lovely eyes. “And this is my daughter, Amy.”

“Your Majesty,” Rose says with a bow. Amy touches her tiara and giggles. “May I borrow Eddie for a minute?” she asks Tania. “I promise not to keep him long.”