And she didnt like going home. There was nothing wrong with her place, except that it simply wasntlived in enough.
Id love to, she said to Jason, and slipped easily into his arms. The ensemble played La Danza, and they swayed, grinning at each other like idiots.
So you finally did it, you big goof, she said.
I couldnt have done it without you.
I know, she said breezily, then patted his arm. Seriously, Jason, Im honored that you asked for my help. It was fun.
Well, Im in awe. You managed everything perfectly, down to the last detail. Her favorite food was tonights special, the ensemble kept playing songs she lovesYou even had special flowers on all the tables. I didnt know Lily of the Valley was her favorite.
In the future, knowing her favorites is your job. Rosa was always mystified that people simply didnt notice things about other people. She had once dated an airline pilot for five months, and he never learned how she took her coffee. Come to think of it, no man had ever bothered to learn that about her, except
How does Linda take her coffee? she asked Jason suddenly.
Hot?
Very funny. How does she like her coffee?
Linda drinks tea. She takes it with honey and lemon.
Rosa collapsed against him in exaggerated relief. Thank God. You passed the test. She didnt mean to dart one tiny glance at Alex. It just happened. He was looking straight at her. Fine, then, she thought. Let him look.
I didnt know there was a test, Jason whispered to her.
Theres always a test, she said. Remember that.
The music wound down and then stopped. During the polite patter of applause, Linda joined them.
Ive come to claim my man, she said, slipping her hand into his.
Hes all yours. Rosa gave her a quick hug. And thats for you. Congratulations, my friends. I wish you all the happiness in the world.
Linda jerked her head in the direction of Alexs table. What the hell is he doing here?
Drinking a $300 bottle of champagne. Rosa held up a hand. And thats all I have to say on the subject. Tonight is your night. You and Jason.
Youre meeting me for coffee tomorrow, though, Linda insisted. And then youll spill.
Fine. Ill see you at Pegasus tomorrow. Now, take your man and go home.
All right. Rosa, I know how much you did to make this night special, said Linda. Ill never be able to thank you enough.
Rosa beamed. The look on Lindas face was reward enough, but she said, You can name your first child after me.
Only if its a girl.
She and Linda hugged one more time, and the happy couple left. The music started up again, Rosa went back to work and pretended not to see Alex ask the tall woman at his table to dance.
This was absurd, she thought. She was an adult now, not a wide-eyed kid fresh out of high school. She had every right to go over to him this minute and demand to know what he was doing here. Or for that matter, what hed been doing since hed said, Have a nice life and strolled off into the sunset.
Did he have a nice life? she wondered.
He certainly looked as though he did. He seemed relaxed with his friendsor maybe that was the champagne kicking in. He had an air of casual elegance that was not in the least affected. Even when she first met him, as a little boy, hed had a certain aura about him. That in-born poise was a family trait, one shed observed not just in Alex, but in his parents and sister, as well.
The quality was nothing so uncomplicated as mere snobbery. Rosa had encountered her share of that. No, the Montgomerys simply had an innate sense of their place in the world, and that place was at the top of the heap.
Except when it came to loving someone. He pretty much sucked at that.
Maybe hed changed. His date certainly appeared hopeful as she undulated her Sex and the City body against his on the dance floor.
You want I should break his kneecaps? inquired a deep voice behind her.
Rosa smiled. Not tonight, Teddy.
Teddy was in charge of security at the restaurant. In another sort of establishment, hed be called a bouncer. The job required a thorough knowledge of digital alarms and surveillance, but he lived for the day he could wield those ham-sized fists on her behalf. I got lots of footage of him on the security cameras, he informed her. You can watch that if you want.
No, I dont want, Rosa snapped, yet she could picture herself obsessively playing the tape, over and over again. So does everybody in the place know the guy who once dumped me is here tonight?
Oh, yeah, he said unapologetically. We had a meeting about it. We dont care how long ago it happened. He was harsh, Rosa. Damned harsh. What a dickwad.
We were just kids
Headed to college. Thats pretty grown-up.
Shed never made it to college. Her staff probably had a meeting about that, too.
Hes a paying customer, she said. Thats all he is, so I wish everyone would quit trying to make such a big deal out of it. I dont like people discussing my personal affairs.
Teddy gently touched her shoulder. Its okay, Rosa. Were talking about this because we care about you. Nobody wants to see you hurt.
Then youve got nothing to worry about, she assured him. Im fine. Im perfectly fine.
It became her mantra for the remainder of the evening, which was nearly over at last. The bartenders final call circulated, and the ensemble bade everyone good-night by playing their signature farewell number, a sweet and wistful arrangement of As Time Goes By.
The last few customers circled the dance floor and then dispersed, heading off into the night, couples lost in each other and oblivious to the world. Rosa couldnt keep count of the times she had stood in the shadows and watched people fall in love right here on the premises. Celestas was just that kind of place.
Howm I doing, Mamma?
Celesta, twenty years gone, would undoubtedly approve. The restaurant smelled like the kitchen of Rosas childhood; the menu featured many of the dishes Celesta had once prepared with warmth, intense flavors and a certain uncomplicated contentment Rosa constantly tried to recapture. She wanted the restaurant to serve Italian comfort food, the kind that fed hidden hungers and left people full of fond remembrances.
She pretended to be busy as Alex and his friends left. Finally she let out the breath she hadnt known she was holding. When the last patron departed, so did the magic. The lights came up, revealing crumbs and smudges on the floors and tables, soot on the candle chimneys, dropped napkins and flatware. In the absence of music and with the kitchen doors propped open, the clank and crash of dishes rang through the building.
Ka-ching, Vince said as he printed out a spreadsheet summarizing the nights receipts. Biggest till of the year so far. He hesitated, then added, Your dumbshit ex-boyfriend left a whopper tip.
Hes not my ex-anything, she insisted. Hes ancient history.
Yeah, but I bet hes still a dumbshit.
I wouldnt know. Hes a complete stranger to me. I wish everyone would get that through their heads.
We wont, he assured her. Cant you see were dying here, Rosa? Were starved for gossip.
I wouldnt know. Hes a complete stranger to me. I wish everyone would get that through their heads.
We wont, he assured her. Cant you see were dying here, Rosa? Were starved for gossip.
Find someone else to gossip about.
We were all watching him with the new security cameras, Vince said.
I cant believe you guys.
Teddy can zoom in on anything.
Good for him. Her head pounded, and she rubbed her temples.
I got this, honey, Vince said. Ill close tonight.
She offered a thin smile. Thanks. She started to remind him about the seal on the walk-in fridge, the raccoons in the Dumpster, but stopped herself. Shed been working on her control-freak impulses.
As she left through the back entrance, she wished shed thought to grab a sweater before rushing out today. The afternoon had been hot; now the chill air raised goose bumps on her bare arms.
Debris from last weeks windstorm had been cleared away, but broken trees and fallen branches still lay along the periphery of the parking lot. The power had been knocked out for hours, but the cameras had come through unscathed.
Her heels rang on the pavement as she headed for her car, a red Alfa Romeo Spider equipped with an extravagant stereo system. As she used the remote on her key chain to unlock the drivers side door, a shadow overtook her.
She stopped walking and looked up to see Alex, somehow not surprised to find him standing in the dull glow of the parking lot lights. What, youre stalking me now?
Do you feel stalked?
Yeah, I generally do when a man approaches me in a deserted parking lot at midnight. Creeps me out.
I can see how that could happen.
You should hear what theyre saying about you inside.
Whats that?
Oh, all sorts of things. Dumbshit, dickwad. Stuff like that. Two different guys offered to break your kneecaps. They liked your tip, though.
He offered that crooked smile again, the one that used to practically stop her heart. Its good to know you surrounded yourself with quality people.
She gestured at the security camera mounted on a light pole.
What are you doing? Alex asked.
Trying to let my quality people know I dont need rescuing. It was late. She couldnt keep batting this pointless conversation back and forth. She just wanted to go home. Besides, it was taking every bit of energy she possessed to pretend he had no effect on her. What are you doing here, Alex? she asked.
He showed her his hand, which held a palm-sized cell phone. I was calling a taxi. Is the local service as bad now as it used to be?
A taxi? Youd be better off hitchhiking.
Thats supposed to be dangerous. And I know you wouldnt want to put a customer in danger.
Where are your friends, anyway?
Went back to Newport.
And youre headed?
To the house on Ocean Road.
No one in his family had visited the place in twelve years. It was like a haunted mansion, perched there at the edge of the ocean, an abandoned, empty shell. Wondering what had brought him back after all this time, she shivered. Before she realized what he was doing, he slipped his jacket around her shoulders. She pulled away. I dont
Just take it.
She tried not to be aware of his body heat, clinging to the lining of the jacket. Your friends couldnt give you a ride?
I didnt want one. I was waiting for youRosa.
What, so I can give you a lift? Her voice rose with incredulity.
Thanks, he said. Dont mind if I do. He headed for the Alfa Spider.
Rosa stood in the amber glow of the floodlights, trying to figure out what to do. She was tempted to peel out without another word to him, but that seemed a bit juvenile and petty. She could always get someone from the restaurant to give him a ride, but they werent feeling too friendly toward him. Besides, in spite of herself, she was curious.
She didnt say another word as she released the lock on the passenger side door. She waved goodbye to the security camera; then they got in and took off.
Thanks, Rosa, he said.
Like hed given her a choice. She exceeded the speed limit, but she didnt care. There wasnt a soul in sight, not even a possum or a deer. This area was lightly patrolled by the sheriffs department, and given her association with Sean Costello, sheriff of South County, she didnt have much concern that shed get a ticket.
At the roadside, beach rose hedges fanned out toward the dunes and black water. On the other side lay marshes and protected land, an area mercifully untouched for generations.
So I guess youre wondering why Im back, Alex said.
She was dying to know. Not at all, she said.
I knew Celestas was your place, he explained. I wanted to see you.
His directness took her aback. But then, he used to be the most honest person she knew. Right up until he left, never looking back.
What for? she asked.
I still think about you, Rosa.
Ancient history, she assured him, reminding herself hed been drinking.
It doesnt feel that way. Feels like only yesterday.
Not to me, she lied.
You were dating that deputy. Costa, Alex said, referring to the day hed briefly returned, about ten years ago, and shed sent him away. He would remember that, along with the fact that she didnt need or want him.
Costello, she corrected him. Sean Costello. Hes the sheriff now.
And youre still single.
Thats none of your business.
Im making it my business.
Rosa drove even faster. It was awkward, you showing up like that.
I figured it would be. At least were talking. Thats a start.
I dont want to start anything with you, Alex.
Have I asked you to?
She pulled into the crushed gravel and oyster shell drive of the Montgomery house. Over the years, the grounds had been kept neat, the place painted every five years. It was a handsome Victorian masterpiece in the Carpenter Gothic style, complete with engraved brass plaque from the South County Historical Preservation Society.
No, she admitted, throwing the gear in Neutral. You havent asked me for anything but a ride. So heres your ride. Good night, Alex. She thought about tossing off a remarkSay hi to your mother from mebut couldnt bring herself to do that.
He turned to her on the seat. Rosa, I have a lot to say to you.
I dont want to hear it.
Then you wont. Not right now. See, Im drunk. And when I say what I want to say to you, I need to be stone-cold sober.
Three
The next morning Rosa went to Pegasus, a coffeehouse furnished with overstuffed sofas and chairs, low tables and a luxurious selection of biscotti. The café offered the New York Times and Boston Globe, along with the Providence Journal Bulletin and local papers. Rosa was friendly with the proprietor, Millie, a genuine barista imported from Seattle, complete with baggy dress, Birkenstocks and a God-given talent for making perfect espresso.
While she fixed a double tall skinny vanilla latte, Millie eyed the stack of notebooks and textbooks Rosa had set on the table.