Page 24 of The Vow

At some point, Alex had made her entrance and was standing at the bar a few feet away. As she approached me, I wondered how much of my conversation with Nick she had heard.

Nick tapped her hand in greeting, “Smartass.”

My heart soared at the sight of her. Then I noticed her puffy eyelids, and the red surrounding her nostrils as if she’d been crying all night. I wanted to hug her, but I quickly stood to pull out the bar stool for her. “A girl can get used to that,” Alex told me. “Sorry I’m late. I was waiting on hold with the phone company for an hour. Are we drinking coffee today?”

“Hey, Nick!”

“Yeah.”

“Get Alex whatever she wants.”

“A beer on tap is fine. I don’t care what kind. Thanks.”

“The cold kind,” he said, repeating her words from when we first met. “Good to see you again, kid.”

Alex smiled. It seemed different today, laced with kindness. Feeling like an utter jackass, I glanced at her naked ring finger. “I’m sorry too. For calling you so late last night.”

“That’s okay. I wasn’t sleeping. Your voice on my machine was kind of comforting.”

I shifted in my stool, embarrassed about the long message I had left her. I looked for signs on her face that she was disparaging me, but there were none. Her long hair was tied in braids. She was wearing her peasant skirt, and a green, form-fitting, V-neck tank top. The crucifix was hiding beneath it today, and I imagined that it was a symbolic gesture, like she was angry with God.

“Thanks for all the leftovers,” Nick said, delivering her beer. “My kids will have the best bagged lunches this week.”

“Um... you’re welcome.”

“I hope you don’t mind,” I told her. “There’s no way I could eat it all on my own.”

“No. Of course not. I shouldn’t have ordered so much. To tell you the truth, I thought you were going to fire me.”

“So that’s what you meant last night. Why did you think that?”

“I don’t know. I can say stupid shit sometimes.”

“Really? I never noticed.” As my shoulder nudged hers, she realized I was teasing.

“Are you saying that I still have a job?”

“Only if you stop saying noodles.”

She rolled her eyes, but said, “Deal.”

“Nick’s kids don’t know how lucky they are. Ma used to send me to school with pancetta on focaccia. She even wrapped the sandwich in waxed paper. The other kids made fun of me.”

Alex leaned on the bar with her head in her hand. She resembled a painting – the kind where a beautiful woman looks like she’s pondering the meaning of life. “I’d rather have your mother’s sandwich. I got so sick of making my own peanut butter and jelly sandwiches that I stopped eating lunch all together.”

“I’d be happy to make you lunch.”

“I’d be happy to eat it!” she said, laughing.

“Done with the coffee?” Nick’s sleeves were rolled up. The King of Rock and Roll stared at us.

“Elvis tattoo? Nice.”

“Thank ya. Thank ya very much.”

“Oh for fuck sakes. That’s a horrible impression,” I said. “Yeah. I’m done with the coffee. I’d like a glass of Chianti.”

“Any particular year?”