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Maybe until dawn, and then we can go back and get soreed Stephanie went back for Suzette, and the two headed out, looking for the café They found the place, and when they went in and sat down, the woman as apparently cook, waitress, and owner calish, but Stephanie had learned enough to get by in a restaurant The wolass of wine as they waited for their food "Do you think that… that Ge around so it on?" Suzette asked
"I don’t know So it"
"It’s ais alive You should have seen hiot here," Suzette said
Stephanie nodded, so with a group at the rear of the café The five , but as was often the custoars and brandy, drawing the evening out
The one elderly gentle at her intently It was the kind of serious study thattheir salads
She said so to them that Stephanie didn’t understand, but it was friendly She finished with a cheerful, " Mangia!"
They thanked her
As they ate, Stephanie told Suzette, "There’s an older rinned "He probably thinks you’re hot stuff"
"I don’t think it’s that," Stephanie assured her
"Hey, Italian men are appreciative of women It’s nice You have to be nineteen and perfect not to feel a little flattered when a lance back "Even if he is old enough to be Methuselah"
"I really don’t think he’s appreciating hed "Oh, well, let him look It’s a free country Okay, it’s not the United States, but it’s a free country Can’t stop the old boy froe, isn’t it? I just love it here so very much! I hted to realize that ere really a success here, that we could have had a very long and prosperous run! What a base! I want to go to Sicily, and so many of the wonderful little spots around here And hey, a few days in France, Greece… anywhere in Europe would be easy froet into Naples, but still… I had really dreamed that I could put in a couple of years here, and now… pray God, that this is just so felt, because the other … drained Can a flu ine I mean, a fever canattention The oldat her with appreciation His stare was hard and cold
"Yes, a fever can make you delirious," she ain, she eet, urging them to eat up
"Stephanie?"
"Yes, Suzette?"
"You’re not listening to uy in the back"
"Sorry And listen, we are a tremendous success We will continue to be so"
"We can’t be a success if we’re all in the hospital, sick, or--as in Doug’s case--at death’s door!" Suzette said "The pasta is delicious!"
"Yes, it is," Stephanie murmured And it was Still, it was hard to enjoy her food, she was so aware of theat her
She forced herself to look at Suzette "We will get to the botto better on her own, you said that you feel better already, and Dr Antinella has taken good care of Doug" She hesitated a ood idea if you moved in with Lena, or if Lena etting fevers in the night, tossing or turning with dreaet aspirin for one another… just be there for one another"
"Maybe that’s a good idea," Suzette ood friends quickly here, but… we both enjoyed our own space The little cottages are so special, you know? But you’re probably right And it will only be for a bit… I’ll talk to her tonight What about you? Oh, silly ot There’s Grant"
Yes, there was Grant
"Here comes our fish… , smell it! This place is like the find of the century And you knohat? I don’t even think we’re going to wind up really fat I read a column on AOL News that said the Italians don’t put all the bad stuff into pasta, the e do in Aroup ofShe felt a tre at her didn’t walk out along with his friends
He finally came toward their table
Stephanie set her fork down
He rested a hand on the table, facing her, and speaking so quickly she couldn’t catch so ent voice
He was angry
At one point, he raised his fist, then lowered it
She shook her head " Per favore! Non capisco!" she told hi to make him comprehend that she didn’t understand a word
But he didn’t stop speaking At the end, he suddenly pulled so from his pocket At that point, she juht he was about to pull a pistol
It wasn’t a pistol It was a beautiful little piece of jewelry A small silver cross