Part Seventy-Six

Their table was semi-private but Sylvie could see the layout of the restaurant. She had definitely noticed how other people noticed Kelley. They seemed to want him to look at them or to acknowledge them in some manner but he never did.

Kelley spoke in fluent Italian to the waiter and moments later the chef himself appeared. Kelley stood up and both men hugged and slapped each other on the back as men often did. “Guillermo, this is Sylvie,” Kelley introduced them.

Guillermo kissed the back of her hand and patted Kelley on the shoulder again. They switched back to Italian and Sylvie could only stare at Kelley’s face. He seemed so at ease and people tended to drift toward him, even she had.

Guillermo nodded his head enough times that Sylvie thought he’d get a sprain. After ten minutes of intense discussion, he left their table and Kelley turned his attention back on her. “I apologize for that,” Kelley said.

“No, it’s fine,” Sylvie said.

“Not really. It’s rude to speak in another language