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I got to the Barnacle without an accident or even incident I walked in without falling in a puddle Despite its being only a Thursday in early May, the restaurant was filling up with regulars I immediately sensed that Lorenzo wasn’t there

Katie came up to me instantly "Not here," she confirmed "You look incredible, Mil! And don’t worry He’ll come And in the meantime…dadada-du at the bar but Joe Carpenter

Oh, thank you, Powers That Be, thank you

As I was a regular, sort of, at the Barnacle, I had hoisted a beer ht, when I waved to Chris, the bartender, he s to Joe, who turned around and sroo woht next to the

"Hey, Millie," Joe said

"Hey, Joe," I set you, Millie?" Chris asked

"Oh, I don’t know" What should I drink? What ith ht? "How about a vodka and tonic?" That seemed very sophisticated

"What kind of vodka?" Chris inquired

"Oh…uh…Absolut?" I suggested, not that I could have thought of another brand with a gun to lass of wine I turned to Joe God, I was sitting next to Joe! He dith

"Good choice," Chris said "Regular? Citron? Vanilla? Raspberry? Pepper?"

I turned back to Chris "The first one," I answered firetat Joe He looked like an angel in the soft golden light of the bar "So, Joe, what’s new?"

"Notthe other day?"

"Might have been," I answered, feeling ratefully took the drink fro Joe would drop the subject

"On Nauset?" He didn’t seereen eyes of his looking at ht

"I live on Cable," I said, artfully dodging the question "I run on Nauset every once in a while"

"Oh, yeah? I thought you lived on Oak Street"

"My parents live on Oak" I took another large swig of ood, either, but not bad "I live not too far frohthouse" Great! Now he knehere I lived

Someone tapped me on the shoulder, and I turned around It was Lorenzo

"Oh! Hi, Lorenzo!" I said

"Sorry I’ at Joe

"Oh, that’s okay Lorenzo, this is Joe Carpenter," I replied "Joe, Lorenzo Bellefiore"

"Good toa hand to Lorenzo They shook My boyfriends shook hands I fought the bubble of laughter that wanted to burst out of me

"Lorenzo’s new to the Cape," I told Joe "He’s a olden one replied affably "Great"

"What do you do, Joe?" the dark god asked Was it ination, or did Lorenzo sound a little…impatient? Impatient to be with ht that was your na perplexed

"It is Joe Carpenter the Carpenter It’s ain, andfor a second

"Gotcha"

I could have watched the back and forth like a frenetic windshield wiper, but thankfully, Katie interrupted "Your table is all set," she said in professional-waitressout of et your drink," he replied, handing rin

"Thanks" Oh, he was so sweet!

Lorenzo and I sat down at an intimate little corner table (thank you, best friend) Katie handed us our ave the wine list to Lorenzo When she was safely out of his field of vision, she gave me the thumbs-up

"So," I said to Lorenzo, "how’s your hand?"

He frowned "It’s all right It still hurts Do you think it’s infected?"

I took his hand and studied the cut The stitches were holding fast, and the cut was healing perfectly, no inflammation, no redness "It’s not infected"

He raised his eyebrows as if dubious

"Well So, Lorenzo, what do you think of the Barnacle?"

He looked around, taking in the mishmash of nautical decorations and eclectic tablecloths "Very cute Have you eaten here before?"

"Oh, absolutely Lots of times The lobster bisque is out of this world"

For what seemed like forever, Lorenzo studied the menu After all, he was a scientist and clearly needed all the facts beforea decision I sippedwho, other than Joe, Chris the bartender and Katie, would see uess I’ll try the bisque," Lorenzo said, giving me a srilled swordfish"