Page 82 of Ticket Out

Jerome gave a nod, but James had the feeling he wasn’t as concerned as he should be.

The sound of water stopped, and James glanced in the direction of the bathroom.

He forced his attention back on Jerome. “How is Mr. Rodney? Gabriella says you’re taking care of him.”

“He’s doing fine. Fretting over Gabby. Someone told him she was kidnapped on her way to visit him, and he’s all tied up in knots about it.”

“He’s out of hospital now?”

Jerome shook his head. “He was supposed to be, but they kept him in. He’ll be out tomorrow, maybe.”

The door to the bathroom opened, and Gabriella stepped out, cheeks pink from the heat of her bath, wearing pale pink trousers with a pink and pale green flowered top. She had put her hair up in a topknot and she was barefoot.

Jerome cleared his throat. “I’ll be movin’ along. Nice to see you, Gabby.”

“Hey, Jerome.” Gabriella flicked her towel over her shoulder. “How’s Mr. Rodney?”

“He’ll be out tomorrow.”

Her face lit up. “I’ll have to bake a cake to celebrate. Are you staying in his place, or up here?”

“Up here, but give me a knock and I’ll go down and let you in if you want to use the oven.”

She smiled her thanks and Jerome shot him a careful look and then stepped into his flat.

Gabriella moved past him, and he brought her dining chair back into the bedsit, and set it back in place.

“You hungry?” He didn’t think she would be much in the mood to make a meal, and he didn’t want to leave her, even though that was the plan. He had already organized the increased patrols.

She hesitated, then gave a nod. “Starving.”

“Let’s go out and eat, then.”

She shot him a quick look. “Give me a moment to fix my hair.” She disappeared behind the screen that shielded her bed, and a few minutes later came out with her hair brushed and loose around her shoulders, and pale lipstick on her lips.

She had a coat over her arm. “Where are we going?”

He thought of Gennaro’s. Of how he’d wondered what eating at a place like that might be like. “Gennaro’s?” He made it a question.

She thought for a moment. “Not too close to the action?” she asked.

He held her gaze. “Don’t let the bastards grind you down.”

She threw back her head and laughed at his repeat of Mrs. Everett’s words earlier. “No. We won’t.”

* * *

Gennaro was surprised to see them.

Gabriella exchanged a few words with him in Italian, keeping it short because it was rude to speak in a language James didn’t understand.

The place looked full, but unconcerned, he had a table brought through from the back, making room for them somehow, and within moments they were seated, and a waiter was offering them wine.

“I’m a beer man.” James looked a little out of his depth.

She leaned over the table. “Do you like dry or sweet?” she asked.

“Dry.”

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