Page 99 of Tito

“If that boat ever sails,” I said. “I’ll be sure to get you an invitation.”

He grinned. “I’d appreciate it.”

“Will you consider retiring?” Reggie asked. “Please? I don’t want you obsessing about your work any longer. It’s unhealthy, and I’m afraid something bad is going to happen to you one of these days.”

He lowered his glass. “That’s a risk I suppose I’m willing to take.”

“It’s not one I’m willing to take,” she said, her voice filled with emotion. “My life is headed in the right direction, and I want to make sure you stick around to enjoy our journey with us.”

“Journey?” he asked. “Where are you two headed?”

“Nowhere in particular,” Reggie replied. “We announced our love for one another. Who knows where we’re going from here.”

She no more than spoke and the doorbell rang. Ted leaped over the edge of the recliner without lowering it and yanked the door open. “Here,” he said, handing the delivery guy a few loose bills from his wallet. “Keep the pizza. We lost our appetite.”

He shut the door.

“What are you doing?” Reggie asked. “What do you mean, we lost our appetite?”

He faced her. “You two are in love? I know what comes next,” he said, his face glowing with pride. “After an announcement like that, I’m not eating fucking pizza.”

“Are you cooking steaks?”

“No,” he replied. “We’re going out for seafood. My treat.”

I hadn’t eaten any solid food for a week. Excited that I felt fractionally more at ease, I stood upon hearing his offer.

“Yaaaaay!” Reggie leaped from her seat. “I know the perfect place. The waitresses are kind of old, though.”

“Sandy’s?” he asked.

“How’d you know?”

“Eating seafood is like living life,” he replied. “There are only two options, right and wrong. Fresh seafood is right, and everything else is wrong.”

“Sandy’s is where Tito took me on our first date.”

He gave me a prideful look and patted me on the shoulder. “Another good reason to welcome you to the family. You know right from wrong.”