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place you here. Best seat in the house for our live shows.  I had the speakers strategically placed here, here, here and here,” Tyree pointed to four spots in the ceiling. “The sound technician I worked with guaranteed that the sound would be perfect.”
    “Why?” I repeated, taking a seat on the bar stool facing the stage.
    “You’re my first Richland friend,” he said with a shrug.
    “Friend?” I repeated with light laugh. “We don’t even know each other!”
    “Your name is Sahara. You live in Libby Lofts. You have a great singing voice. You work out. You like open mic nights. And you obviously have great taste in food and entertainment,” he concluded spreading his arms wide gesturing to the lounge.
    I stifled a giggle and shook my head, “ And that information makes us friends?”
    “Absolutely!” he replied with that flawless smile. “Now you mentioned you wanted food earlier. I’m going to have the bartender come take your order while I go handle the beef between Milton and Marie. I’ll be back as soon as possible.” He started to walk away and then he turned back toward me, “Speaking of Marie, I’m not sure if she told you but the lounge doors don’t open until 8:30pm. The show starts at 9pm.” I looked at my phone, crap it’s 7:43pm and no one will be up here until 8:30pm. What am I going to do for the next 47 minutes?
    As if reading my thoughts, Tyree declared, “I’ll be back up before your food is here and we’ll have dinner together.” And then he walked off.
    A little smile played at the corners of my mouth as I shook my head. A minute later a bartender brought me a menu. Famished, I ordered chicken and waffles. I sipped my water and took in the art work around the room for the second time.  Each photograph toward the front of the lounge received my full and undivided attention.  I noticed a smaller photograph behind the DJ booth that I hadn’t seen on my first or second look. Because of the angle of the DJ booth, the picture is hidden from anyone not sitting at this table.  I wanted to get a better look but I didn’t think it was appropriate for me to walk on the stage. Looking at the time on my phone (7:57pm), I figured I had time to grab a quick peek. Getting close to the steps that lead to the stage, I saw the picture more clearly.  A forty something man with salt & pepper grey hair wearing a brown suit and a blue shirt sitting beside a little boy with a brown suit and blue shirt on a piano bench.  The little boy was looking at the older man and the older man was looking at the camera.  The smiles both wore were full of love. My heart ached.
    “That’s my grandfather and I twenty five y ears ago,” Tyree began, slicing through the ache and pulled my mind away from the heartbreaking thoughts of my past.  I turned toward him as he positioned himself beside me; his eyes focused on the photograph.  “My grandfather was the best man I’ve ever known and the man I aspire to be. He was an awesome musician and business man.  I keep the photograph right there so that when I sit at my table, I can always be reminded of why I did this.  I also have the same picture in the restaurant.” His eyes shined with love and admiration for his grandfather. He glanced at me and smiled a sad smile. “He passed away a couple months ago. So I honored him and his spirit by naming this place after him.”
    “I’m sorry you lost someone who you clearly loved so much. I—”
    “Your food is ready when you are sir, ma’am,” the bartender interrupted, placing two steamy plates on the table. The interruption snapped me back to reality. In a moment of sincerity, seeing Tyree so open and vulnerable about his lost loved one. I almost admitted to knowing how he felt. Get it together Sahara, I thought to myself as I looked at the ground. Regaining my composure, I looked Tyree in his eyes and finished my sentence in a completely different way. “Again, I’m so sorry for your