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feet aren’t on the table.”
    “I saw you.”
    He looks away, just as a guilty dog would.
    “I’m going out. Will you be okay by yourself? There are some leftovers in the fridge, you can eat that for dinner.”
    Frank nods and I storm out the front door before he can say anything. I don’t need his distraction right now.
     
    ---
     
    It’s 5:02 P.M. and I’m waiting outside Josie’s Bar and Pub just down the block from City Hall. The parking lot is filling up quickly as happy hour has officially begun, but I don’t see Alicia yet. I didn’t ask what kind of vehicle she’s driving, and I guess I probably should have. As I glance down the busy sidewalk, someone catches my attention.
    I watch her as she struts confidently down the sidewalk and toward the pub. She’s a lot taller than I expected. A form-fitting coffee-colored dress hugs her hips as she glides along in her matching heels. The dress is a shade lighter than her skin, and it’s a stunning combination.
    What I wouldn’t do to get with her.
    I get out of the van, stand beside it, and wait. Alicia waves to me as she approaches.
    “Hey, Billy,” she says as she makes her way toward me.
    “Did you walk all the way here?”
    “Yeah, I walked.”
    “No car?”
    “No, not yet. It’s on the to-do list.” She’s a little embarrassed.
    “You should have told me, I would have picked you up.”
    “That’s okay, I don’t mind.”
    There is a brief silence as we stand around, unsure what’s appropriate to say next.
    “Shall we?” I say, motioning to the door.
    “Lets, I’m starving.”
    Inside, the pub is jammed. The bar is nearly full and the bartenders are already running around like crazy. We wait a few minutes in the lobby before being escorted to an empty table with two wire chairs. Other similar arrangements surround us.
    “Thanks for bringing me here,” Alicia says as we wait for the young waitress to bring us our drinks. “I’ve heard this is the spot around here.”
    “It is a pretty common place for lots of the locals. Thanks for joining me.”
    “It’s hard to say no to a police officer.” She smiles at me, teasing.
    “Yeah, well, I’ll take it. It’s not everyday someone like you agrees to come out with me.”
    She blushes.
    I continue, “I’m just glad that I can help you get comfortable in a new place. Where are you from anyway?”
    “Florida. I moved into town a few weeks ago.”
    “Why Kansas?”
    “It’s a long story.”
    I glance at my watch. “I’m in no rush.” I lean back in the chair, and it presses uncomfortably into my lower back.
    “Okay. Where to start?”
    The waitress swings by the table and leaves a dark beer for me and a light beer for Alicia, both tall. The hops tickle the back of my nose as I sip mine.
    “I’m actually from Cuba,” Alicia continues. “I moved to Florida some years back to go to FSU. I’ve had a few jobs since college, and I’ve been in the states on a work visa.”
    “You’re not a citizen yet?”
    “No, not yet. You’re not going to arrest me are you?” She pokes her tongue out slightly, and I smile at her. “I probably won’t even bother at this point.”
    “What do you mean? Why not?”
    Uneasiness takes over her face and she looks a little bit uncomfortable. She sighs before proceeding, “I’ve got some…family issues back in Cuba. My mother has been sick for a while, so I’m thinking about going back to help out.”
    “What about your father?”
    “He’s around and he tries to help, but he works so much to pay for the medical bills, so it’s tough.”
    I nod, offering my sympathy.
    “He’s been ready to retire for a couple of years now, but they just don’t have the money.”
    “That’s tough. What does he do for work?”
    “It’s kind of ironic actually, he works for the Cuban government. The Department of Justice.”
    She has my attention, but I try to hide my excitement. That might work out perfectly. “Were you able to get into the states