Gabriel opened wine.
He was being social in the way of someone who is not entirely sure of the situation but who is defaulting to the performance of normalcy because it is the thing he knows how to do.
Patricia arrived at seven.
She came in with her briefcase.
She was in one of the specific suits.
Gabriel recognized her.
He said: Patricia. I didn’t know you were the dinner guest.
She shook his hand.
She said: Gabriel. Good to see you.
He said: it’s been a while.
She said: nine years.
He said: yes.
He said: what brings you over?
She said: Sara mentioned a matter she wanted to discuss.
He looked at me.
I said: let’s eat first.
We ate.
The dinner was good.
Gabriel had made it good in the specific way he made things good when he wanted to, which was the evidence of the other version of him, the man who could be attentive and generous when he chose to be.
