Halfway to the Truth by Anthony Mays

July than us meeting.”
    “You never know,” Reese replied, smiling. “Stranger things have happened.”
    Shelley thought it was time to move on from that conversation. She pulled more clothing from the bed and headed into the closet. “Let’s hurry up and finish this so we can get that shopping done and put this place in order.”
     
    Hours later, the women had completed the necessary shopping, which included buying some basic groceries, and returned to her apartment. Reese stocked away the grocery items and then helped Shelley to make her bed. Between the two of them, the place at last came together and at least looked livable. When they were finished, Shelley suggested they go and have cocktails and dinner and knew the perfect place to take her new friend.
    When they arrived, Reese looked up at the restaurant’s name carved in wood hanging over the door. It read: BISTRO BISTRO.
    “Hope you like Italian,” said Shelley to her companion as she opened the door to let her in. “You won’t find a better pasta sauce anywhere else in Savannah. Maybe the whole of Georgia.” she added, then followed Reese inside.
    The maître-d watched them come in and quickly went over to greet them.
    “Miss Steward, so nice to see you again,” he said, grasping her left hand between his and kissing the back of it. “And who is your friend?” he asked reaching for her hand next.
    “This is Miss Summers, Gino. She just moved to Savannah, so I want you to impress the hell out of her so she’ll want to come back here.”
    He kissed the back of her hand and showed them to a table.
    Reese gave Shelley a look that said, you’ve got to be kidding me . 
    He then moved aside and with a slight bow and extended arm invited them to have a seat.
    “Miss Summers, it’s a pleasure to have you visit us,” he said, opening her napkin and placing it on her lap. If you need anything, I’m at your service. May I start you off with a drink?”
    Across the room there suddenly was a commotion. Gino quickly excused himself from their table and ran over to see what was happening.
    From their advantage point, they could see a bus boy picking up pieces of dinnerware that had fallen off his tray. Shelley also recognized the man sitting in the booth where the accident happened. But, she didn’t recognize the other man who was sitting across from him. They heard Gino apologize.
    “I’m sorry Mr. Drakos.” said Gino. “The boy was clumsy. Are you okay? We’ll have it cleaned up in a minute. May I offer you and your guest a glass of our special Chianti on the house? I’d like to make up for the disruption of your dinner.”
    “It’s quite alright Gino. Accidents happen. The boy meant no harm and no one has been hurt,” countered the man. “We appreciate your offer, but no thank you. Please, go back to your other guests,” he said, pointing towards the table Gino came from when the incident occurred.
    It was then he noticed the two women looking in his direction. “Excuse me, he said to his guest, I’ll be back shortly.”
    He got up and led Gino by the arm back to the women’s table. “Gino take their drink order, I’d like to buy them a drink.”
    Shelley requested a Manhattan; Reese ordered a Vodka Cosmopolitan sending Gino to the bar.
    “Hello Miss Steward, nice to see you again,” the man said with a broad smile. Who is this lovely lady sitting with you?”
    “Her name is Reese Summers. She just arrived into town and I wanted to show her around a little bit. How’s your family Nikolaus?”
    “May I have a seat?” he asked while intentionally forcing Shelley to create a space so he could join them. He purposely sat across from Reese so he could look in to her eyes.
    “My father is fine,” he said to Shelley without taking his gaze from Reese. He continued, “How are things at the news desk these days.”
    “Oh you know, it’s just one story after another. We’ve been busy.”
    “And what is your story Miss Summers,” he