I smiled at him and got in. He closed the door and came around the other side.
"You didn’t have any time on the sheet tomorrow."
I nodded. "Nathaniel said I could come in and work in the main studio."
"How nice of him," Drake said, deadpan.
As we drove off, he was quiet. I reached out and took his hand.
"You know the first time we met outside of class, Nathaniel was stoned and called me 'dude.'"
Drake laughed at that, glancing at me, his eyes crinkling in the corners.
"Well, he must have been really stoned because there is no way any man in his right mind would call you dude."
"He's harmless, Drake."
"No man is harmless, unless you're going to tell me he's really gay, and even then, they've been known to change teams."
I laughed. "No, he's just a manslut. He'll gladly sleep with any pretty thing that will have him. No steady girlfriends. He's not my type in the least. You are."
"I am, Ms. Bennet," he said and touched the collar around my neck as if to remind me of its existence. "And you're mine."
Ten minutes later, Drake dropped me off outside Katz's and went in search of parking. The streets were filled with bustling pedestrians, all trying to thread their way through the crowd. Katz's was busy, as usual, but I managed to get in line and was told it would be a ten-minute wait – great for Katz's. People loved it so much, they were willing to wait. Then I saw my parents inside and passed through the line and went right to their table.
The restaurant was buzzing with energy as patrons sat at tables and enjoyed the food and atmosphere. The rich savory aroma of pastrami and other deli delights filled the air, and my mouth watered in anticipation of the Reuben sandwich I would share with Elaine. Neither of us could manage a full sandwich so we agreed to split one and share the fries as well. I thought about the thick cut steak fries – so good and filling.
Elaine mentioned the sawdust in my hair and so I told them about our trip to Nathaniel's studio and how I spent the last hour making frames for my canvases. My father seemed pleased that I was working on my art. Then, the waitress came to take our orders.
Finally, Drake arrived. When I saw him, a little thrill went through me, despite having just been with him. He looked fabulous in his camel coat and plaid scarf, his hair shiny in the overhead light, a dusting of whiskers on his jaw. He searched in the window and saw us, then he wound his way through the line until he was able to make it inside the restaurant. He smiled when he saw my father and Elaine and of course, a round of handshakes followed, with Drake and my father clapping each other on the back like old war buddies.
"Congratulations, young man," my father said, shaking Drake's hand. "Katherine's told us the news. You must be so relieved."
"Ethan, you don't know how relieved."
"We're so happy for you, Drake." Elaine kissed Drake on the cheek.
Then, instead of waiting for the server, Drake went right to the counter to place his order. He returned to our table with a Pastrami Reuben sandwich. We all ooh'd and ahh'd over it while he removed his coat, hanging it on the back of his chair.
Finally he sat down and handed over his plate of fries for us to sample.
The restaurant hadn't changed much over the years, and was built more for efficiency than comfort, but people were there for the food, not the décor. Around us on the walls were hundreds of framed pictures of celebrities who dined there. Drake glanced around, smiling as if the deli were an old friend.
"This was one of my dad's favorite places when he visited me at Columbia. We always came here for a pastrami sandwich and the fries."
My father laughed. "We came here as well a few times. I knew it would probably be one of your favorites."
Drake took my hand and squeezed it on top of the table. "Yes, it is."
Then Drake filled us all in on the details of the donation and how we'd be staying around for a while.
Finally, the talk turned to Africa and our impending trip being delayed.
"I'm sorry Kate has to wait, but once we get there, I'll keep her busy visiting my favorite places. I can't wait to introduce her to some good Kenyan food."
"I know something about African food," I said. "Rice and millet, spicy meats and vegetable stews."
"Wait till you taste ugali and nyama choma – a paste made from cornmeal that you eat with vegetables and grilled meat. Very simple food, but very tasty."
I smiled at Drake, excited for him to show me the Africa he knew, which he promised was far better than the one I came to know in Mangaize.
The waitress brought our order and we all dug into our food, eating with gusto for a few moments.