Life was good then. We all had money. Larry and Augie were out in the suburbs. Mike and Lori bought a house in Hegewisch with a mortgage. (Still keeping up appearances.) I was still at home with my mom and paying rent.
That Sunday, Larry, Mike, Fat Rollie, and I were in the backroom. We were in the middle of a game of Pinochle when Bobby came in, announcing, “There’s someone to see you out front, Jesse.”
“What’d he want?” I answered.
“It’s a she,” Bobby smiled.
Walking to the door and looking out, I saw her standing by the counter, nervous. She wore a pair of jeans, white tennis shoes, and a light blue windbreaker.
“Mila!” I exclaimed, walking up and taking both her hands in mine. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to talk to you. Do you have a couple of minutes?”
“Sure,” I said, mo
