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“Dylan, is Antonio here?”Morgan asked when he brought food to the table next to them.“We wanted to say goodbye before we went back home tomorrow.”

“He’ll be back soon.He had to run to the market because we ran out of milk.Lots of kids here tonight.”Dylan went into the kitchen.

An older man leaning on a walker made his way slowly over to their table.The top of his head was completely bald, but little tufts of white hair surrounded the lower part of his scalp.He wore wireframe glasses and had on a sweater vest and khakis.He looked as if he belonged at a nursing home.

“Are you Carla’s daughters?”the man asked.

Abby brightened.“Yes,” Abby said.“How did you know?”

“Antonio described you all; I’m his father, Antonio Sr.”

The women introduced themselves by name and shook his hand.

“This used to be my restaurant until I had my knee replaced, and I couldn’t stand for long periods anymore,” he said, then patted his knee as if to prove what he’d told them.“I do miss running this place, though.”

“When did you open it?’Abby asked.

“Over forty years ago.My first restaurant was in New Jersey, but my wife and I moved to Brooklyn when Antonio was in elementary school.”

Antonio Sr.pushed his walker against the wall a few feet away, then put his hands on their table to steady himself.Even though he was old, his muscles were taut against his shirt.He leaned in toward them.

“Did Carla really die?”he asked in almost a whisper.

What a strange question, Abby thought.Then a shiver ran through her.“Um, yes…” she said.

“You wouldn’t lie about that, would you?”he asked.

“No…” Charlie said.“Why would we lie?”

“My son said your dad passed away, too.That’s too bad,” Antonio Sr.said.Abby noticed he didn’t seem sorry.

“He died a long time ago,” Morgan said.

Antonio Sr.got in Abby’s face.“You must be her youngest.You look exactly like Carla.”His voice had a deep, menacing quality.

“Uh huh,” Abby said, her hands rubbing her legs and a sheen of sweat appearing on her forehead.

“Your mother’s lucky she’s not here,” Antonio Sr.said so quietly that Abby wasn’t sure she heard him right.

“What did you say?”Abby asked, trying to keep her voice from quivering.The man was old and had a bum knee, but Abby was still worried that he was going to grab one of them.

Antonio Jr.walked into the restaurant carrying two grocery bags.He saw the women and immediately walked over.Antonio Sr.stood up, reaching for his walker.

“You guys are back,” Antonio Jr.said to the women, then looked at his father.“Dad, I didn’t know you were coming tonight.”

“I was just leaving; your mother needs me home.Goodbye, ladies, come back anytime,” Antonio Sr.said in a voice suddenly as cheery as SpongeBob’s.“It’s been nice talking to you.”

“Bye, Dad, see you tomorrow,” Antonio Jr waved.

Abby looked at Morgan and Charlie, sure they were all thinking the same thing.It was clear that Antonio Jr.was utterly unaware of what had just happened.

“I’d love for you three to try a new pizza I’m thinking of putting on the menu,” Antonio Jr.said.

“Thank you, but we were about to leave,” Morgan said, and all three women stood up so quickly the table shook.“We just wanted to say goodbye to you before we fly home.”

“Thank you for talking to us yesterday,” Charlie said.

“It was great hearing what our mother was like when you knew her,” Abby said.