As she walked down the few steps into the darkened room, Tracy breathed deeply and pretended just for a moment that the past six months hadn't happened. Although faded, the smell of Cuban cigars and single malt whisky hanging in the air tempted her with unanswered questions and a myriad of wishes. The smell of his cologne was long gone however, a reminder that none of this was a dream. Her husband wasn't there anymore and she was alone.

"You know, I keep expecting him to burst through the door" came a voice from across the room.

"Mmm" Tracy replied, not the least surprised to find the company. "If I keep it dark I pretend he's just out in the storeroom getting another crate."

"I know what you mean. Dark is good enough for me. Somehow it makes the ghosts friendlier, or at least keeps reality at bay."

Tracy snorted as she moved to the bar to grab a glass.

"Don't bother, I've got the bottle and two glasses with me. It seems appropriate that we should be drinking during this conversation."

"It does indeed" she replied as she moved towards the booth. "Sometimes it seems all the conversations about Luke require a stiff drink."

"You've got that right... but this one really needs to have something to help it flow. Are you opening the bar tonight?"

"No" Tracy said as she sat down in the booth. There was just enough moonlight coming through the portholes for her to make out the bottle and glasses on the table, and to see the outline of the woman she now faced. Even though they had known each other for more than thirty years, they had never really shared time together. Funny how life worked.

"Penny for your thoughts" came a chuckle through the darkness.

"I'm not even sure they're worth that much. No, I was just thinking of all the years we've known each other and all the people we have in common, yet this is the first time we've actually shared a drink."

"Yeah, I was thinking about that earlier. You know we should have done this a long time ago."

"We didn't need to do it a long time ago" Tracy mused and saw the auburn sway of her curly hair nodding in the pale light. "So Sister-in-law, what do I need to know about my husband?"