Emily came down the stairs and was met with the possibly more respect than the American flag itself, as always.
The butcher sat at the table playing cards with his usual set of friends. Two young men stood nearby, perhaps to pay Bill for reasons Emily chose to ignore. One she'd seen before, Johnny Sirocco was his name. A nice enough Irish lad with an almost auburn color to his hair. He fancied Jenny, Emily remembered, and made no attempt to hide it.
His mate was one Emily had never seen around here before. He was tall with long hair and hard blue eyes. He looked at her when she entered the room and Emily couldn't help but be reminded of someone. His face was like a dream lost the morning after.
"Ah, good morning, my love," The butcher said, motioning his wife forward. She obeyed and he kissed the back of her hand.
"What brings you down? Shopping?" he asked conversationally.
"Oh, no, Bill," Emily said with a grin, "Just to watch you destroy these thugs at cards."
This was met with polite laughter from the table while Emily took a seat nearby in her favorite armchair. Johnny looked at her almost expectantly, as if hoping she'd notice something.
Notice he certainly got from Bill who blinked and said, "You know my wife, John. Why don't you introduce her to your friend there?"
Johnny gulped. "Uh, this is Emily Cutting. She's Bill's wife. Mrs. Cutting, this is…"
"Amsterdam, ma'am," the other young man said, holding out his hand, which Emily shook, all the while wondering where she could have seen the boy before.
"Continue, John," Bill said, turning in his seat to face Amsterdam.
"Touch more than her hand and you'll lose both yours," Johnny recited.
"Right," Bill said, "Now come closer. Close, John, I ain't gonna bite. Close."
As Bill and Johnny had some whispered conversation, Emily continued to sneak glances at Amsterdam. There was something maddeningly familiar about him that she couldn't quite put her finger on. Those bright blue eyes were like…
"And you," Bill said loudly, "What was your name again?"
"Amsterdam, sir," the boy said.
"Amsterdam, I'm New York," Bill said, "Don't you never come in here empty handed again. You gotta pay for the pleasure of my company."
Johnny and Amsterdam made their way out of the building quietly. Emily noticed Amsterdam glance over his shoulder at her with a look that read as disappointment. But it was only an instant.