And, before thinking too much about it, he walked over.
“Would you mind if I sat down?” he asked naturally.
Ernesto looked up, surprised.
For an instant, he seemed to search his memory to see whether he knew that man from somewhere.
He did not recognize him.
But politeness was faster than confusion.
“No, go ahead.”
Raúl took a seat across from him. He gave the seven untouched place settings a quick glance and then looked back at the old man’s face.
“That table looked too lonely to leave it like that,” he said.
Ernesto let out a tired little laugh.
“Well, yes… it seems that in the end my party turned out smaller than planned.”
Raúl watched him for a few seconds.
“Birthday?”
“Seventy-two.”
“Good number.”
Ernesto nodded, though his gaze escaped toward the door again.
“These nights used to be noisier.”
Raúl understood much more than the old man was saying.
And then he made a call that would change the night for everyone in that restaurant.
PART 2
“Hello?” someone answered on the other end.
“Where are you?” Raúl asked without taking his eyes off Ernesto.
“At the shop. What happened?”
Raúl looked at the seven empty chairs.
“I have an emergency.”
There was a brief laugh.
“What kind of emergency?”
“A gentleman is having a birthday. Seven people failed him. I want that table full in twenty minutes.”
There was silence on the other end.
Then a more serious voice:
“Are you serious?”
“I couldn’t be more serious.”
Ernesto frowned slightly.
“You really don’t have to do anything,” he said kindly. “I’m already embarrassed enough…”
Raúl raised a hand, asking him for a little patience.
“Bring whoever’s nearby. And come hungry,” he ordered before hanging up.
He placed the phone on the table.
Ernesto looked at him, between disbelief and tenderness.
“What did you just do?”
Raúl leaned back in his chair.
