"I suppose you are dining with Valerie," he said.
"No."
He turned and looked at her, inquiringly.
"Valerie has gone away."
"Where?"
"I don't know, Kelly…. I was not to know."
"I see." He picked up a handful of waste and slowly began to clean the brushes, one by one. Then he drove them deep into a bowl of black soap.
"Shall we dine together here, Rita?"
"If you care to have me."
"Yes, I do."