Just for one EVENING

Alphonso respected a special Valentine's Day tradition with love

- Alyson Hilbourne

He holds open the restaurant door for her. Alphonso has always said he’s too old for romance — paunchy, balding and set in his ways — but this woman with grey-blonde hair and tiny crow’s feet around her eyes causes a fluttering in his chest as he takes her coat.

‘Your usual table,’ he says, gesturing for her to follow.

When she is seated, he pours a glass of water from the jug on the table.

‘Would you like a drink before you order?’ he asks.

She smiles. ‘A gin and tonic, please, Alphonso,’ she says. ‘And one for my husband.’

Alphonso beams and hurries away.

When he returns with the two drinks, he offers her the menu.

The woman glances across the table at the empty chair. ‘We'll have the usual,’ she says. ‘Pizza ai funghi for me, capricciosa for Mark, and a salad to share.’

‘Of course.’ Alphonso gives a slight bow before moving off.

Between serving other customers, he checks on the woman. She eats her pizza slowly, stopping now and then to look across at the empty seat opposite. Sometimes her lips move as if she is speaking. Other diners watch, frowning at the untouched pizza and drink, wondering what's going on.