Heads You Win

“Whenever one of your licenses expired, he doubled the rent,” said Elena. “We simply couldn’t afford to pay what he was demanding, so we ended up losing all but one of the stalls. The final license comes up for renewal in a couple of months, and recently he’s been tripling the price for a new one.”

“It’s been the same for everyone,” said Dimitri. “When you get home, you’ll see that the market has become a ghost town.”

“But that doesn’t make any sense,” said Alex. “Those stalls are Wolfe’s main source of income, so why…” but he didn’t finish the sentence.

“What makes it even more strange,” said Elena, “is that he’s agreed to extend the license on Mario’s pizza house with a reasonable rent increase.”

“That’s the first clue,” said Alex.

“I don’t understand,” said Elena.

“Mario’s isn’t in Market Square.”

* * *

Once Alex had discarded his uniform, taken a bath, and put on his only suit, he left the house and headed straight for the Goodwill store. Addie couldn’t hide her excitement when he walked in, although she was shocked by his crew cut.

“Your news first or mine?” said Alex, as he threw his arms around her.

“Mine. Your mother has kept me well informed of what you’ve been up to. I’m just relieved you made it back alive.”

“I shouldn’t have,” said Alex without explanation.

“Come with me,” she said, taking his hand. “I have a surprise for you.” She led him through to the storeroom at the back of the shop. Alex wasn’t sure what to say when his eyes fell on a rack of suits, jackets, and a blazer as well as a smart black topcoat. “I’ve already had the trousers altered, so they should fit perfectly. Mind you,” she added, taking a closer look at him, “you’ve lost some weight.”

“How can I begin to thank you?” he said. He hoped he also had a surprise for her, although it would have to wait until his mother agreed.

“That’s only the beginning,” said Addie, as she pointed to a shelf behind the clothes rack, piled high with a dozen shirts that hadn’t been taken out of their boxes, a dark green cashmere sweater, three pairs of leather shoes, and half a dozen ties that looked as if they’d never been worn.

“What more could a man ask for?” said Alex.

“Wait, it’s not over yet,” said Addie, picking up a brand-new leather attaché case. “Just what an up-and-coming businessman needs when attending important meetings.”

“Where’s all this come from?”

“Everything came from the same source, a man who, frankly, has more than enough.”

“How much do I owe you?”

“Not a penny. It’s no more than a conquering hero deserves. We’re all so proud of you being awarded the Silver Star.”

“Well, the least I can do is take you to dinner tonight,” said Alex, leaning down to kiss her. But just as their lips were about to touch, Addie turned away, and he ended up brushing her cheek.

“I’m afraid I’m not free tonight,” she said.

“Tomorrow night then?”

“Tonight or any other night.” She began to fold up the clothes and pack them into bags.

“Why not?”

“Because I’m going to marry the man who has too many suits,” said Addie, holding up her left hand.

* * *

Alex was coming out of a lecture at NYU when he saw them standing in the corridor, conspicuously failing to blend in. They would have been hard to miss, dressed in their dark, well-cut suits and polished shoes among a group of students wearing faded jeans, scruffy T-shirts, and well-worn sneakers.

Alex recognized one of them straightaway. Not a man he could easily forget.