As the train pulled into the station twenty minutes late, Jack scanned the crowds on the platform, looking for his friend Fabrizio. He had written to him with the time of the train and he hoped he had remembered. The train slowed to a stop. There seemed a scramble of people all trying to get off at once. Jack pulled his bag closer to him and waited for a lull in the throng before going forward. He was mindful of how painful it would be if someone knocked into his ribs. He jumped onto the platform and looked round. Not seeing Fabri, he moved towards the stairs that led off the platform. There he stood, watching people coming down and going up. He took his precious watch out of his jacket inside pocket and checked the time. It seemed only fair to give him plenty of time, he may have been delayed himself. Jack slipped the watch back into his pocket and looked into the crowd.

As he looked around he became aware of someone shouting his name. Not sure where it was coming from, he jumped up three steps for a better view. Ahead he saw Fabri, waving a brown cap and shouting. Jack, grinning from ear to ear, moved towards him and they met like brothers, hugging and slapping each other on the back. This was a little too much for Jack who yelled Ow! and jumped back.

"Jack, you OK?" quizzed Fabri.

"Yeah" Jack grinned, "I had a little accident. I'll tell you about it sometime. How ya doin? It's good to see ya!"

"It's fine, fine! I am so 'appy to see you, for such an 'appy occasion no?"

"Fabri gets married! That something to celebrate!"

"Come, Jack, lets head off for home away from all this crowds." Fabri lead Jack up the stairs and off towards the subway station.

"We have a lot to talk about Fabri. How is Maria?"

"She is very well, all excited."

"And you?"

"Scared!" Fabri laughed. "Excited too."

They bought their tickets for the subway and went back down on to the platform.

"So Jack, how is life treating you? How is Philadelphia?"

Jack dodged the question and hoped Fabri didn't notice. There were some things he didn't want to discuss on a subway platform.

"It was fine when I left it. How's the plans going for Sunday?"

"Good. I tell you Jack, Maria's family is so generous, they all have helped out. I can't thank them enough for what they have done for us. I am, sorry, we are very lucky. I have to get used to saying we now! We have somewhere to live and new job too."

"Where?"

"Maria's uncle Benito has a restaurant. He let us have the little apartment above. It was used for storage, but we fixed it up nice. We can both work in the restaurant now too. Everything has worked out so well."

Jack noticed that Fabri's English had got a little worse. Being around the Italians all the time hadn't probably helped. I'll soon sort him out, Jack laughed to himself. It was so good to see him again, it felt like the old times were back. He hadn't realized until now how much he had missed the company of a good friend. Seeing again made him feel kind of lonely. The subway train arrived and they settled down for the short trip talking excitedly about things they had done together in the past. Despite his excitement at seeing his friend again, there was Rose at the back of his mind. After their encounter today, Jack wondered if she would ever go away. And he didn't want her too.

However, things were just getting worse for Rose.