parking place in Georgetown, and they walked to a crowded bistro on M street, one of his old girlfriend's favorite places. The hostess sat them by the window up front, and immediately C_____ leaned over and pressed her palm to the glass. People standing on the sidewalk outside looked in at her.
Figuring she could use some protein after whatever trauma had caused the faded bruises, Will ordered her prime rib. But when the waiter set it, two Molsons for Will later, on the checkered tablecloth in front of her, her expression was instant and violent revulsion. Then she was sobbing, wailing, tears running out of her eyes. The whole place was silent as Will leapt up, telling the dumbstruck waiter they'd take it in a bag.
Outside, C____ seemed afraid of the Saturday-night crowd. She looked up at Will in what he thought was a pleading manner. Every few dozen yards she turned and walked blindly into his side or leapt mysteriously, apparently startled. When they reached the corner of Wisconsin and M a man with no shirt was jumping up and down, screaming, "Yeah! Yeah!" Two kids with half‑shaved heads and Harley jackets stared unapologetically at C_____, and she stared back, animal dumb. Will hurried her away, noticing how her hands were swallowed up by the sleeves of the sweater he'd put on her. The bottoms of her jeans dragged on the sidewalk.
There were
