The last customer on Thursdays always ordered whatever was left. Alisa appreciated it until she noticed that he stayed even when the food had run out. His name was Nebojša, he was fifty-four, and he repaired elevators. In her small lunch kitchen he sat by the window, his hands washed so thoroughly that his knuckles cracked in winter.
They talked while she cleaned the counter. He knew her dog's name and the date of the roof ventilation inspection. She knew he disliked beans but would eat them if he thought she might otherwise throw them away. Once she packed a pie just for him. He sent a thank-you message in which the word "lovely" could have described either the pie or the woman who had made it.
After her assistant went on extended sick leave, Alisa decided to close on Thursdays. She could not work six days and spend the seventh shut inside her apartment, too exhausted to see anyone. She taped a notice to the door. Nebojša read it twice, said he understood, and took his lunch away. For the rest of the day Alisa felt angry with him for the question he had not asked.
On her first free Thursday she sat in another restaurant and ordered fish she never cooked herself. Nebojša called while she was waiting for the bill. He asked whether her kitchen would be open the following day. She said it would, but the opening hours were posted on the door. There was a silence. Then he said, "I wanted to ask where I could have coffee with you when you aren't at work."
They arranged to meet in the park. Alisa arrived without a bag of food, although she had opened her refrigerator twice before leaving. Nebojša did not bring a broken object to justify their meeting. They bought coffee and spoke with unnatural politeness for almost ten minutes. Without a counter between them, both had forgotten how their conversations normally began. A pigeon stealing a piece of his pastry helped.
Later he admitted that he had long assumed she was kind because she sold him lunch. She admitted she had feared he stayed only so she would not be alone while closing. No grand explanation followed. Nebojša reached across the table, and Alisa placed her hand on his open palm.
The next day he returned for food. He ordered what he wanted, without first checking what needed using up. Alisa charged him the full price. They arranged coffee for the following Thursday afterward, outside the door, once she had taken off her apron.