Kate--I love this so much! "Martini Summer" -- that's such a perfect, beautiful term for those days. Your story made me think of my own spot of time during Martini Summer--and I had a magical friend just like yours who lived in a tiny 2nd floor apartment on City Island in the Bronx. She too would make delicious plates and serve fancy drinks and make guests feel special...anyway...your story, and I loved it.