Or maybe it’s always like this here. How would you know?
If you hid in your house skimming social media like I had, you could be forgiven for thinking the world was nothing but a trash fire. It was good to be reminded that genuinely decent people were still around, just waiting for their chance to help out. The kind of people who brought pies and casserole dishes by without fanfare, dropping them off on a buffet table for no other reason than that they cared about their community. The kind of people who, despite looking like they’d had a rougher week than mine, hadslipped dollar bills into my apron and glared when I tried to demur.
When Bernie started singing with her guitar player in the corner and everyone joined in, I found myself humming along as I washed a few glasses in the bar sink. She had the kind of voice that could have sent her on tour and climbing the charts on a regular basis by now if she hadn’t decided to raise her daughter and start a business here instead.
I’d missed hearing it.
And it was nice to know that I could be out in the world again, slow moving though I was, and feel something besides sorry for myself.
“If you keep saying no to everything, you’ll miss…everything.”
Right again, Mom. As usual.
I was wiping down the bar top when Bernie appeared beside me with a sharp-eyed expression and two takeout bags.
“I didn’t break it,” I said instantly, holding up my hands as if I were under arrest.
She huffed out a laugh and set the bags down. “You’re fine and so far everybody likes you, which is more than I can say for their usual daytime bartender.”
“What’s wrong with the usual bartender?” I asked curiously. “I assume you’re not talking about your daughter, who is perfect in every way.”
“You think I don’t know that? Pheebs is the best manager-slash-server in three counties. Several of the regulars have been wondering out loud where she got it from, since it clearly didn’t come from me.” She blew that stubborn strand of hair out of her face for the fifth time by my count and leaned her elbow on the counter. “No, the girl I’m referring to is young and cute and can take an order, as long as you don’t mind that she’s on her phone while she’s doing it and you don’t expect pleasant conversation with your beer.”
I bit my lip to hide my smirk. “Kids today with their loud music and multitasking.”
“None of those tasks are customer service, apparently. Or complete sentences. Why is everyone speaking in initials now? It takes the same amount of time and syllables as it would to just say the damn word.” She paused for a moment, as if realizing what she was saying. “Fuck, I sound old.”
“OMG, I wasn’t going to mention it.”
She hip-checked me, her expression warmer than I’d seen it in a while. “The person Phoebe hired to cover for her had a personal emergency and couldn’t take the job. That means Tuesday and Thursday nights are short a beer-tender, and Wade told me he’s already got you covering her time-sensitive bookkeeping chores. So, I’m asking myself, why not the shifts?”
“You thinkIshould work her shifts?”
“Only those two, and only for a few weeks. You’re handling today, and it’s been more work than this place usually requires. Seriously, most of the time you’re behind the bar handing out beers. There’s even a stool to sit on.”
“Well, that’s?—”
“If you don’t,” she interrupted, “I’ll have to cover them, and she’ll lose most of her regulars because Iwillsend them running home to their mommies if they act like spoiled children.”
I met her gaze with wide eyes. “I believe you.”
“I’m much better at bossing people around or rocking their worlds onstage than trying to be nice, you know that.” She leaned closer and lowered her voice. “Also, The Wreckers play here on Thursdays, which means I’m busy, but you could make bank. My fans are few but great tippers. It would only be for a month, two at most. Until she’s had the baby and some time to recover.”
Another genuine request for help. Two months of two nights a week here? Could I do that?
She nudged me with her shoulder. “I know, I know. You mightfeel better, but you’re still a fancy writer, and slinging beer and snacks is beneath you.”
“I don’t think that at all.”
It was hard to tell if she believed me. “You could look at it as research, if you wanted. They get some characters in here. Just because I don’t have the patience for them doesn’t mean you won’t.”
A monthly rent check and two job offers. One with tips. Were the Hudsons singlehandedly trying to solve all the problems I hadn’t even told them about?
“Can I think about it and give you an answer before I leave today?”
Bernie nodded, her expression cautious but hopeful. “It would be nice to see you more often. I’ve missed having you around.”
“M-me too,” I stuttered in surprise, not only because it sounded like she meant it, but because I did too.
