Monika scowled but it quickly turned into a cough that she directed into her handkerchief. She motioned him in all the same, though he followed at a distance. He closed the door behind him, shutting out the frigid wind that flurried outside.
“Have you taken anything to help?” Garrett asked as he followed Monika into the main room.
It was abandoned save for the two of them, but from upstairs Bridgette called down, “The stubborn wench doesn’t like the taste of my tinctures, so, no.”
Monika muttered something under her breath, but the fact that she didn’t have stronger words to shoot back was telling. She made her way across the main room towards the fireplace. A cauldron hung over it, and Monika drew a scoop of steaming water and put it into one of her cups.
“Ma’am, you really should take something,” Garrett said. “The fever always makes its way around in winter. If you don’t like Bridgette’s tinctures, maybe you would like one of mine.”
Monika returned to the bar before she sat heavily on one of the stools. “What are you, some sort of herbalist?”
Garrett met her gaze levelly. “Yes.”
She scoffed in disbelief as Garrett slipped his pack from his shoulders. He reached in and picked out a few of his clay jars before setting them on the counter in front of her. Just going off the look of her and the way she sounded, her throat was sore, head stuffed, and no doubt she was running a fever.
He pointed to her steaming cup. “Hand that over.”
Monika glared at him before her eyes flicked towards the stairs. Garrett glanced back to see that a few of the girls had poked their heads down to watch the standoff. He almost wished they hadn’t because he could see Monika’s resolve harden as her frown deepened.
Garrett sighed in frustration. “You can’t pay me if you’re dead, Monika, and I can’t have that.”
To his surprise, Monika barked a laugh. It set off another bout of coughing, so strong that she doubled over, her face reddening. When she finally managed to draw in a breath, she slammed her cup down on the counter.
“Fine, you beast,” she coughed. “If it tastes like shit, it’s getting tossed outside.”
Garrett snatched up the mug before she could take it back. He opened three of his clay pots, taking a pinch from each. Thyme, basil, mint, yarrow, and willow bark all went into her cup before he found the honey she kept behind the counter for some of her drinks. He scooped a hefty spoonful in and stirred it for a few long minutes before he slid it across the counter to her.
Monika eyed the cup distastefully as she picked it up. She took a tentative sip before she let out a huff of a laugh. “Alright. It’s not getting tossed outside.”
Garrett snorted. “Glad you like it. Drink all of it, and then you need to go lie down.”
“I have to be alive, and we have to beopenfor you to get paid tonight,” Monika said. “I can’t watch the bar if I’m asleep in the back.”
“I can watch the bar tonight.”
Both Garrett and Monika turned to see that Bridgette had pushed past the rest of the girls on the stairs.
“Absolutely not,” Monika scowled.
“I’ve seen you do it a thousand times,” Bridgette said, exasperated. “Besides, payday was yesterday. Tonight’s bound to be slower.” She glanced back at the others and asked, “We can handle it, right?”
There was a chorus of agreement from the rest of the girls. Monika’s expression soured even as she started to cough again. Once the bout passed, she let out an annoyed sound.
“Fine!” She reached into her blouse, pulling out the key for the till before she slammed it on the counter. “Bri, you’re in charge tonight. If there’s any trouble, come get me.”
“Of course, Monika,” Bridgette said. “We’ll be fine.”
“Get some rest,” Garrett added before pointing to her cup. “I’ll be back to refill that in a few hours.”
Monika snorted and headed towards the back even as Bridgette stepped well out of her way to let her through. The door to her room opened and shut, and Bridgette went to the counter to grab the key Monika had left behind. She hung it around her neck before she looked to the others.
“Alright. Let’s get ready to open, then.”
Without Monika barking instructions that everyone already knew, getting ready to open was downright peaceful. While the girls got ready upstairs, Garrett went about his usual duties. He checked the wine and beer casks while Bridgette readied the till and made sure the cups were all washed. As they prepared, the storm outside only grew, so when it was finally time to unlock the doors, snow blew by in flurries.
“I think you were right about it being a slow night,” Garrett muttered.
“Shame. Wouldn’t mind some company on such a cold night,” she said, and Garrett flushed when her eyes lingered on him. “Though I know something else that could help.”
