by C. J. Duggan
“There have been a few changes,” I said with a wince.
“Okay, is this a one-drink story or a two-drink story?”
“Tess, there aren’t enough drinks in this entire bar that would cover it.”
“I think I’ll take a seat, then.”
I blabbered everything out to Tess, starting from Dad’s journey of self-discovery, to me rocking up and falling through the balcony (which Tess tried her hardest not to laugh about).
“It’s not funny!” I said, fighting not to laugh myself.
I recapped the horror of the thieving barman, the fallout with Melba, my dad’s health scare and the big plan to put the Onslow on the market.
Tess listened intently, never tearing her eyes from me. “So you’re here doing all of this by yourself?”
I shrugged. “As of today, yeah.”
“You’re going to be running the bar on your own? On a Saturday night?” she asked disbelievingly.
I shifted nervously in my seat. “I have no choice, Tess.”
“Isn’t there anyone that can help out? That wants some part-time work?”
“I haven’t even had a chance to think about it. I fired my barman mere hours ago. I got back from the city this morning; I haven’t exactly had a chance to recruit.”
Tess frowned in deep thought. After a moment she offered me a small smile and reached for my hand. “It’s going to be all right. I just have to get through tonight and then tomorrow – sleepy Sunday shift, right? We can sit down and work out a plan. I’m home for most of the summer. Come Christmas it will run like a dream.”
“That’s if it’s not sold out from under me before then.”
There was sadness in Tess’s eyes; she would be a terrible poker player. “Let’s take one day at a time. We can only do our best.”
“We?”
“You didn’t honestly think you’d steal all the glory, did you? You know, I was kind of worried I might get bored after a while being back in Onslow, but now I see there is little chance of that. Project!”
I smiled wryly. “Be careful what you wish for.”
Tess laughed and lifted her Lemon, Lime and Bitters. “Here’s to Operation Save the Onslow.” She clinked my Coke-filled glass.
“That sounds suspiciously like something Ellie Parker would say.” I curved my brow.
Tess choked on her drink. “Oh, I totally forgot. Ellie’s coming home for the holidays too! She gets back tomorrow morning.”
“Awesome, it’s like the gang is back together.”
“Almost.” Tess’s excitement ebbed and I knew she was talking about my cousin, Adam. Adam, Ellie and Tess had been best friends since kindergarten and continued to be all through school, but as everyone moved from Onslow and discovered new interests and lived their own lives, it seemed sometimes people just grew apart. It’s natural, I guess, but it didn’t mean you didn’t still think or care about them.
“Have you heard from him?” Tess asked.
“Only through Chris or Aunty Lynda and Uncle Ray. He moves around a lot. I think he’s pretty high up in the rankings. Apparently he is a real fitness freak now, too. Who’d have thought, Adam in the army, being all disciplined and stuff?”
Tess laughed. “Well, he always had so much energy to burn off; it sounds perfect for him.”
“Yeah, I guess.” I looked around the empty bar – it was hard to imagine that it used to house all of us three years ago. Adam, Chris, Stan, Ringer, Toby, Tess, Ellie, and Sean. And me, I guess.
“Amy.” Lost in thought, my head snapped up to look at Tess, who smiled her sweet, warm smile. “You’re going to be just fine.”
Chapter Nineteen
“How do I look?” I asked, hoping for some last-minute advice before I officially unlocked the door.
Tess looked me over. “Stunning.”
It was almost as if I expected a sea of people to emerge from the outside as I unlocked the door, as if the Onslow was in such hot demand that I would have to unlock the door and just stand back. But it was all rather anticlimactic – there wasn’t a huge onslaught of locals and tourists that stampeded me; in fact, for the first hour there was no one. I needn’t have worried about being prepared for the worst because the worst didn’t happen. Well, not until nine p.m., because that’s when the night officially turned to shit.
The Onslow Boys were noticeably absent, but Tess had received a text from Toby saying they were all out having a look at Sean’s lake house. I couldn’t help but visibly sag in disappointment when Tess read out the message.
“They’ll be here, Amy. Just later on,” she assured me.
“Yeah, no worries.” I half laughed it off, as if it really didn’t matter one way or another. But it did matter, more than I would ever want to admit. There was a steady influx of people now, old faces and new, but somehow it lacked that certain something. Or someone. It was a good night, but it wasn’t magical. I mentally slapped the thought aside and just kept busy, filling glasses and retrieving them off tables to be cleaned, then filling them some more. Tess offered to help, although I wasn’t exactly flat out so it wasn’t necessary. She sat at the bar chatting with me instead. It looked like I wasn’t in any need of backup, after all, I could handle it, until the bar room door opened in a long, aching screech. I turned expectantly, thinking maybe the boys were here at last.
Instead, I saw a figure appear in the entrance with a few friends in tow … Matt.
Oh, perfect.
His beady eyes rounded the bar and like a lion stalking a gazelle they landed on their intended target: me. He saluted me with a cocky smirk and then said something to his sidekicks that I couldn’t quite make out over the noise of the jukebox. His friends looked me over with a long, cool, assessing gaze before the three of them slinked their way into the poolroom.
“Friends of yours?” Tess asked with interest, having watched the whole show.
“Remember the thieving barman?”
Tess’s eyes widened. “You mean the one you fired today?”
“The one and only.” My lips pursed into a grim line. “I wonder what he’s doing here.”
“I don’t know, but I bet it’s trouble,” Tess said.
“He’s got some nerve, that’s for sure.”
“I don’t like the looks of this. I’ll call Toby and see where they’re at.”
I grabbed Tess’s hand before she could reach for her phone. “No! No, look, it’s all right, they’re not doing anything. I can handle it.”
For now, I wanted to hold my own. I didn’t want the Onslow Boys to run to my rescue; I didn’t want anyone to. The last thing I wanted was to portray a damsel in distress. I was a Henderson, for God’s sake. Matt was on my turf and I doubted he was stupid enough to try anything. Was he?
As if on cue, smashing glass sounded from the poolroom, followed by the scraping of bar stools along the floorboards. Yelling travelled up to the main bar. Tess and I looked at one another before I dashed up to the other end.
People stood around, giving the huge puddle of shattered glass a wide berth.
“What happened?” I questioned.
Matt’s mates snickered as he held up his hands in mock innocence. “They just fell off the table.” He smugly perched himself on the arm of the sofa near the jukebox. My eyes trailed around to take note of anyone else’s rendition of events, but the ones who hadn’t already turned away and started up conversations again just glared over at the mess, as if it was nothing more than an annoyance – an inconvenience for them. It was obvious no one was going to give them up.
I made my way back into the main bar. I wanted to avoid Matt, even though I was absolutely infuriated to see him. I didn’t want him to think that he was getting to me. I couldn’t help but remember the look he gave me when I accused him of taking the money. This day was starting to seriously suck and I wished the Onslow Boys were here already. But they weren’t. I had to play it cool, had to appear in control, and that was exactly what I did.
I be
grudgingly swept up the shards of glass with Matt, the smug bastard, looking over my shoulder with glee. A surge of tourists and locals flooded the pub and all of a sudden I didn’t have time to worry about Matt and his snivelling sidekicks. With the shattered shards of broken bottles carefully discarded, I was run off my feet, focusing solely on filling up glasses, and keeping my head above water. I stole a moment to do a quick glass run when I was abruptly halted by a hand gently but firmly grabbing my elbow. I spun around in surprise, my eyes widening when I looked up into the eyes of Sean, a grimness to his face that made me worried. Before I could ask what was wrong, he guided me into the alcove that linked the bar and the empty restaurant. A thirsty patron called out in dismay as he waved money at the bar.
“Pipe down, she’ll be a sec,” Sean yelled angrily.
We were pressed into the tiny space, hidden, not to be seen by anyone. My heart thudded, his grasp still on my arm, his breath flowing down on me. I was all of a sudden very aware that I hadn’t checked my appearance for a while. I must have been a mess. I licked my bottom lip, a testament to my un-glossed, neglected lips, and I suddenly would have given anything for my coconut cream lip balm.
He squeezed my arm as if to bring me back from the brink of my daydream.
“Amy.”
Oh yeah, right … the present.
“What? What is it?” I gave him my full attention.
“Amy, there’s something written on the men’s room wall.” Sean’s voice was low and soft, his look grim as his brows creased down.
My stomach plummeted. “How bad?”
“It’s bad. Do you know who would have done it?”
I didn’t have to think too hard to come up with one, and one only, suspect. I glared towards the laughter that echoed out from the poolroom. I spotted Matt gyrating astride a pool cue as if it was a pony, his friends bending over in fits of laughter … idiots!
“One guess,” I said.
Sean’s jaw visibly clenched, his anger evident as he followed my gaze.
Toby sidled up next to us, his stern look matching Sean’s. “Hey, Amy,” he said. “Do you want us to get rid of them?”
“It’s okay, I’ll deal with it,” I said.
Sean didn’t let go of my arm. “Bad idea.”
My eyes rested on his hand on my arm, unable to hide my annoyance.
“What choice do I have? He’s done enough damage to this place. Enough is enough.” I pulled my arm away from Sean.
I weaved my way through the bar and ran straight into Tess.
“Queue’s building up. Hey, is everything all right?”
I sighed and looked over at a trail of empty glasses aligning the bar top and tables, evidence of an escalation of rowdy pub-goers.
“What are you like at pouring beer?”
Tess’s eyes widened. “It’s been a while …” She sounded unconvinced, but offered a final nod. “But it’s fine, I can do it.”
“Thanks, you’re a life saver.”
Tess put her game face on and took over the bar to deal with the ever-increasing crowd of thirsty patrons. I made my way towards the poolroom where Matt was now dangerously spinning the pool cue in an arc in front of him, making hooting noises like he was Bruce Lee or something.
It was an unsettling sight, but it was nothing compared to what was about to unfold. A new song started on the jukebox and Matt discarded the pool cue and pumped his fists in the air.
“I freakin’ love this song!”
Everyone in the room exchanged disturbed glances as Matt hoisted himself on top of the pool table, scattering the balls. The two locals in the middle of a game swore at him, but he didn’t care. In a high-pitched whine, Matt started to sing the Bee Gees’ ‘More Than a Woman.’ Everyone looked on in confused horror before breaking out in laughter.
He flailed his arms around in the air and knocked his head on the overhead lampshade. It swung, light jumping about and casting shadows over the room like the disco ball from hell.
I didn’t know about anyone else, but I’d had enough. I pushed my way over to the jukebox, squeezed my arm around the back and got it! Mercifully, I pulled the plug.
A chorus of outrage filled the room, but no one protested louder than Matt.
“What the fuck?” He stood on the pool table glaring daggers at me; I guess messing with a hardcore Bee Gees fan was dangerous territory.
He jumped off the table and stalked towards me with a hard stare. He moved up close, right into my face, trying to intimidate me. I pushed past him. I had always struggled to comprehend what makes people do what they do. What makes bad people be bad?
Tonight, I had no answers.
Once I had put some space between us I spun around to glare at his back.
“Hey!”
He turned around to me, his brows rising in surprise as a sleazy grin formed on his face.
“I think it’s time for you to leave.” My voice shook in anger; I hoped it didn’t come across as fear.
He laughed and cast a cocky glance at his mates and leisurely leaned back on the bar. He crossed his arms in defiance.
“Oh, yeah? On what grounds, babe?”
I smiled back sweetly and casually closed the distance between us. I stepped right up close; I was the one now getting into his face.
I could see him visibly relax as I leaned in to whisper, “On the grounds of this.”
And quicker than anyone could catch on, I picked up his pot of beer from the bar and threw it on his crotch. He jerked away from me in shock and his friends scurried out of the way.
“Go home, Matt. You’re drunk. We don’t take too kindly to blow-ins pissing themselves on our turf.”
He pulled at his pants as the look of disbelief on his face contorted to that of seething rage.
“You little bitch,” he spat out.
He stepped forward towards me. Before I could flinch away from him he was suddenly jerked to a stop by a vice-like grip that had grabbed at the material at the scruff of his neck, and pushed him violently against the wall.
“Looks like you lost the pissing contest, old mate,” Sean growled into his face.
Matt tried to push off the wall away from Sean, but Sean leaned more heavily against him and it was no use. Matt’s mates belatedly rushed in to throw their weight around in his defence but hands gripped the backs of their T-shirts too and they found themselves slammed against the wall by Toby and Stan. A series of pushes threatened to spill over into a bar room brawl. What was I supposed to do? I tried to fight past Sean’s back but he infuriatingly blocked my way.
“You need to keep your bitch on a leash,” Matt said. I think he realised what a huge mistake it was to call me that the instant Sean’s sweeping elbow connected with his jaw.
One of Matt’s mates tried to intervene. “We were just going, weren’t we, Matt?”
Sean and Matt were locked in death stares as Sean held him against the wall, the tips of his toes barely touching the ground. It was a standoff, but Matt was the first to look away. His face flushed scarlet, no doubt due to oxygen deprivation from Sean’s bear-like grip around his throat.
“Yeah, we were just going,” Matt croaked.
Sean held onto him for a moment longer, waiting for Matt to break his resistance, which he did. Matt put his hands up as if to show peace. At that sign, Toby and Stan let go of Matt’s mates, and they all pushed off each other with dirty looks and silent threats.
Matt straightened and looked at his mates and adjusted his crumpled shirt.
I stood off to the side and glared at him, but he didn’t meet my eyes as he followed his mates past me and out of the door.
He walked deliberately close by me on his way out, stopping only briefly to have his final say under his breath.
“With a daughter like you and a shithole like this, no wonder the old man had a heart attack.” He smirked, triumphant that he had had the final say.
My fury spiked into a blistering rage as soon as Matt turned to finally walk
away, to leave the Onslow. Nothing could stop me. I charged; I jumped on Matt’s back and laid my fists into him. He toppled forward, which gave me a better vantage point so as to pull his hair and pound into him some more.
Matt cried out, “Get this crazy bitch off me!”
I laid into him with a guided commentary:
“THAT’S for letting the grass get too long.”
WHACK.
“THAT’S for opening late every day.”
WHACK.
“THAT’s for stealing from my family.”
WHACK-WHACK-WHACK …
The only thing that prevented me from pummelling him into a pulp was the unexpected grip around my waist that scooped my flailing, kicking frame off him.
“Put me down!”
Another arm pinned my arms down, and carried me out of the bar like a pole – a pole with kicking legs.
“Come on, badass, time to go,” Sean half laughed in my ear as he strained to carry me away. He carried me through the front bar, the crowd of drinkers parting like the sea, and all the way out through the front door of the hotel. The cool breeze skimmed my heated cheeks. He placed me down and I continued to squirm to get out of his grip. Why did he have to be so strong?
“Do you promise to be good?”
I stopped shifting and squirming and attempted to catch my breath. I could feel Sean’s laboured breaths on the back of my neck. I couldn’t promise anything, my temper was still boiling over.
“Let. Me. Go,” I bit out.
A chuckle, rich and deep, vibrated through his chest against me.
“I don’t think so, little wild cat.”
I arched my head to the side so I could see him, his breaths still as laboured as mine. But his breaths weren’t through exertion; these breaths were strained for a whole other reason as I felt the heat of his skin on mine. I strained my neck around and looked into his eyes, eyes that were studying me. He was contemplating whether to release me, with all the seriousness as if he was contemplating releasing a caged animal. The sternness in his expression fell away as he caught my eyes.
A little smirk tilted the corner of his mouth.
“You’re a feisty one, aren’t you, Amy? I don’t mind admitting, you scare the hell out of me.”