by Sarra Cannon
Colton is standing by his truck talking to Knox, and they both turn as we come out of the house.
“Hey, beautiful,” he says. His smile slays me.
I hate that we haven’t been able to spend any time together for the past few days, but he’s really been helping out. He’s taken all of my shifts this week, and between him and Knox, we haven’t had to worry about a thing.
“Hey,” I say, the familiar flush of warmth creeping up the back of my neck.
Dad whistles, and I’m tempted to punch him in the arm. He’s obviously getting a kick out of watching me squirm.
“I’ll be in the car, just in case the two lovebirds need some privacy,” he says, winking at Colton.
“Daddy, if you know what’s good for you—”
He lifts his hands in surrender and gets into the passenger side of his old Buick.
“Sorry,” I say, kicking at the dirt as Colton approaches me.
“Don’t apologize,” he says with a laugh. “It’s a father’s job to tease his little girl when she’s got a boyfriend.”
I look up at him. Boyfriend? My stomach fills with butterflies.
We haven’t had a chance to talk about anything official between us, but I definitely like the sound of that.
“Thanks for taking my shift again tonight,” I say. “The doctor said they’re going to run a bunch of tests today to try to rule a few things out. It might take a while, and I’m sure we’ll both be exhausted by the time we make it home.”
“No problem,” he says. “Whatever you need, you know that.”
He’s either too good to be true, or I’ve died and gone to heaven.
“Thank you,” I say. “I’d love to spend some time with you soon, though.”
“Why don’t I swing by tomorrow night?” he says. “Knox said he’ll take over for the night, and we’ll both work the weekend.”
“I don’t know,” I say, glancing at the car. “I don’t really want to go out and leave him home alone. Not until we figure this out, anyway.”
“Who said anything about going out?” he says, taking my hand. “I was thinking I’d bring over a few movies and maybe a couple games. We can order pizza and make a night of it.”
I smile and shake my head. “You’re wonderful, you know that?”
“I’ve heard it a time or two,” he says, a wide smile lighting up his entire face.
“I need to get going,” I say. “I was just giving Daddy a hard time about running late.”
“Okay, call me if you need anything,” he says.
He leans down and places a soft kiss on my lips.
He and Knox disappear into the bar to get things ready for tonight, and Daddy and I make our way to the hospital. My stomach is in knots as we wait for the doctor. When he finally comes out, I’ve worked my mind into all sorts of terrible possibilities. I’m ready to just find out once and for all so we can start treatment.
My father is my life, and I just want him to be okay.
He squeezes my hand as we sit down beside each other in the doctor’s office.
“Alright, doc, what’s the plan?” Daddy says. “How do we figure out what’s going on?”
Dr. Taylor leans forward, picking up a manila folder. “Let’s go through your symptoms one more time,” he says. “I know you were concerned about the strength and coordination in your hands?”
“Yeah, lately I’ve just had a hard time getting a grip on things. I thought it might be arthritis,” he says.
“I think we can rule that out since your fall the other night,” the doctor says. “What else has been going on?”
“Just those things, really,” Daddy says. “You think maybe it’s something muscular?”
“Could be,” he says. “Today we’re going to get you in for an MRI, take a blood and urine sample, and do a few simple tests here in the office once you’re done.”
“How long will it be before we find out what’s going on?” I ask.
The doctor smiles, but there’s no joy behind it. “Jo, I know you guys are both anxious to know what’s going on, but you need to be aware that this could take some time to properly diagnose. Hopefully it will be something simple, but it could take a few weeks to get all the tests back on this first round.”
“And if we don’t have answers at that point?” I shift in my seat.
He shakes his head. “If the tests we run today don’t give us a clear answer about what’s going on, we’ll keep looking. I’ve already put a call into a neurologist friend of mine. Depending on what we see in the MRI, I might refer your father over to him.”
“A neurologist?” My hands feel numb. This all sounds so complicated, and I’m afraid that if this takes weeks or months to figure out, I’ll lose my damn mind.
“It’s going to be fine, Jojo,” Daddy says. “Let’s just get this over with and see where we are.”
The nurse leads my father to one of the patient rooms and asks me to sit in the waiting room. I brought a good book with me to read, but I find myself fidgeting and getting up several times to just walk around. I can’t stand the waiting, and I was really hoping we’d have some answers today.
Why can’t this be easy?
When will things go back to normal? Daddy keeps telling me it’s nothing serious and not to worry, but he’s crazy if he thinks I’m going to take this lightly. What in the world would be making him lose control of his hands and his legs?
I sit back down and cross my legs. Uncross them. Take a sip of water. Check my phone. Cross my legs again. I can’t sit still.
Daddy’s been gone for about two hours now, and I can’t focus on anything else.
I look down at my phone, pulling up Colton’s number on instinct. It’s just after eleven in the morning, so he’s probably just sitting at home watching TV. I don’t want to become the needy girl who’s always bugging him, but I could really use a friend right now.
I dial his number before I can second guess myself.
He picks up on the second ring. “Hey, what’s going on? Everything okay?” He sounds about as worried as I feel, and for some reason, it makes me feel better.
“Hey. Yeah, it’s fine, I guess,” I say. I glance around again to make sure I’m alone in the waiting room. People have come in and out all day, but overall it seems to be a pretty slow day in the office. “I’ve been in the waiting room alone for two hours, and I’m kind of losing my mind.”
“Where’s your dad?”
“They took him back to do some tests and to get an MRI,” I say. “They said I couldn’t go back with him.”
“Why didn’t you call me earlier?” he asks. “I’m on my way. Which doctor?”
“No, you don’t have to do that,” I say. “I know you’ve been working a lot lately. You’re probably tired.”
“I am literally sitting here doing nothing,” he says. “I’d much rather be there with you. Just give me a few minutes to get over there. Do you want me to bring you something to eat?”
Tears spring to my eyes. I didn’t realize how much I needed him right now.
“There’s a cafeteria here at the hospital,” I say. “The nurse said I could grab a sandwich there.”
“And you really want to eat hospital food?” he asks, and I can hear the smile in his voice. “Just tell me where to go, and I’ll be there as soon as I can. I’ll bring some good food.”
“Bring something for Daddy, too,” I say. “Just in case.”
“Will do.”
“And Colton?”
“Yes, Boss?”
I smile. “Thank you.”
“Sure thing, gorgeous,” he says. “See you soon.”
I hang up and feel more calm and centered than I have in two hours. I close my eyes and lean back against the couch in the waiting room.
I sit still for a full twenty minutes, my monkey mind finally calm, until Colton walks through the door, two bags of Abby’s BBQ in his hands and that familiar smile on his face that seems to set everything right, if ju
st for a little while.
Chapter Twenty-Four
The next few weeks pass slowly. We’re in limbo with Daddy’s health. None of the tests have come up with an easy diagnosis, so we’ve been back and forth between the hospital and the new neurologist’s office half a dozen times.
Things at the bar have been as busy as ever with two more successful live music Saturdays coming and going, but this weekend is the one that matters.
“Are you serious that Long Road Ahead is coming in this weekend?” Penny asks. She and her husband Mason are sitting at the bar on a Thursday night. “Tell me again how exactly you guys pulled that off?”
“Ask him,” I say, jerking my thumb toward Colton.
“I’ll never tell,” Colton says, raising an eyebrow as he pops open another beer and slides it toward Mason.
“I seriously can’t get him to tell me his tricks,” I say. “I have no clue how he managed it.”
“Hey, didn’t one of the guitar players in Long Road Ahead go to high school over in Westbrook?” Mason asks.
“Did he?” I ask. I look at Colton. “Did you go to high school with one of them? I had no idea they were from around here.”
“Like I said, I’m not giving up any of my secrets,” he says, smiling.
“You’re not supposed to keep secrets from your girlfriend,” I say, wrapping my arms around him.
He plants a kiss on my cheek.
Working at the bar with him has been amazing. At first, I was afraid things might be awkward or complicated, but it’s actually been as easy as breathing. Obviously we don’t want to constantly be kissing and touching behind the bar, but every once in a while sure is nice. Besides, it’s still early in the night and other than Penny and Mason, we only have a handful of regulars in the whole place.
“You guys are too cute,” Penny says.
“Young love,” Mason says. He puts his arm around his wife. “Not like us old married folk.”
“Shut up and kiss me,” Penny says.
I laugh. I love it when they come by the bar. I never in a million years thought I would have a friend in Penny Wright. She’s always been the richest girl in school. Hell, the richest girl in Georgia. She always had this air of betterness around her, like she just didn’t see things the way they really were.
But ever since she disappeared about a year ago to run away with Mason, she’s been a different person. She never mentions how expensive her clothes are or how she just bought the newest Prada purse, anymore. She and Mason live in a modest house not too far from the bar, and she’s been really working her ass off to get her own business started. Not to mention all the work she does for charity in Fairhope to help kids in need.
“Where is your little one tonight?” I ask.
“Believe it or not, Preston and Jenna took her for the night,” she says. “I love her more than life, but it’s so nice to have a break every once in a while. You cannot imagine how tough it is to have a baby and be working full time. Especially now that she’s walking.”
I shift uncomfortably and get to work washing a few dirty glasses in the sink. I can imagine it more than she knows.
“Well, we really are grateful for how much you’ve done to help us get the bar back on its feet,” I say. “Saturdays have been packed for two months, but this weekend is going to be the biggest we’ve seen yet. I’ve been putting flyers up all over town.”
“It’s too bad you don’t have a bigger space for the crowd,” Penny says. “I heard you guys have been turning people away.”
“More and more every weekend,” I say.
“See, Penny sees the potential,” Colton says. “You guys really ought to think about expanding.”
“I’m not saying it’s outside the realm of possibility, but it seems complicated,” I say. “Permits and contractors and inspections. It would take forever to put that together, and I can’t imagine how we’d get the money for the new construction.”
“I told you I could help you with the paperwork,” Penny says. “It wouldn’t be too hard. You could take out a small business loan to get things going. You’ve got plenty of equity built up in the bar now, so you could put the property up as collateral.”
I sigh. It sounds wonderful, but it’s still so scary. With everything up in the air now with my dad and this new relationship with Colton, I feel like I’ve got enough life-altering things to deal with than I can handle as it is.
“Maybe it’s something we can revisit in a few years, but for now, I don’t think we should mess with a good thing, you know?”
“If you ask me, it’s the best time to expand,” Penny says. “Business is good and adding a new restaurant with your recipes would bring people from all over the state, I’d be willing to bet.”
“Which is exactly what I keep telling her,” Colton chimes in.
“If you decide you want to seriously consider it, let me know,” she says. “I’ll come by one afternoon and we can talk about all the details. I’d love to help you out.”
“Thanks,” I say, and I mean it. I’m just not ready for something like that. I like the bar the way it is.
“Well, I’m excited to hear Long Road Ahead this weekend,” Mason says. “I love that one song they had out last year. Picking up the Pieces.”
Colton clears his throat and looks down at the floor. I could swear I see a blush forming on his cheeks, which has me interested. What in the world is going on with him and this band?
“What’s gotten into you?” I ask when he steps away to ring up someone’s tab.
“What do you mean?”
“The secret connection you have with this huge country band, convincing them to come all the way down to our little bar and play for peanuts,” I say. “And that strange look on your face when Mason mentioned that song. What am I missing here?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he says.
But there’s a look in his eyes that says there’s more to this story than he’s telling. I hope I get a chance to question the band about it this weekend. There’s some kind of history here, and I’m going to figure it out if it kills me.
Before I can question him further, the door to the bar swings open, and my stomach turns.
Bryan and two men I don’t recognize walk in. My entire body tenses.
Why couldn’t this be a night when Slim is working the door? I so don’t want to deal with this jerk tonight. How many times do I have to tell this slime that he isn’t welcome at this bar?
I’ve been lucky not to run into him anywhere around town, but I heard from a friend that he’s been looking for work and having a hard time of it. He’s on probation for something he pulled with a couple buddies of his a few months back, which is why he’s stuck here in Fairhope for a while.
“What?” Colton asks, looking at me.
I nod to the guys who just walked in. “Unwelcome customers,” I mumble.
He turns and his fist curls around the stack of cash in his hand. “That’s the guy we had to throw out of here awhile back?” he asks. “What was his name, again?”
“Bryan,” I say, the hatred bitter on my tongue.
“I’ll handle this,” he says, taking a step in their direction as they settle on a few stools at the end of the bar.
I shake my head and grab his arm. “Don’t,” I say. “I’ll deal with them.”
“You sure?” he asks. “Because I’m more than happy to put him in his place.”
“You’ll only make it worse, and I really don’t want things to get out of hand,” I say.
He shrugs, but keeps his eyes cut toward the group of three obviously drunk guys. “You’re the boss,” he says.
“Yoohoo, what’s a guy gotta do to get a damn drink around here?” Bryan says. His eyes land on mine, and there’s a challenge there. He knows exactly how to get under my skin, and he’s here to play his little games.
Well, I’ve had enough of his shit.
“Bryan, you’d have to wait until hell freezes
over to get a drink here ever again,” I say, walking over to him, glad there’s a bar between us. “Whatever trouble you’re looking for tonight, you’re not going to find it here.”
“I’m hurt, Josephine,” he says, clutching a hand to his chest. “Is that any way to treat an old friend?”
His two buddies laugh, but I don’t take my eyes off Bryan’s. I refuse to back down or give in.
“You’re no friend of mine,” I say, teeth clenched. “I’d appreciate it if you’d leave. You’re not welcome here.”
The smile fades from Bryan’s face, and I recognize the anger that replaces it.
“Listen, you little bitch, don’t forget that I know how to put you in your place,” he says. “Now, I came in here with my friends to have a good time, and you’re going to be polite.”
“You’re in my bar, in case you forgot,” I say, my hands trembling. “And no one talks to me that way in my own place. You can either choose to get the hell out of here, or I’ll call the police and make sure they help you find your way back to whatever hole you crawled out of.”
“Ooh, well, lookie who finally grew up and got herself a spine,” he says, slapping the top of the bar. “Guys, I do believe we have a live one here.”
“Come on, man, we can find another place to get a drink.” His dark-haired friend stands and pats him on the shoulder.
“Nah, man, shit. I’m not leaving,” he says. “Sit down.”
“Bryan, it’s not worth it,” the guy says. He shoots me a look of apology, which makes me wonder why a halfway decent person is hanging out with such scum.
“From what I remember, it was well worth it,” Bryan says, licking his lips when he looks at me.
Rage erupts inside me like a bomb that’s been waiting years to explode. There’s a corkscrew lying on a towel next to me, and I want to jab it in his eye and watch him bleed. This man has caused me far too much pain for me to stand here and let him even look at me the way he is right now.
I resist the urge to grab the corkscrew and step closer to the bar, leaning forward so I know he can hear me loud and clear.
“If you value your life, you will turn around and walk out that door,” I say. “If I ever see you in this bar again, I’ll get a restraining order on you, and with your record, I imagine that would be a very bad thing for you right now.”