by Ava Manello
Jim shows us up to our rooms. It’s basic, but spotlessly clean, although the shower could do with a little more oomph to it. Still, the slow trickle of warm water helps me rid the road dust from my weary body. I lie down on the bed while Cam has his shower and find myself being gently shaken awake by him. The rooms dark now, I must have fallen asleep.
“I didn’t want to let you sleep any later mate, thought you could do with something to eat.” Cam offers. I sit up groggily and reach for my watch. I’ve been asleep for several hours. I’m still tired, but not as tired as I was, and I realise it was dreamless sleep as well.
“What’s on offer?” I question Cam.
“Steak, burger, barbecue?” He offers me a meat lover’s selection.
“Good job I’m not a vegetarian.” I laugh. “I’ll take a steak I reckon.”
The dining area is quiet, it’s midweek and only a few drinkers are in the bar, pretty much keeping to themselves. The food is excellent, much better than I’d have expected for a small town like this. Jim leaves us to our meal while he serves at the bar.
“What’s the story?” I ask Cam. He sees me watching Jim. “He’s an old buddy of my Dad’s and I think he needs help, but doesn’t want to ask for it.” He tells me. “He called me the other week and asked if I’d like to come for a visit and a catch up. I’ve not been out here for years, but there was something in his voice. I can’t put my finger on it, but I felt like I needed to come see him, make sure he was okay.” Cam watches the old man with affection. There’s obviously some good history between them.
“He did say the town had been through a rough patch lately, do you think that’s it?” I look down at my plate to find it’s empty. I’ve devoured the whole thing. Looks like I got my appetite back as well.
“I don’t know. I don’t think it’s that. I reckon if we stay around for a few days he’ll let me know what’s wrong. We can see if there’s anything we can do to help him.” Cam always seems to be the one who fixes things for people. He’s probably the most sensitive of us all, often making things right before the rest of us have even twigged that they were wrong.
We chat about the town over dessert, home made apple pie and ice cream, it’s almost as good as my Gran’s. I can see I’m going to have to keep an eye on my weight whilst I’m here. Talk turns to the tattoo shop and Cam asks if I’m planning on any more ink.
“Not yet, I’ll get a piece to remember Max by, but not sure what I want yet.” The thing with ink and me is that I’ll spend forever deciding what I want, but once I have I get it done almost straight away. The design is important to me; I need to make sure it’s just right. It means that I have less ink than the rest of the guys, especially Max, he was always the first to go get a new tattoo when we’d been out drinking heavily.
“You think about Max?” Cam asks quietly. “I still don’t get why he did it.” There’s hurt in Cam’s voice. It’s a hurt we all feel. To have been so close to someone like we were with Max, for him then to turn us all away when we wanted to help. We’re all struggling to come to terms with it.
“Yeah. I just wish there was something we could have done. If we’d pushed to go see him sooner…” My voice falls away. We can all wish as much as we like, but it isn’t going to change anything. It won’t bring Max back. It won’t make us whole again.
Before we can get any more maudlin Jim comes over to clear the table. “You not got some pretty young thing to help you out Jim?” Cam teases. Jim’s face falls. Cam obviously hit a nerve.
“I had.” He pauses, wistfully. “Danni, lovely young girl. She got caught up in the trouble, must be three months now since we buried her and her man.” Jim seems to give himself a shake. “Enough sad talk, what are you guys drinking? I want to catch up on all your shenanigans young Cam.” He ends on a laugh.
I’m not sure we’re ready to talk about our shenanigans either, but Jim joins us with a bottle of Jack Daniels and we spend the rest of the evening reminiscing over Cam’s childhood escapades and misadventures on his trips to Severed.
Chapter Seventeen
Holly
I’m happy sitting in the back corner of the bar, minding my own business and nursing a drink when I spot the hot guy. Or should I say, hot guys. There are two of them, although it’s the sandy haired one who has my interest. His dark haired friend looks good enough, but there’s something about his blue eyed companion.
Jim obviously knows the dark haired guy, although he doesn’t look familiar to me. I think I’d have noticed him before now. I’ve sneaked out of the clubhouse and away from my overly protective uncle and his friends. They seem to want to treat me with kid gloves all the time, but they’ve got to let me get on with my life at some point.
It’s three months since we buried my brother and my best friend. I still can’t believe that I won’t see either of them again. It’s so unfair, after all that time we didn’t talk to each other for us to make up and then lose them so quickly. I’m still struggling with the why. Some stupid crack whore who was hell bent on revenge and my crazy ex who took advantage of her messed up plan. Am I to blame? If I’d never met that loser would Justice still be dead? Would I have taken so long to make up with my best friend when I found out she was sleeping with my brother.
That was just the most recent trouble the club had suffered, turns out there’d been death threats and kidnap attempts before that. That’s why I’m normally watched like a hawk. It’s to keep me safe, but it feels more like a prison and a punishment than anything else. It’s why I’m sitting here in the shadows, out of sight. That’s where I’ve been for the last few months, scared that if I let myself get close to anyone they’ll be taken from me as well.
I swirl the straw around in my soft drink and go back to watching the strangers across the room.
Chapter Eighteen
Declan
We’ve been in Severed for a couple of days just kicking back and enjoying the quiet pace when we finally get to the bottom of Jim’s concerns. His sister lives in Derby, clear the other side of the country and she’s got cancer. She lost her husband a few years ago and she’s been diagnosed as terminal. Jim wants to spend what time she has left with her.
“As you can see, it’s not exactly prime real estate.” He sighs as he indicates the tired interior.
“You sure you want to sell?” Cam asks. “I could probably hang around for a few months and run the place for you.” He offers.
“I need the money to help with her medical bills.” Jim tells us. “I don’t have anything left in the bank.” He looks beaten.
“Have you had the place valued yet?” Cam asks at the same time as me. It would be funny if Jim didn’t look so beaten down.
Jim mentions a figure that seems pretty cheap to me, granted the place needs an overhaul, but it still seems good value for money compared to what he could have asked in Perth, or even Harvey.
“Have you listed it with the agent yet?” I don’t recall seeing a for sale board outside.
“No, not yet, I’ve been trying to work out whether to sink some money into it and then sell it, or just sell it as is. I guess I just want to get over to Derby sooner rather than later.” He takes a long slow drink before placing his glass neatly back on the coaster on the table.
I spend the rest of the morning mulling things over and checking various things on my tablet. I’ve got an idea I want to run past Cam, see if he thinks it makes sense or not.
“Cam, you got a minute?” I call him over to the table I’ve been sitting at for most of the afternoon.
“Yeah, sure what’s up mate?” He asks as he sits down next to me.
“I’ve been thinking about Jim’s problem and I might have a solution.” Cam looks at me with interest now.
“Yeah?”
“I’m thinking I might buy the place.” I stop waiting to see Cam’s reaction. He looks a little surprised, but I guess I did kind of come out of nowhere with this idea.
“You sure? I don’t see you as a
pub landlord somehow, especially with our background.”
“It’s because of our background.” I can’t help playing with the beer mat in my hands. It’s getting a little tattered around the edges. “Everyone expects us to go into security work when we leave the Army, and I don’t want that. I just want to slow down the pace a little, and I like it here. I’ve got enough money in the bank to buy this place and fix it up.”
Cam looks at me, really looks at me as if he can see deep inside me. I know he’s worried about me, and with my recent drinking history buying a pub might not be the best idea I’ve ever had, but somehow this feels right. He picks up his glass and raises it towards me. “In that case, go for it. I think you’re right. It could be a good move for you.” We clink glasses in a toast. “Do you need a partner?”
“It’s your friend so I guess I can’t say no, but I’m happy to do this on my own. I wasn’t asking for a partner.” Cam looks slightly relieved when I say this, I know this isn’t the life he was looking for, but I also know he’d have done this with me if I asked him to.
“Well in that case I think we should go find Jim and tell him the good news.” Cam laughs.
I look at the tablet in front of me, and just for a moment wonder if I’m doing the right thing. Then I look around the empty bar. I feel at home here, this is the right thing for me; it’s the right place. It’s a new future.
Chapter Nineteen
Declan
My head is spinning at the speed at which things are happening. Jim practically snapped my hand off when I made him my offer. Luckily most of the legal stuff can be done online such as the title search, filing for the zoning certificate and filing for a drainage diagram. I’ve signed and completed so many forms I’ve lost track. There’s stamp duty to pay, legal titles to transfer and of course conveyancers and solicitors who want a cut of the pie as well.
It was surprisingly easy, and perhaps should have taken longer for me to spend that obscene amount of money. That’s technology for you. It’s going to take a couple of weeks for it all to confirm, but the paperwork’s completed and Jim’s booked his flight. In just a few days this place will be legally mine.
Cam called Luke and he’s given us the name of some reliable contractors who are able to come in at short notice and start gutting the place. Jim told us to go ahead, we don’t have to wait for the paperwork. If it had been any one else I’d have exercised caution and waited for the signed and sealed contract, but it’s Cam’s friend and I’m on a reckless spree.
The hardest part was ringing Gran to tell her what I’m doing. I’d expected a lecture from her, especially at the rate we were moving along with the whole thing, but she surprised me.
“Declan, I’m going to miss you, why you had to decide to move to the opposite side of the country I don’t know, but if this feels right for you, then you have my support.” It’s only when I hear her say this that I realise how far away I’m going to be from her. At least when I was in Afghanistan I knew I was coming back to be with her, now I’m moving across country.
“You’ll have to come see the place when I’ve done it up, Gran.” I invite her. We both know she’s too old and stubborn to leave her farm, so I’ll have to make sure I make regular trips back home.
“Yeah, yeah. You’re the young one here, you can come see me.” She laughs. “Besides, your boys are all here so you can visit us all at the same time.” My Gran always has a logical reason, and she always seems to win any discussion with her logic. I’m going to miss her.
“Cam’s staying on an extra couple of weeks to give me a hand, and I think Luke might come and give me his advice on the re-fit.” It’s only been just over a week, but I miss the guys already.
“Good, good. Get Luke to come see me before he comes and I’ll send you some proper food.” She laughs. Gran doesn’t think anywhere serves proper food outside of her kitchen.
“Well, now you mention it I don’t suppose you fancy sharing some of your recipes with me do you?” I ask, already knowing the answer.
“Pffft and piddle young man as you well know. You’ll get my recipes when I’m dead and gone, until then you just have to come visit if you’re missing my cooking.” She laughs.
“It was worth a try.”
Cam walks into the room, indicating that there’s a call for me on his phone. I say my goodbyes to my Gran and take the phone from him.
“Hey, Declan. I’ve booked a flight for the morning, bringing you some brochures and stuff on the type of fittings I think you’ll need and I’ll help you interview the contractors.” Luke offers.
“Thanks for this, I know you’re busy with your own projects.” I’m grateful to have his input on the project, if nothing else I know he’ll save me money, as he won’t let me employ the wrong guys or purchase the wrong fixtures and fittings.
“It’s no problem. I’ve been worried about you, we all have. Besides, I can’t wait to see this project of yours that’s got you moving so far away from us.” He laughs.
Everyone keeps reminding me how far away I’m moving from what I’ve known, perhaps it’s because of the lack of permanent residence in the Army, but I don’t see it as a problem, more as a challenge to embrace. It’s not like there isn’t an airport close by after all. I can go home and visit when I want. I’m still in the same country at least.
I end the call with Luke and go back to flicking through the websites on bar interiors. I don’t want to employ a designer, it’s only a small pub and I’m pretty sure between Luke and I that we can come up with something suitable for the locals and my own tastes.
Chapter Twenty
Declan
Luke’s visit was short and sharp, but we got a lot accomplished. The crew we hired have almost finished, the place is certainly transformed. I’ve kept as much of the character as I could, and added in a few modern touches to make life easier like a dishwasher for the glasses behind the bar and a new kitchen that’s more suitable for catering than the small set up that Jim had.
I’ve retained a couple of the staff that Jim had, but he told me he still hadn’t replaced the barmaid who’d been killed and he thinks that I’ll need more bodies, if only to handle the curiosity of the locals who’ll come visit once I re-open.
I almost don’t hear the banging on the door over the noise of the drill and the hammering. When I open the door I’m surprised to see a petite girl wearing a white vest, denim skirt and a look of shock on her face.
“Can I help you?” I ask her as I check her out.
“Erm.” She stutters, “Hi, I’m here for the job?”
“Oh.” I look her over again. She doesn’t look like a barmaid. “Have you done any bar work before?”
“A little.” She replies. “More waitressing though.” She goes on to say something about helping her parents out at parties. I don’t believe she’s got any experience, but she looks so nervous and desperate that I decide to give her a chance.
“I’m Declan, the new owner of this place.” I invite her in.
We make small talk on the way in, and I tell Lucy that I was looking for a career change when I bought the bar. That was obviously a mistake as she innocently asks what I used to do. Shit. I don’t want to talk about my past. I’m a little curt in my reply to her.
“I came here to start a new future, not discuss my past.” I snap.
“A new future sounds pretty good to me right now as well.” She replies. I soften a little at her response. Sounds like Lucy has some problems, and the protective side of me comes out.
Lucy jumps at a loud bang the contractors make, she looks nervous until I explain about the refurbishment. I offer to show her around whilst I interview her. I’m not exactly used to interviewing bar staff so I ask the basics. All the time she’s showing interest in the work going on around us, and answers my questions smoothly and comfortably until I ask her about her last position. I can see her whole body tense as she tells me she was fired.
I can’t imagine what a little t
hing like her could have done to merit being fired and laughingly tell her so. That’s when she lets me see her inner firecracker.
“Little?” She snaps. She’s easily five seven so I guess she isn’t really little, but compared to the guys I’m used to hanging around with she seems petite.
I apologise to her, but my mood soon darkens when she explains she was fired for slapping her over friendly boss. I hate guys who take advantage of their position. I reassure her that she’ll have nothing like that to worry about from me. She seems a little more comfortable now that conversation is out of the way and I continue to show her around. She seems overly excited about the new dance floor that I’m installing.
By the time we’re back in the main bar I’ve decided to take a chance on Lucy. I’m pretty sure she doesn’t have the experience I need, but she’s got a nice personality and I think she’d get on well with the locals.
“Really?” Her face lights up in delight when I give her the good news. She blushes when I tell her that it will be good to have a pretty face around here.
I ask her to come in Wednesday morning so she can help set up and get some training in before we re-open on Friday and she leaves with a huge grin on her face. It sounds silly, but our little encounter has put a huge smile on my face as well.
Chapter Twenty One
Declan
Tonight’s the grand re-opening and the place is packed, although the half price drinks offer might have something to do with it. I look around the busy bar and feel a huge sense of achievement. I’m just sorry that my guys couldn’t make it for the opening; even Cam had to go home, although they’ve all promised that they’ll be out to visit soon.
I’ve given my new barmaid the night off, I think she needs more experience before she tackles a crowd of this size considering the number of glasses she broke on her first day. I’ll keep her on the quieter day shifts for now until she gets up to speed. She’s coming in tonight with a bunch of her friends, I’m looking forward to meeting them.