CLAUDIA
“They are fucking adorable,”I whispered in Peyton’s ear as I watched her newly married sister-in-law, Kristina, and her husband, Leo, make out in a far-off corner next to the bar. There was nowhere they could go and not be seen, other than if they snuck into the back room, but I had an inkling they’d already done that or were heading there.
“They are,” Peyton agreed, a wistful smile curving her lips. “They deserve to be.”
“You know, more weddings should be like this. Or whatever this is. Have the ceremony however you want by yourselves and celebrate with your friends and family at the local bar.”
“For sure.” Peyton laughed. “But I would not have been able to get away with eloping, as lovely as it would have been.” She shook her head, her face twisting into a grimace. “Not with my mother.”
“Oh, hell no. She already didn’t speak to you for like a week when you told her you weren’t getting married in church.”
“Because she’ssoreligious…” Peyton rolled her eyes, a small smile tilting her mouth as she lifted a shoulder. “It sounds terrible, but that was a nice, quiet week.”
“But you still had your wedding your way. Simple. When my cousins got married, it was like the damn Academy Awards, complete with mid-event dress change. Just being a guest was stressful.”
Weddings in my family were taxing for so many reasons. My aunt and uncle wanted to make a statement about their success, and my poor cousins had to go along for the ride. I was happy for them, but it was hard to stay respectful when my relatives looked me over with obvious disapproval and aggravating sympathy simply because I’d had the nerve to arrive alone.
I’d never brought a date because my family would all jump on whatever poor dude I’d brought with me and would grill him for the entire night. Plus, I never wanted the hassle of having to explain what happened to myfriendat the next family function.
Kristina and Leo had been married back where they’d first met, at a resort in the Florida Keys, with only Kristina’s daughters in attendance. I had a feeling they’d chosen Halman’s bar in town to celebrate with their family and friends after they’d returned because Kristina had claimed Leo right next to the beer tap with a passionate kiss one very crowded night. But again, like most things in Kelly Lakes, this was the only bar in town. They’d invited their family and friends to an open-bar party, but almost everyone I’d come into contact with in Kelly Lakes was here.
“I could actually see you having a wedding in a bar.”
“Right?” I said, slamming my almost-empty bottle of cider onto the table. I’d always joked about leaving my errant city life ways and ending up with a hot Kelly Lakes local, but I sobered for a moment and drained the rest of the bottle when said anonymous local flashed in my mind, this time with Jude’s face. I cleared my throat in an effort to reset my brain.
“My parents wouldn’t be thrilled, but my father would see the practical side of not having to wipe out his savings for his daughter’s wedding. It would be beyond perfect.”
“Too bad Halman’s is closing. Unless Larry finds someone to buy it.” Peyton shrugged.
“I still can’t believe he wants to close. What are you all going to do for a bar?”
“There is one by the highway exit, but it’s more of a sports bar and grill. We’ll have to go out of town for something like this.”
“That’s terrible.”
“What is?” Jake came up behind where Peyton sat, giving the back of his wife’s neck an affectionate squeeze.
“That Halman’s is closing.” Peyton leaned back as Jake came up behind her. “It’s a shame. You all have serious history here.”
I’d visited enough times to soak in how in love they were, but after living in their house for the past few weeks, I’d noticed that Jake and Peyton were never in the same room without touching. He always took the seat right next to her and pulled her close, and she’d cuddle into him on instinct. It was so natural between them that I was sure they never even realized how much they gravitated toward each other.
It was nice to watch but intensified the loneliness I’d never had before, yet now couldn’t shake. It was like a growing fungus since I’d come here.
Jake shrugged, pulling out the seat next to his wife.
“It happens. Not everything lasts forever,” he said as he sat down.
I loved the atmosphere of Halman’s. It was plain and simple, with gray walls and black floors, the lack of updates over the years giving it a cozy, old-time feel. The wooden seats were uncomfortable as fuck, but I always wondered if that was done on purpose for patrons to get up and mingle. They had an old jukebox, but I’d only seen customers dance when they were extra tipsy, and they’d trip all over one another since the space was too small to have an actual dance floor.
“But I don’t understand why Larry is shutting the place down. It can’t be for lack of profit because it’s the only bar in town, and every night I’ve come here, it’s always packed.”
“I think Larry just doesn’t want to do it anymore. He took over the bar from his parents when he was in his twenties, but his kids moved away with his wife after they split, and they don’t want to move back to manage it. He told me the other day that he’s looking to retire somewhere outside of Kelly Lakes and the long bar hours are exhausting.”
I nodded, holding in a laugh. Closing time for Halman’s was eleven p.m. The bar around the corner from my apartment in Brooklyn was open until three, and there was always noise from last-call patrons closing the place, even on a weeknight. It was one of the many things Kelly Lakes did differently from the city. I didn’t doubt that running a bar was hard work, no matter what the hours were, but giving up Halman’s seemed like a wasted opportunity for a sure income.
“I’m getting up for a refill. Want anything?” I asked Jake and Peyton.
“Nah, I have all I need.” Jake popped his brow as he brought Peyton’s hand to his lips.
