The bell to the front door jingled. It was May. George recognized her boots. Herface was hidden by the enormous arrangement of flowers she was carrying.
“Hey, girl,” he said, squatting to a lower cabinet.
“Hey, sweetie! Ready for the big night?”
“As ready as we’ll ever be.”
May set the vase down on a nearby table. She looked to find Shane standing behind the bar. He waved. “Hey, May.”
“Oh. I thought I heard—”
“You did,” George said, standing with an industrial-sized can of coffee beans. “We’re testing out the new espresso machine—compliments of Mr. Ballinger here.”
“Great.” Only George heard the scintilla of sarcasm embedded in the single syllable.
“Would you like to try a cappuccino, May?” Shane asked.
“Sure. I’ll be your guinea pig.”
George came out from behind the bar. He spotted the flowers. “May, you shouldn’t have. That is over-the-top fucking gorgeous.”
“I didn’t. They’re from Realty-Man.”
“Realty-Man, Ralph, he’s the guy...”Shane began the familiar TV jingle, before being silenced by the coffee grinder.
“That was sweet of him,” George said.
“They were delivered next door by mistake.”
He plucked the small card and opened it.
“Well, what’s it say?”
“Are you pretending that you haven’t already read it?”
“Not very well, apparently.”
“So, he can’t make it tonight. Sent these in his stead.” George put the card back.
“You sound disappointed.”
“A little. Ralph would have been extremely helpful getting the word out.”
“He will anyway,” she said, smirking. “I mean, he does like you, remember? Or do you think he’s not comingbecauseof that?”
“Who knows? I’m more concerned that he’s my third cancellation. I need the place to look full, you know.”
“It’s going to be hard to get people last minute. Let me do some thinking. What about Zac?”
“He’s got folks coming already.”
“Shane?”
“I wish,” Shane said, overhearing. “But Carolyn signed us up for a couples thing tonight at our community center—Soul Gazing via Interpretive Mime.”
They both looked at him for a solid two seconds before exploding with laughter.
“I know. I know,” he said. “The further adventures of Shane Ballinger’s emasculation. Believe me, I would much rather be here.”
