“I have an idea why someone might have trashed your car. You might want to hear it.”
Rory wished she did want to know. She pressed her hands to her throbbing temples. “Right now, Javier, I want to put my feet up, drink a cup of coffee and pretend none of this is happening. I don’t want to think about my car. Or Gideon. Or you. Or Harvey. Or Jarrod. Or dead men. Not the bar. Or bartenders leaving in droves. I just want coffee.”
Javier studied her face for a long moment, and then he removed his hand, dropped it to the knob and pulled open the door. “I’ll talk to you later.” He sounded firm.
“Yeah, you do that. I’ll be the one at the bar. Day and night. It’ll be my new home.”
“Maybe try getting some sleep.”
“Not sure when that’s supposed to happen.”
“And use your nebulizer. You’re wheezing.”
As if she didn’t know. She entered the lounge, and Javier pulled the door closed behind her. The women were waiting. Rory gave them a little wave and flung herself into her favorite chair. Lydia had set up her machine and had her medicine right beside it. Most importantly, her favorite to-go mug was sitting on the end table beside her machine.
“Hot coffee. Who do I ask to marry me?” She took a cautious sip and found it hot and reviving. “I’m in love. But maybe with the coffee.”
The women laughed.
“My life has gone to hell,” Rory announced. “It isn’t a laughing matter. The only good thing aside from all of you is this delicious and lifesaving coffee. Every sign pointed to me leaving San Francisco as soon as possible. I make up my mind to go, I turn in my two-weeks’ notice, and my boss is practically in tears begging me to stay. That makes me feel guilty, but I hold on to my resolve and decide to stick to my guns and refuse to retract it, even though we are down a bartender.”
“It was Gideon,” Cindy said. “I don’t know why you two broke up, but you wanted to leave because of him. It wasn’t about the crazy things happening here at the apartments. The break-ins or dead bodies. You would have stayed. It was him. You’re in love with him.”
Rory was grateful she didn’t have a mouthful of coffee or she would have spewed it across the room. “Love?” She choked out the word. “That’s a pretty scary word to throw around. I don’t know what that even means.”
“Really?” Lydia challenged her. “I’ve seen the look on your face when you say his name.”
Rory waved their comments away. “I was going somewhere important with this commentary about fate and destiny directing my life.” She took another sip of revitalizing coffee. She was coming back to life.
“Now, someone has destroyed my vehicle, my one means of transportation out of San Francisco. I can buy another car, but it will take a little time. I’ll need to get the insurance money first.” She tipped her head back to stare at the ceiling. “I just received another call from Brad, my boss at the bar. He didn’t seem to care about my car. He was in a complete state of panic. It seems Barry, his most experienced bartender, has to leave unexpectedly.”
She looked around at her friends, hoping for sympathy. There was none to be seen on their faces. In fact, they looked elated.
“Barry the bartender had to leave unexpectedly?” Lydia echoed.
“Yes. His mother had a heart attack.” Rory tried not to sound glum. That was just plain mean, and she wasn’t a mean person, or at least she tried not to be. But she was feeling sorry for herself. She hadn’t been able to stop thinking about Gideon. She had become one ofthosewomen. Mopey. Thinking about him all the time and worrying about his health. An idiot. She could still feel his kiss on the back of her neck. It burned, as if he’d left behind a brand.
“Barry’s going to have to take care of his mother. That means if I leave too, Brad will be down too many bartenders. Even if he hires someone else, he won’t have anyone experienced enough.” She looked at Lydia. “This is your chance. I can get you on and train you if you really want to try the job. I don’t think I’ll be going anywhere for the next few weeks.”
Lydia’s face lit up. “Do you think I could really do it? I haven’t had any formal training.”
“I’ve taught you the skills, Lydia. You’ve studied online. Youknow the glassware, the equipment, how to clean it; you can change out a keg, at least in theory; you know the lingo. You have knowledge of beer, wine and cocktails. How to mix the drinks. You just need to believe in yourself and sell it.”
Lydia glanced at the others and then back to Rory. “The idea is scary.”
“You can start as a barback, but you won’t make near the money. Brad’s going to have to bring up our best barback as it is, so we’re going to be down one. He’d hire you for that position, but honestly, it would be better if you just come on board and start making drinks right away. I know you can do it. We’ve spent hours now practicing, and you’ve gotten fast. You can make them in your sleep.”
“I can do it. I know I can. But then there’s Ellen. I’ll worry.”
Cindy cleared her throat. “I’m staying. I’ll put a bed in my room, and she can sleep in my apartment when you’re working. You can come and get her when you get off. She’ll just be asleep, Lydia, and she probably won’t even know.”
Lydia looked around at all of them, took a deep breath, looking determined, and nodded.
Rory measured her medication into the machine and turned it on. At least Lydia was going to get something good out of all the mess going on.
15
The bar was noisy and packed as usual. Rory thought it was becoming even more popular. She was happy for Brad. He was a good man, paid his employees well, treated them even better and was fair if things took a bad turn. As a rule, he was in a good mood. He worked hard and expected his employees to do the same. For that reason, she had been up front about Lydia.
