“No. Please send the teens up here. Aleski’s language can become quite colorful at times and I don’t need to correct a bunch of teens thinking their cool swearing in Russian,” she said, moving on to the next customer.
“Thanks,” he said before walking behind the counter.
He approached the stainless steel table, refusing to break Aleski’s stare.
“I’m sure you know who I am. Word has it you can help me procure a bottle of Russian vodka for Ivan. I believe when a man makes a mistake, he needs to own up to it, and I owe him an apology,” Cole said firmly.
Aleski chuckled and shook his head. “You think my boss will roll over like your dog over there because you bring him a drink? You’re sadly mistaken.”
“Since you know him, maybe you can tell me what will work. I’m new here and I don’t want to start off on the wrong foot,” he explained.
“I think you already have, my friend,” Aleski said, kneading his dough and placing it into pans. “Ivan’s in a lot of pain because of your mutt. Why should I help you?”
“I made a mistake. If you can’t help me, I’ll find someone who can,” Cole said, refusing to grovel to the man.
“All right. We Russians like to give you back…what do you say? Shit?” Aleski said, washing the flour from his hands. “Ivan can get vodka whenever he wants. But he did like those cookies in your tin. Perhaps if you shared the recipe with me and made him a batch, he might find a way to ease up on you, no?”
“How does me sharing the recipe with you help me with Ivan?” he asked.
“Because I can make them for next time you screw up. Plus, it’s my price for helping you. It’s not good for me to give you information about my boss,” Aleski explained.
“Fine, I’ll bring you the recipe this afternoon. What about Victoria? I heard she likes Irish coffees. Can I use it to bribe her?” he asked.
Aleski’s eyebrows shot up, and he peered out of the opening to check Bryanna’s whereabouts. “The Serenity women are tight. They will tattle on us men in a hurtbeat.”
“Heartbeat,” Cole corrected him. “What type of whiskey do I need?”
Aleski wrote it on a slip of paper. “You make another stupid mistake, you see why I say hurtbeat. Bring it to her in a pretty cup. She will snub her nose at you, but she’ll drink it once she gets a whiff of the whiskey. Hand it to her, make apologies, and leave. No begging. A man on his knees will send the wrong impression and she’ll have your private parts diced into tiny pieces of meat like she promised.”
Cole took the note and hastily put it in his pocket. “What about Kassie?”
“Continue showing up. Actions speak louder than words with that one. She’s a goody shoe,” he said.
“A goody two-shoes?” Cole suggested. “I’m taking her a brownie. You telling me to stick around?”
“These women have babies and watch everything they eat. She will take a bite and say she’s fat. You help with teens and veterans and her heart will go to mush. Then, you’ll apologize,” he advised.
“Thanks, Aleski,” Cole said, before he turned and headed for the door. He needed his mom’s recipe for the cookies and the ingredients to make them. At least he held out some hope of making amends. He glanced over to the nearly empty community center and frowned. Adding it to his list, Cole needed to find a way to bring the citizens back to the meeting place.
Two hours later, he and Brody arrived at their cabin loaded down with everything to make amends. Preheating the oven, he went about emptying the grocery bags and pulled out a bottle of Irish whiskey and Russian vodka. He washed his hands and followed his mom’s instructions to the letter and his house smelled of cinnamon.
Brody curled up in his bed, watching him with curious eyes.
“The cookies will take ten minutes. I’ll wash the pretty coffee tumbler I purchased for Victoria and then we’ll brew the coffee,”Cole said to his partner. “You’ll need to stay on your best behavior, too. I don’t want Ivan to tell Kassie he doesn’t want you near the kids.”
Brody whined and let out a little bark.
“Don’t worry, buddy. We’ll make this work. Hannah’s counting on us,” he assured the dog.
Brody barked as if understanding his master.
Cole placed the freshly baked cookies on the cooling rack and penned the recipe on a card for Aleski. He reread the instructions twice before he made Victoria’s drink. Taking a sip, he saw why she preferred it. With the chilly weather, it warmed him to his toes.
Cole packed up the brownie with all its condiments, placed the cookies in the tin, grabbed the baggie with extra cookies, and made a fresh drink, putting it into the pretty steel mug. Brody jumped up as Cole headed toward the door. He’d drop off his offerings, make his apologies, attend a veteran meeting, and help with the sign-up sheets for the activities. Hopefully, Kassie or Doc noticed.
Taking the path to the hospital, Cole rehearsed what he planned to say to each of them. By the time they arrived, Brody agreed he had fine-tuned his speeches. He entered the hospital and inquired about Ivan’s room number. The room grew quiet as if anticipating his death, while the teen searched for the number and gave him directions.
Cole walked down the hall and knocked on the entryway of Ivan’s room.
