This might actually work. If Lee did a gig once a month, and people came in and spent money like this, that would more than cover the outstanding bills and overhead. Maybe people would want to keep stopping by on nights hewasn’t singing just to hang out or to see what was happening. Visions of dollar signs danced in my head.
Happiness was coursing through my veins, and I turned up the music on the stereo, dancing and singing along with Doyle as we made drinks, skipping and yelling along to the music together. I glanced up, and Lee was watching me from across the room, completely still, guitar in his lap, eyes lit up like midnight stars.?
“Y’all are really as close as they say, huh?” Janelle was sitting at the end of the bar, and I leaned over her to hand a couple of whiskey sours to the group behind her.?
I finally looked her over for the first time. She was, without a doubt, absolutely stunning. Her long, sheet-straight hair fell over her tan shoulders, exposed in the peep-shoulder peasant blouse she wore. She looked, truly, like someone who worked out hard and took care of herself. She took a small sip of her Tito’s and soda and turned to shoot a smile at Lee.?
“We are, yes. And, as I said earlier, it really is nice to meet you.” I offered her a warm smile, one that didn’t quite reach my eyes if I had to guess. “I hope that you’ll hang around for a while so you can see what it’s like to be a part of this weird, decades-long shitshow that’s become our family.”?
It sounded so odd coming out of my mouth, and I hardly believed a word I said myself, but now that I had my mind made up about where I was going in my relationship with Dane, I just wanted peace. If that meant embracing Janelle, then I supposed I would.?
Doyle came up behind me with the rest of the drinks for the group flanking Janelle. “You absolutely want in on this. I’ve Googled you, by the way. Security protocol. You should think about doing some PR for the bar now that Lee’s going to be part owner.”?
Janelle furrowed her brow and went to respond just as Kasey turned down the stereo. Lee began strumming his guitar, starting the set with “Forever Young,” the song he used to sing to me when he was first learning to play.?
I rushed Doyle to the back end of the bar, away from Janelle.?
“I don’t think she knew that, my friend,” I hissed.?
He opened up a Costco-sized bucket of bar snacks to refill the bowls on the tables, then took a sniff and gagged. “This shit is garbage. Anyway, who cares? She’s here amongst you gaggle of gossipers. She was bound to find out atsome point.”?
We turned toward the stage, and there was a wall of people, backs toward me and cameras up, hollering at the stage.?I stopped and listened for a moment, crossing my arms over my chest, and for the first time in a long time, I let Lee’s voice wash over me. It was instant serenity for me. A calmness like I hadn’t felt in forever took root in my soul.?
Charlie came over and leaned on the back bar with me, putting his arm around my shoulders. He kissed the top of my head with a gentle murmur. “I’m really proud of you, baby sister.”?
“I’m proud of all of us. Look at this team!” Sutton was now up and clearing empty glasses and plates from the tables with a practiced efficiency while Jordan trailed behind her, adjusting the floral arrangements and snapping candid photos of everyone for our social media, his camera capturing the buzz of the evening.
“We love you. We would do anything for you, just like you’d do anything for us.” My brother’s eyes sparkled as he took in the room. “Damn, it is so good to have people in this bar and everyone together again!”?
I laughed, leaning into him and putting my head on his shoulder. “We’re notallhere, though.”?
“Well, the ones that matter,” my brother said, smiling as he looked over the crowd again.?
“I’m going to move in with him,” I muttered, pulling my head away to watch his reaction. The smile that was strapped on his face immediately fell. Lee, who had been doing a good job of playing to the crowd, had slipped up on a few notes, watching our interaction.?
He couldn’t hear what we were saying, but probably the look on my brother’s face gave it away.?
Charlie sighed, shaking his head a little. “Whatever makes you happy, Magnolia. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.” He left my side to tend to a couple who signaled for help, passing by Kasey, who was leaning on the other end of the bar typing furiously on her cell phone.?
“She’s working hard, huh?” Sutton said, dropping empty beer bottles in the bin next to me and setting the empty glasses in the wash bucket.?
“You know, she’s been acting so strange since she got back. I kind of feel like she’s spying on me. Does that sound weird?”
“She’s probably reporting you to the health department. Look at this place,” she laughed, pulling the sleeves up on my floral top she had assaulted herself with earlier to tend to the washing.
I walked over to the next crowd of people looking for another round while Lee struck up a new song, the laid back, rustic melody filling the air and drawing even more patrons toward the stage.
Lee and Ryan played another eight tracks before taking a break. Just as I turned on the stereo to fill in the gap, Eunice sauntered in. She scanned the room for a familiar face and landed on mine behind the bar.?
I scooted past my make-shift staff and went out to greet her.?“Thank you for coming,” I cooed, wrapping her in a hug.
She had herself all dolled up, and she glanced around the room with a wide smile.?“Lord, I haven’t been inside this bar in so long.”?
I led her to the table to the side of the stage where Jordan and Sutton were guarding the chairs with their lives so if any one of us needed a break, they’d have a place to sit. A framed picture of Uncle Cole hung above the table, and she paused to smile sadly at my uncle.?
“If he could see what you’ve done here today…” she started, trailing off as she lost herself to the memories.?
“He would murder me. He’d never let Lee play here, no matter how many times he begged. He’s probably rolling over in his grave as we speak.”?
