“What am I to do then?” Caitlin asked, as she scooped her mane of red hair high on top of her head and twisted it into a messy bun. The bun lopped slightly to the left, unable to support its own weight.
“You are to help him of course, teach him the ways. Be sure to keep things running smoothly out here.” Her dad gestured to the bar and dining tables where soon dozens of couples would shuffle in seeking shelter from the fall rain.
“So essentially you have taken my inheritance from me. Hired a man to replace me, and will have me be a barmaid, entertaining guests.”
“Rory, I do apologize for my daughter’s behavior,” Noah said, his face flushing with humiliation.
“Not at all,” Rory said with a shake of his head. “She’s always been spirited.”
“I apologize, Rory. I really do.”
“Apology accepted,” he said as he sized Caitlin up. “Despite the inconvenience of it all, I do admire strong women. It’s one of the things I love about my wife. She’s quietly strong.”
“Oh yes, Maryella is a wonderful woman for sure. It's no wonder that Sophie has turned into such an incredible young woman. I only wish my own Margaret were here to see it.”
“Of course,” Rory said solemnly, nodding his head to convey that he understood the deep pain and loss his friend had experienced.
“So,” Caitlin said, her voice careful, “When does he begin? How long will he stay?” She cast a wary glance over her shoulder expecting to see his windswept hair appear at any moment.
“He starts tonight.” her father said, pulling her from her thoughts. “And he will stay until I decide he has learned enough.”
The rage built within her like a storm from the Atlantic, and she decided that it was better to remain silent. Taking off her apron and dropping it on the counter she strolled past the two men toward the exit.
“She'll be all right,” came her father's comforting voice as she strode toward the door and grabbed it open. “She just needs time.” Caitlin slammed the door behind her cringing apprehensively at the way the glass shuddered in the door. She would hate to break the place that she loved. She was only human, wasn't she? Shoving her hand in her back pocket, Caitlin grabbed her phone and quickly dialed the one person she hoped would understand.
“Hey, Sophie,” Caitlin relaxed some as she heard the familiar feminine voice.
“Hey, how are you?” Sophie asked and Caitlin stared up at the stormy sky, barely covered by the roof.
“Not great,” Caitlin said through gritted teeth.
“Oh, I thought you’d be happier after spending time with the American, he seemed pretty nice. You seemed pretty happy.”
Caitlin was surprised that she had temporarily forgotten about the American to focus on her own problems at home. ‘Yes, things were fine.”
“Are you gonna see him again?” Sophie asked.
“Yes.” The faint sound of dishes clattering reminded Caitlin that Sophie was likely at work. “Sorry. Soph, is this a bad time? I forgot you might be working.”
“Oh no, it's a good time,” Sophie said. Caitlin glanced across the street to Kelly's, the family restaurant owned by the patriarch, Rory Kelly and his wife Maryella. “One of the benefits of being the daughter of the owner is small indulgences like answering my telephone during work hours.” Caitlin smiled and nodded her head. “What happened then if it wasn't the American?” Caitlin watched as the puddle in front of her grew steadily deeper with each fat drop of rain hitting the dark surface.
“Your brother is going to be apprenticing here this fall.” The words hung in the damp night air as Caitlin waited for a response from Sophie. “You knew, didn't you?”
“Well,” Sophie said after a pause.
“I had a feeling. Dad doesn't tell me these things, you know, but you hear things through the grapevine, so you get a sense of what's going on.”
Caitlin gnawed on her lower lip and squinted in the rain at the hooded figure who slowly made its way through the downpour toward the pub.
“Will it be that bad though?” Sophie wondered out loud. Slow lightning flashed across the sky, illuminating the thick wool coat of a stranger, whose collar was lifted against the rain, doing little to shield them from the wind and wet.
“How can you even ask that?” Caitlin asked as her interest in the stranger grew.
“Well, it's just that the two of you spend so much time fighting, I almost wonder if it's because you like each other.”
“What?” Caitlin sputtered and pulled her phone away to look down at the caller ID. Yep, still Sophie. “What kind of crazy thing are you talking about?” Caitlin asked.
“I don't think it's crazy at all. I think the two of you have wild chemistry and are absolutely mad for each other, you just haven't given it a shot.”
