“Did you snag a photo of the genetically blessed brothers?” Bonnie asked. She crossed her hands prayerfully in front of her and gazed at True with puppy-dog eyes.
True chuckled. “Yes, I did, although I almost got caught by Xavier snapping the pic.” She’d managed to snag a photo without anyone being the wiser. She dug into her back pocket and pulled out her cell phone. A few seconds later, she was sharing the photo with Bonnie.
“Good golly, Miss Molly. Make sure to text that to me.” Bonnie fanned herself with a menu. “How did you keep your equilibrium with all that testosterone in one room?”
“I managed just fine,” True said, shaking her head. Bonnie was a trip. She wasn’t letting up on this. In many ways her friend was all talk. At thirty-nine Bonnie had experienced a lot of failed relationships and disappointments. But for the past two years, she’d been dating Tucker Jennings, a local who worked at Yukon Cider. Although Bonnie always tried to downplay the relationship, True sensed things were getting serious between them.
“I heard about Hattie collapsing. How’s she doing?” Bonnie asked, her brows knitted together with worry.
“I haven’t heard anything today, but she was able to recuperate at home instead of having to go to the hospital. Turns out she’d skipped meals and didn’t properly hydrate,” True explained. “I need to give her a call later to check in.”
Hattie’s collapse had been terrifying. At her age, and considering her illness, no one should have been surprised. Considering all the hours she’d been working, it was almost inevitable that Hattie would crash. It served as a reminder that Hattie’s health was precarious. True knew all too well that tomorrow wasn’t promised.
A few minutes later, True headed to her office in the back of the establishment. She had decorated the space in bright, cheery colors to offset the occasionally gloomy Alaskan weather. Her walls were robin’s-egg blue with accents of cream. A faux Tiffany lamp with colorful stained glass sat on her desk. She had splurged on the sepia leather chair, but it had proven to be well worth the cost. Once she sank into it, True felt as if she were floating on air.
Northern Exposure had been slow all day, which was a cause for worry, True realized. Lately, business hadn’t beenas bustling as usual. As manager, it was True’s job to figure out why there had been a decline in business and what she could do to turn things around. Hattie hadn’t said anything to True about the downturn in revenue, but as a sharp businesswoman, Hattie must have noticed.
Not the best impression to make if one aspired to own the business. And even though she knew it might not be a practical goal considering the state of her finances, her heart wouldn’t allow her to let go of the dream. True still aspired to own the tavern.
A sudden knock on the door drew her attention. “Come in,” she called out.
Nico, one of her servers, stood in the doorway. With his black mohawk and variety of tattoos displayed across his neck, he was her youngest employee at twenty years old. Sweet and reliable, Nico was an incredible asset at the tavern.
“Hey, True. Someone’s here asking for you. Last name Stone.”
Her heart began to thunder wildly in her chest. “Okay. You can send him back here. Thanks.” Once Nico was gone, True smoothed her hair back and rummaged in her desk for a lip moisturizer. Why hadn’t she worn a better outfit today? The last time Xavier had seen her, she’d looked like the absolute best version of herself.
It’s what’s inside that counts. Her mother’s words roared in her ears.Yeah, right, True thought. She let out an undignified snort. That might be true, but she still wanted to look presentable.
Seconds later there was another knock on the door. Once again Nico opened it and ushered her visitor inside. Her stomach fluttered in anticipation while her palms moistened. She was dying to know what had brought Xavier over to Northern Exposure.
Disappointment seized her by the throat when she laid eyes on Red Stone as he entered her office. She put her game face on and tried not to let her feelings show.
“True, it’s good to see you again,” Red said, nodding as he entered her office.
“Hey, Red. Likewise. What brings you by Northern Exposure?” she asked. Her curiosity was piqued by him showing up at her place of business. Red had been away from Moose Falls for years, and to her recollection, he’d never shown any interest in the tavern. This visit was a bit unusual.
“For starters, I want to thank you for being such a great friend to my mother. As you know, life hasn’t been easy for her as of late.” Red’s tone was far from upbeat. He seemed a bit subdued and more than a little stressed. True attributed his demeanor to Hattie’s fading health. She imagined he might be feeling guilty about being away from home for so long.
True splayed her hands on the desk. “There’s no need to thank me. Hattie’s done more for me than I could ever pay back over several lifetimes. I love her dearly.”
When he grinned at her, Red looked exactly like Xavier. Same perfectly shaped lips. The deep-set brown eyes. Even their expressions were similar.
“So, I’m here today to talk about the tavern.”
Suddenly, True felt uneasy. The tavern was her baby, and she felt very protective of the place. What did Red want to know about Northern Exposure?
“Take a seat and make yourself comfortable,” she said, gesturing toward one of her plush velvet seats. She wasn’t feeling very cordial all of a sudden, but she couldn’t very well snub the boss’s son. What was it with these Stone men taking over?
Red pulled off his coat and draped it over the back ofhis chair. Once he was done, Red leaned across the desk. “Hattie is pulling me into the family business,” he explained as he sat down, “and she wants me to brainstorm some ideas with you to ratchet up business.”
She knitted her brows together. Why hadn’t Hattie come to True herself with this? It stung a little that she’d sent her son to have this conversation rather than broach it with True directly. They had always been so close. This visit from Hattie’s son only served to magnify her feelings of being on the outside looking in, especially now that Hattie’s beloved grandsons were back in town.
“I know sales have been down recently, but I’ve been trying to research the reasons for it.” She was on the defensive now after being blindsided by Red’s unexpected visit.
“Did you come up with anything?” Red asked. “This isn’t an interrogation, by the way. You’re not on the hot seat.”
“I brainstormed some ideas to get more customers in.” She reached into her desk drawer for her notebook. “More dining specials, special events, tie-ins with the Yukon Cider merchandise, wine and food tastings.”
