An hour later, she was pulling a fresh batch of blueberry muffins from the oven just as the six travelers wandered downstairs. The scent had reached the upper floors, apparently.
“What’s that smell?” one of them asked, a young man with tired eyes.
“Muffins.” Holly arranged them on a plate. “Fresh from the oven. Please, help yourselves.”
They approached the counter with cautious interest. The silver-haired woman took one, bit into it, and her single eye widened.
“This is good,” she said, sounding surprised.
“Thank you.” Holly felt a small glow of pride.
The muffins depleted quickly, and the mood in the lounge shifted. The travelers settled into chairs, their postures relaxing, their expressions softening. But after the muffins were gone, they began to look around expectantly.
“Do you have anything else?” the young man asked. “Something more substantial? We haven’t had a proper meal in days.”
Holly’s glow dimmed slightly. She glanced at the kitchen, then at the bar tucked into the corner of the lounge. “I can offer you drinks from the hotel bar. The first one is on the house.”
“That would be a start,” the silver-haired woman said.
What was she thinking?Holly cursed herself for offering such a thing. She had no idea how to tend a bar.
She excused herself and ducked into the hallway, pulling up Mish’s contact on her wrist comm. The call connected after two rings.
“Holly?” Mish’s voice was slightly breathless. “Is everything all right?”
“Everything’s fine. Well, mostly fine.” Holly glanced back toward the lounge. “I have a favor to ask. A big one.”
“What is
“I have six guests at the hotel. First new guests since I’ve been here. They want drinks from the bar and I have absolutely no idea how to make them.” Holly winced. “You mentioned you were a bartender before you had the children. Is there any chance you could come to the lounge and help me out? Just for an hour or two?”
Mish was quiet for a moment. “You want me to tend bar?”
“Please. I’ll owe you. I’ll watch your children for a few hours one day. Whatever you need.”
“You’d babysitmychildren?” There was a smile in Mish’s voice now. “That’s a generous offer.”
“I’m desperate.” Holly paused. “Wait. They won’t kill me, will they?”
Mish laughed. “No, no. They like you. All right. Let me put the kids in their happy room and I’ll be right over.”
Holly decided, once again, not to ask what a “happy room” was. “Thank you, Mish. You’re saving my life.”
“See you in a few minutes.”
Holly ended the call and returned to the lounge, where the travelers were waiting with varying degrees of patience. “Drinks are on the way,” she assured them. “Our bartender will be here shortly.”
Moments later, Mish bustled through the door in a clean shirt and small basket of fresh fruit from the gardens. Her orange hair was arranged in a precarious bun on the top of her head that somehow managed to look arty. She smiled at Holly, then turned to the guests with professional warmth.
“Good evening,” she said, sliding behind the bar. She made a show of washing the fruit, which was very appealing and added some much needed color and life to the bar. “What can I get for you?”
Holly watched in admiration as Mish worked. She moved with practiced ease, pulling bottles from shelves and mixing drinks with a confidence that suggested years of experience. The travelers perked up as colorful beverages appeared before them, garnished with fruit and served with a flourish.
Holly retreated to the kitchen and began cleaning up. But she kept one eye on the lounge, watching the six visitors as they ate muffins and drank Mish’s creations. Their earlier hostility had evaporated. They were laughing now, talking amongst themselves, looking around the lounge without naked disgust. It was something.
A warm feeling spread through Holly’s chest. This was what Moone’s Landing could be.Shouldbe. A place where weary travelers could rest and feel welcomed.
One of the guests waved for another round, and Mish obliged. When she was finished, she deftly produced a payment tablet and held it out. The guests tapped their currency chips against it without complaint, and Mish caught Holly’s eye from behind the bar.
