Page 44 of Capturing Hearts

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Annie

2:30 a.m.

“You’ve been counting that same stack for five minutes, and its only twenties.” Manny eyes me. “What’s up?”

Brendan was so obsessed with keeping me safe tonight that I can’t understand where he could be. I haven’t told Manny what happened last night, not wanting to infuse unnecessary drama into an otherwise lovely night. But now my eyes keep flitting to the window, and a frown has begun to rest in my soul. Where is he?

Glancing to answer Manny, I quip, “My husband likes to make me wait. It gives him a charge to see me light up when he finally arrives. Little stinker.” Manny smiles. “Okay, I’ll bite. Guess he wants to make me beg for him.” I roll my eyes, dropping the money and walking to where I set down my phone earlier. “Manny, could you turn off the music? I think I’m done with Christmas songs for the night. Do you mind?” He goes over to turn it off. As I hit the top number on my favorites list, I exhale. Resting the fingers of my free hand on our son, I feel a kick and whisper, “It’s okay, Jacob. Daddy’s okay.” But I don’t know if I believe me. The call goes to voice mail. “Where are you?”

“What?” Manny asks, walking back.

“Nothing.” Frowning deeply, I dial again.

After three long rings, Brendan’s sleepy voice answers, “Hello? Oh shit! Oh no! What time is it?”

Relieved, I smile. “It’s half after two, babe. You must have fallen asleep. Manny is still here with me. Don’t worry.”

Brendan mutters a slew of swear words at himself, then to me says, “I’m so sorry! I’ll be right there!”

Chuckling and happy he’s okay, I slide the phone closed, lay it down, and tickle my tummy with all of my fingertips. “See that, Jacob? Stress makes Daddy swear a lot.” I look over to Manny as he unplugs the sink to let the water drain. “He’s on his way.”

“Great. I’ll cover the bottles with plastic. Okay if I take off after that? Mercedes is waiting up for me.”

“Of course!” I start counting the twenties again, and this time without difficulty.

Manny, happy to be going home, slaps on strips of plastic over all our sticky liqueurs to keep away fruit flies, and by the time he rises up, I’ve counted the tens and the fives as well.

“When is Taryn coming back?”

“Day after Christmas, just like Laura. Why, you need some time off?”

He doesn’t answer at first, so I turn my head to find him pursing his lips with his eyes on the ground. “Nah, I’m cool.”

I rest the one-dollar bills on the open register and tilt my head, concerned. “Manny.” He shrugs, looking up with a smile. It occurs to me suddenly how selfish I’ve been, keeping the staff so small when Le Barré is finally booming. Brendan’s wanted more time with me, and my poor team of three has been working the shifts of five or six. “I’ve been working you hard, huh?” He shakes his head.

“I’ve been making a lot of money. It’s all good.”

“Yeah, but you’re tired. Look, it’s my fault. I feel so close to you guys that I’ve been unconsciously hesitant to bring new people into our fold. But don’t worry. I told Brendan I’m going to hire a male bartender and I think I should really just break down and hire a few more people. Some will have one or two shifts and be there for backup. How does that sound? You three will still get prime slots, of course!”

His wariness shifts to gratitude and he grins. “Sounds great, Boss.”

Turning back to finish the count, I shrug, “You guys are my family now, you know. I love you.” As I get to seventeen, I feel Manny’s arms wrapping quickly around me for a hug. I laugh and turn to hug him back.

“You’re the best, Annie.”

“Hey! You only call me Boss,” I smile.

“You deserved an Annie that time.”

Laughing I push him away from me and he acts like I hurt him, cowering a little as he breaks into laughter and walks to the front door. “Merry Christmas!”

“Merry Christmas, Manny!” I wave. “Oh! Lock the door behind you?”

“Always!” He waves and disappears. In the silence of the room, I can hear his keys locking it from the outside.

Writing down the total on the ledger, I glance to my phone, pulled to call Brendan and see if he’s coming. Now that I’m alone, my heart has begun to pick up speed a little. Will there ever be a time when I don’t feel nervous being here alone at night? Well, I guess with the new plan to only work early shifts, I won’t have to worry about this anymore.

“Calm down, Annie. He’s going to be here any second.”

I start to hum to myself as I close the register, deciding to count the coins when he gets here. I can’t think like this. Glancing around for something to do, the Christmas lights and ornaments take on a strange eeriness that I do not like at all.

Walking to the bathroom to relieve this pressure on my bladder, which could or could not be imaginary thanks to Jacob, I glance to the locked iron gates of the patio to see if Brendan’s car is pulling up. There are only empty parking spaces out front, from where I can see, so I bite my lips and start to the go in. A knock at the front door stops me, and I sigh and call out. “Yay!”

Walking quickly to let him in, I pull my keys out of my pocket and unlock the door. Swinging the door open with a huge grin on my face, everything happens so quickly. A ski mask. A cloth muffling my gasp. I reach for the eye cutouts to gouge them, but the cloth mashes harder against my lips and just as I try to kick, my legs give out and darkness comes.

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