Page 22 of Dreaming of Dawson

She nods her head and after just a second’s hesitation, she steps out from behind the bar and wanders toward the back of the building. I daren’t risk getting caught with the vodka bottle in my hand, so I wait for her to return, which she does a few seconds later, pulling on her jacket, before she wraps her scarf around her neck.

“What time shall I come in tomorrow?” she asks, heading for the door.

“Shall we say four?” I suggest, although I notice her frowning. “I know that sounds early, but I’ve found it hard to take a break, not having anyone here to cover for me, and I could use an hour to myself just to grab something to eat.”

She nods her head. “That’s fine. See you then.”

I don’t reply, but watch her as she unlocks the door and steps outside, giving me a cute wave before she closes it again. I saunter over and turn the key in the lock before returning to the bar, grabbing my glass and the vodka bottle, and pouring one into the other. It’s the work of moments to swallow down half the glass, and I top it up again, trying to remember what it was I needed to think about. There was something. I know there was.It was to do with Tanner… but I can’t remember what it was… and as I take another long drink from my glass, it all becomes a blur.

Chapter Five

Macy

I always knew I’d be walking home. Even if Aunt Bernice’s car hadn’t broken down, leaving her stranded in Willmont Vale, there’s no way I’d have dragged her out at this time of night to collect me. And the walk is quite refreshing after spending the last few hours cooped up in the noise and heat of the bar.

That said, I enjoyed it.

I’ll admit I was nervous to start with. Not about working in a bar again. Like I said to Dawson, it’s not something that’s easily forgotten. No, the reason I was nervous was because this job matters to me. It might not have been my life’s ambition to work in a bar, but getting this job will mean I can stay here in Hart’s Creek, and although I didn’t intend to make a home here, that’s what I want now… and I want to be able to pay my way. Aunt Bernice hasn’t said anything, but I know money is tight since my uncle died, and it’ll be a relief to put something toward the groceries and bills while I’m staying with her… and maybe even save up for a place of my own, too.

If I’m being completely honest, that wasn’t the only reason I was nervous about tonight’s shift.

Those were nerves of a different kind, though. The thought of working with Dawson was making my stomach churn and my skin tingle. It was distracting, to the extent that I took ages to decide what to wear, settling on jeans and a blouse, simplybecause I remembered how warm it can get in a bar. I needed a top that wasn’t too revealing, though, and when I stood in front of my closet, I had to smile, recalling a woman I used to work with when I was at college, who used to love flaunting her breasts at every man who walked up to the bar. I always thought that was kinda cheap, and chose a white blouse, making sure it was buttoned up enough to enable me to lean forward without revealing too much… if anything.

I put my hair up loosely behind my head to keep it out of the way, and applied just a little makeup before going through to the living room, where Aunt Bernice was sitting on the couch, putting on her shoes.

“Are you ready?” she asked. We’d planned that she’d give me a ride to work, and then go on to her friend Vivienne’s place in Willmont Vale for the evening.

“I am.”

“And you’ll be okay to get home?”

I nodded my head, knowing I intended to walk, but that she wouldn’t want to hear that.

Her car is a ten-year-old hatchback, and once we were inside, she drove out onto the main road, and glanced across at me.

“How are you gonna manage this?” she asked.

“Manage what?”

“Getting to work. I can’t bring you every day. I have lessons most of the time, although I guess you could borrow the car…” Her voice faded and I could tell she was working out the logistics of that.

“No, I couldn’t. You like to go out visiting with your friends, and I’m not gonna stop you.”

She smiled over at me. “Even so, I want you to promise to call if you can’t get home.”

I nodded my head, knowing I wouldn’t. My aunt had clearly forgotten that I wouldn’t finish work until eleven-thirty, or maybe even later… and that she likes to be in bed by ten.

My nerves increased when I got to Dawson’s place, but I don’t think he noticed, and it probably helped that there were no customers when I arrived, so he could show me around with no interruptions. Fortunately, things didn’t stay quiet for long, and our busy evening passed really quickly.

Everyone who came in was friendly… although some of the men were more friendly than others, and it was interesting to see how Dawson moved closer on a couple of occasions, presumably to make sure I was okay. I liked that. I felt reassured by his presence… although the fact that he’s physically huge and on my side of the bar didn’t hurt.

I was surprised to get a call from Aunt Bernice, and to hear that her car had broken down. It’s always been really reliable, and she seemed quite distressed about it. I could hear Vivienne fussing in the background, which probably wasn’t helping. Her plan was a good one, though, not that there was very much else to be done. It wasn’t as though I had any means of getting to Willmont Vale to bring her back, and she assured me the man at the auto shop had said he’d do his best to fix the car at Vivienne’s house, but that if he couldn’t he’d tow it back to Hart’s Creek and drop her off at home on the way.

“It’s kind of him,” Aunty said, “but what am I gonna do without a car?”

“You don’t know you will be without a car,” I reasoned, sitting at the table in the break room. “It might be something really easy to fix.”

“And it might not.”

---