Page 3 of That First Flight

I take a seat on the stool at the far end of the bar. Just as I open the menu to see my choices, a nervous energy engulfs me. The hairs on the back of my neck rise while chills run down my spine. It’s something I’ve never felt before.

Everything shifts and I feel on edge like something big is about to happen.

What the fuck is that all about?

“Flora, are you good if I step out for a second to call Mackenzie?” I ask my boss.

“Of course, sweets. You know you don’t have to ask me to check in on her,” she says.

I laugh and roll my eyes at her. “But I do. You know it’s a busy Saturday night. I can’t just step out from behind the bar without asking.”

“We have everything handled here. Go.” She shoos me with a bar rag, backing me up until I’m close to the kitchen doors. “You forget I’ve been running this bar since before you were even a thought in this world.”

I return a smile and nod before stepping back into the kitchen.

Flora and Samuel have been true angels on earth since I showed up in this small town of Roxbury. I came here five months ago with nothing but my daughter and two suitcases to get as far away from the shitty life we were living. I didn’t know this was where I would end up, but I got a taxi from the airport and told the guy to take me as far as every dollar in my pocket would take me.

When we pulled up to this bar, I wasn’t sure how to approach things. The first order of business was to get a job before I put a hotel on a nearly maxed out credit card.

Flora's husband, Samuel, was working the bar that day and there wasn’t a soul in the place since it was the hottest day of the summer in a ski resort town. He greeted me with an enthusiastic hello and the first words out of my mouth were, “Do you have any job openings?”

Looking back, I’m almost positive I made the worst first impression.

I remember Samuel scanning me up and down, his eyes traveling along my exposed tattooed skin, to my luggage and then to my eight-year-old daughter standing next to me. He somehow hired me on the spot. Turns out, he and his wife have been working alone for the last few months and needed another set of hands before the busy season started come winter.

Flora showed up at the bar about an hour later to meet the new bartender working for them. When she asked me where I was staying, I didn’t have an answer for her. I was about to lie but the look on her face told me that she knew I had nowhere to go.

Something shifted in her features as she took in my tear-soaked cheeks while a heavy silence hung in the air between us.

It was that exact moment that these two took Mackenzie and I under their wings. They immediately got us set up in a small cottage on their property down the road later that night.

It surprised me more than anything. In my experience, particularly with the older generation, when people see someone with tattoos, they tend to think the worst possible things about them. That they are taking part in shady business or are completely unprofessional. These two saw me for who I am within seconds of meeting me.

And I spilled my entire story to Flora that night only making them want to help me more.

The small cottage on their property works for us. It only has one bed and exactly one small nook for someone to eat dinner. The kitchen consists of a small counter spot and only the necessary appliances.

Flora invites us over to dinner more often than not, and Mackenzie likes to stay at the main house with them to watch television or play on her tablet. When it’s time for bed, I sleep on the couch and let Mackenzie have the bed because she deserves her own space.

My daughter deserves the world.

I can sacrifice a comfortable bed for a little while if it means a step towards a better future for us. One day I’m going to give her everything she deserves.

All of the hurt. All the brokenness. It will be worth it one day.

“Hello?” Mackenzie says as she answers the phone.

Yeah, my 8 year old has a phone. I bought it for her with my first paycheck here because I wanted a way to get in touch with her on the days or nights I’m working behind the bar even though she’s never really alone. Samuel and Flora take turns with her. One is always with her, while the other is always here with me helping to make sure this bar runs smoothly.

More often than not, it’s Flora at the bar with me.

Samuel has a soft spot for Mackenzie since she reminds him so much of his two granddaughters. Unfortunately, they only see them about once a year because they live in California. He’s the happiest person in any room when Mackenzie is around.

“Hi, babe. I wanted to call and check in.”

“Mom,” she huffs. “I’m fine, for the ninth time tonight.”

I swear, she’s eight going on eighteen. Her sass drives me wild, but it just shows me how strong she is. Stronger than I’ll ever be.

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