Page 16 of Lucifer's Hounds

The night goes by fast, with only five customers coming in. I shut it down around nine and Mindy and I have agreed that since there was a meeting early in the morning, we would postpone going out drinking. I’m glad. I wasn’t feeling up to it anyway and I’m happy to utilize the meeting as an excuse to be alone. I only made thirty dollars tonight and knowing that won’tbe near enough money to make rent, I decide that I’m going to ask Kevin if I can crash in the lounge area for the employees in the back of the bar. It has a full kitchen, bathroom, and a couch. All of the necessities.

It’s a long stretch, but maybe he would let me until I figure something else out. I’ll need to pick up a second job. I should’ve before now, but it’s been so difficult to find anyone hiring. I think on it and decide I’ll ask after the meeting tomorrow. I gather my thoughts and formulate an approach. I hate having to ask anyone for help, but my options are limited, and I know eviction is in my near future. Being realistic, I have time. How much, though, I am uncertain. Surely, Kevin will understand. After all, it was due to his business that I can’t afford to pay my bills.

I know that Mindy’s is an option, but I hate to impose on her space. I stand in my living room when I get home and look around. Even though I have made very few memories here, the ones I do have are dear. The place has started to grow on me. I’m not ready to lose it now, especially after I worked so hard to move in here in the first place. Mindy and I have had some great times here, from jam sessions while we cleaned and got the house ready for me to move in, to nights that lasted well into the morning with a few empty bottles of wine. Most of all, I’m not ready to lose the only sense of home and comfort that I’ve had since my dad passed away three years ago.

I’ll pack everything up tomorrow and I can store it in Mindy’s attic. Sighing, I glance around at my things in my small, cozy space. This one is going to hurt, mostly my pride, but hurt nonetheless.

I have been so engulfed in worrying about my real-life problems that I haven’t thought of Cass for the past few hours. Of course, I knew the thought of him would creep back in when the silence sets in.

All I can think about is wanting to be held while I break down and cry over the changes that are coming and for some strange reason, the only person I want to hold me is Cass. The man who disappeared without a trace and didn’t even have the decency to tell me to fuck off.

I crawl in bed, defeated. I’m restless all night and by the time my alarm clock chimes, I feel like I haven’t slept at all. Looking in the mirror, my reflection confirms that theory. I hope this meeting is short and to the point. I’m crawling back in bed as soon as it’s over. I slip into a pair of yoga pants and a baggy t-shirt and walk out the door.

Chapter Three

Iturn down the gravel drive and almost stop. There are men working on the driveway. They’re breaking up the old pieces of concrete scattered throughout and smoothing it down to pour asphalt. Business must not be that bad if Kevin is paying someone to re-pave the driveway. Hell, maybe that will bring in more business.

Mindy and Kevin are both standing on the porch as I put Betty in park.

“Where’s Carly?” I ask. Everyone but me is always on time.

“She quit. She isn’t going to be here,” Kevin says. He opens the door of the bar, and we follow. He stands behind the bar and Mindy and I take a seat on the other side.

“I have a few things to cover this morning before I leave. As you can see, they’re fixing the road that leads back here. I know what y’all are thinking. How in the hell did he come up with the money for that? Let's face it girls; business is dead. And before yesterday, I had every intention of closing the doors. But I had a man approach me with an offer. He had cash in hand and already had the paperwork drawn up. He wanted this placebad.The only thing that would have kept him from buying was the driveway. So, I had a few strings pulled. I don't know why he was so insistent on fixing the driveway, but he was. He said if the driveway wasn't fixed, he wasn't buying.”

“So, you're selling? Great. There goes my job,” Mindy scoffs.

“No girls. You won't lose your job. He's insisted on keeping the employees. Said that y’all are what the customers will need with a new owner coming in and he can learn how y’all do things since he’s never owned a bar before. He appears to be a good guy, a real businessman. We met at his office downtown, he owns a few of the major businesses that handle emergencies in the chemical plants, but I'm thinking he might make you change your dress code. I met him and he was extremely proper, in a suit and tie and these shiny black dress shoes.”

“You're joking. He isn't going to make us dress like that. Come on, Kevin. It's a hole in the wall, redneck bar for crying out loud,” Mindy says, cringing.

“I'm just picking. About the dress code, anyway. I think he will do great things with the place; he's undoubtedly got the money to put into it to turn it around completely."

"We need that. Trust me, my bank account would appreciate it," I chime in.

"So, when does he take the place over?" Mindy asks.

"Technically, he is the new owner right now. We did the closing paperwork yesterday. He's got a lot going on with his other businesses and he can't come in for a few weeks.”

"And what about the parking lot? No one is going to come in with the parking lot like that." I point toward the parking lot from where I’m sitting.

"Those are contractors hired by the new owner and they're going to be your business for the next two weeks. They're equipped with company credit cards and have assured me they will take good care of my bar, as well as my bartenders."

"Is our pay going to change? You should so tell him you're already paying us fifteen dollars an hour," Mindy jokes.

"Girls, girls, easy with all the questions," Kevin laughs. "Here is what I can tell you, the man that bought the place will make sure that you are taken care of, and the business will ultimately pick up. However, I won't be around after today. He gave me a nice down payment and will pay me the rest monthly. So, with that, I'm headed to Fourchon for the next month to do some charter fishing and get away for a little while. I'm thinking I might head up to Memphis after I get tired of fishing."

"You lucky bastard. Must be nice."

"I agree with Lilly. Lucky bastard. Some of us have to make sure this place stays in its former glory, especially since you and the new owner both won't be in for two weeks," Mindy says, sticking her tongue out at Kevin.

"Mindy, you know this business like the back of your hand. I have no doubt that between you and Lilly, it will run smoothly. You girls won't have to open the bar until noon, and you can shut down whenever the construction workers leave the bar at night. The new owner says he doesn't know when he will be in, but he's thinking sometime within the next two weeks,"

"All right. I think we can handle this. So, we don't get to meet our new boss yet? What kind of bullshit is that? We're working for a man that we don't know and he's going to be making changes without consulting with us first. I don't know how I feel about this," I say, voicing my concerns.

"He will be in soon to meet with the two of you. Until then, I'm out of here girls. I have a fishing hole calling my name and I'm finally not stressed out over this bar. Oh, there's going to be another contractor coming in to do some work on the interior of the bar as well. You'll have to work around them." Kevin picks up his things and walks toward the door. "Call me if you need anything, but please don't need anything."

"Don't worry, we won't," Mindy reassures him.

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