Page 80 of Since We're Here
But I keep quiet, because I have a feeling I’ll only make it worse if I speak.
“I didn’t need an assistant brewer. That lad’s driving me bonkers.You’redriving me bonkers. I’m gonna go home and tend to my wife and my dogs.”
“Sean, can we meet tomorrow morning and talk this through?”
“No. Good luck to you.”
And then he’s gone.
This can’t be happening.
“Fuck!” I whisper into my empty kitchen. I glance out at the girls. Erin shoots way too hard at Niamh, who takes a ball to the face. The younger girl bursts into tears. Turtle emerges from the barn and trots over to the goal, immediately nibbling on thenetting, and Erin ignores her sobbing sister and casually strolls over to grab the cup of oats.
I need to get back out there, but first, I pull out my mobile. There’s a text waiting from Cormac.
Cormac
I fucked up. I’m so sorry. I thought your note said ‘raise temperature to 22 degrees Celsius, F1 by noon Saturday’
What’s he talking about?
Cormac
It was in your office. A Post-it on the autumn brew folder. I thought it meant fermenter 1
Me
Ah. That was for the IPA. Must’ve been an old note from February before the IPA brew day
I bite back a retort, when I really want to ask him why I would have changed the temperature on just one of the fermenters when we have identical batches of the same brew.
Cormac
I’m sorry. I thought maybe you were testing something out. I texted you this morning. And called you
I scroll back up and yeah, there it is, a text from ten in the morning asking to clarify the note, then a missed call, then another text confirming what he was doing after not being able to get ahold of me.
I was playing soccer and so totally distracted by my fight with Maddie that I didn’t read the messages from him. Didn’t even notice them, as I only had my text chain with Maddie open.
She was the only person I wanted to hear from.
Me
Sean quit. I’ll be in touch tomorrow, okay?
Cormac
I’m so sorry
I slip my mobile in my pocket and join my nieces in the backyard, plastering on a smile.
“Uncle Patrick!” Niamh jumps into my arms, the drying tears forgotten on her cheeks. “Can you teach us how to be goalkeeper again? So I don’t get hit in the face all the time?”
“Of course.”
What am I going to do about the brewery? About the pub? About Maddie?
Why is everything falling apart?
