Page 57 of One Chance to Stay
“What a hateful thing to say.” Her eyelashes fluttered, emphasizing the green gems along her eyes. “Never upstage the bride.” The elbow-length white gloves were almost understated. It’d be hard to outdo her sequin body suit, complete with a birdcage in her wig. “Just wait for the Christmas party at the bar. Eight men with leather harnesses will pull my sleigh onto the stage.”
“I expect nothing less.”
“I hope you’re making good use of this little vacation. You know I rigged the raffle, right?” I raised an eyebrow. Her eyes rolled back in her head. “Honey, you needed a break. You’re a wonderful bartender, and you make the perfect Cosmo, but you needed time with yourself.”
“Thanks. I think?”
“I thought you needed a little rest. I didn’t think that’d involve a scandalous adventure. Though…” That smirk made patrons at Spectrum shower her in dollar bills. “I’m proud of you.”
The heat reached my face. I thought a quiet vacation would give me time for introspection. By the end, I’d have my life figured out. Bullet lists on the steps moving forward. Instead, it looked more like a toddler’s coloring book. Somewhere in thechaos, I scribbled the answers. I couldn’t help but smile because of a single man turning my life ass over teakettle.
“So.”
She turned toward me. One leg extended, pausing for a moment before folding it over the other. This queen knew how to move for maximum drama.
“So.” Play dumb.
“So.”
Before I could reply, a gloved finger hooked under my beard, lifting my chin. The bright red lips were pursed, a perfectly tweezed eyebrow traveling up her forehead. Unlike the people of Firefly, Mabel didn’t wait for hearsay; she wanted the dirt straight from the source.
“Which one has my baby bear questioning his status as a heterosexual?”
Baby? Mabel couldn’t be more than a year or two older than me, but she did bring the mother energy. Part of me wished I could point to one of the men and get her read. She’d have opinions for days.
“He went home after the wedding.”
“Tsk. Tsk. Teach me to be fashionably late.” She gave my cheek a light pat. “Why aren’t you on his doorstep with a boombox on your shoulder? If my baby is smitten, he needs to get on board with romantic expectations. Maybe a flash mob? I could get the girls. We have the perfect routine. How do you feel about pyrotechnics?”
I snorted, knowing full well she meant every word. “He’s more of a quiet man. Reserved. I don’t want to spook him.”
“Honey, don’t play that game. If there’s one thing Mabel knows, it’s that everybody wants to feel special.”
I couldn’t help but smile. Holding up the snow globe, I gave it another shake while I imagined us dancing. I agreed with her. I agreedhard. When he squeezed my hand, staring at the deerfood, I hoped he understood his impact. I tried it his way, actions over words, but maybe I needed to rely on what I did best. I wasn’t done prying my way into Seamus’s life.
“Excuse me.”
Harvey stood with his hands behind his back, twisting at the waist like a school child with a secret. He had a smile stretched across his face as he waited for us to acknowledge…herto acknowledge him.
“Harvey, dear.” Mabel offered a hand. He took it and with a sweeping bow, kissed her knuckles. “To what do I owe this pleasure?”
“Would you do me the honor?”
“For such a fine young man?” She got to her feet, taking his hand. Leading him to the dance floor, Harvey exaggerated a parting wink. “Keep your hands north of the equator, mister.”
As fast as the seat emptied, Julie took Mabel’s place. She gave a glance to Mabel and Harvey before looking at me. “Does he…?”
I nodded. “Ever since she started reading to the kids, they love her. The girl has charm for miles.”
“And legs,” Julie whistled. “Consider me jealous.”
Less showy than the wedding party, the newest shopkeeper in town opted for a classic ugly green sweater. When she turned toward me, Rudolph’s nose lit up. She dug around in her boot before revealing a flask.
“You came prepared.”
“Is it wrong to admit I’m a liquor snob?” She spun open the top, ready to take a drink. She paused. “Where are my manners?” Digging into her other boot, she produced a second flask. “Can’t drink alone.”
I suspected she had at least one more hidden underneath the sweater. She handed me the flask, and I unscrewed the top. I held it up in a toast. “To Firefly’s newest shopkeeper.”
