Page 83 of Glass Half Full
I end up with a mouthful of pink hair as she throws her arms around me, but I just squeeze her even tighter, soaking up her warmth. Even with her jacket wide open and her midriff bared to the elements, DeeDee is some kind of sunshine.
“You looking for a drink,ma belle?” She tilts her head toward the bar’s door once we pull away from each other.
“Oh, no,” I stammer. “I was just, uh, passing by.”
She crosses her arms and appraises me. “Well, you look like you need a drink.”
I don’t take it personally; she’s probably right, and besides, DeeDee thinks pretty much everyone needs a drink pretty much all the time.
“Come inside, and I’ll get you a beer.”
She fishes her keys out of her jacket pocket before ushering me through the door, telling a very expletive ridden story about today’s opener calling in sick and forcing her to get out of bed before noon.
“Câlice là, I haven’t opened in for-fucking-ever. Maybe the cooks will make me breakfast when they get here.”
The fact that she hasn’t had breakfast yet doesn’t stop her from motioning for me to have a seat on one of the bar stools as she pulls two half pints of Guinness. She throws a couple coasters down in front of me and places our drinks on them before coming around the bar to take the stool next to mine.
“I never drink this.” She taps the side of her beer. “Don’t they call this stuff a meal in a bottle?”
“I think so.” I chuckle. “What, it’s too early for tequila shots?”
“Renee, I have some standards, you know. Tequila shots are only for after lunch.”
I give her a look.
“Unless it’s a special occasion,” she admits, “but for now, we’re going to have our breakfast beers. Cheers,ma belle.”
We clink our glasses together and take a sip. I’ve never had a beer this early in the day before, and I’m not a Guinness girl by any means, but somehow, the dark, frothy liquid hits the spot just right. Selecting the perfect drink for the moment is another one of DeeDee’s bartending superpowers.
“We miss you around here.”
She reaches over and gives my shoulder a squeeze after we’ve set our glasses back down. She doesn’t pry, but I can tell by the concerned tilt of her head and the unspoken question in her voice that she wants to know why I left.
“I miss you guys too,” I answer. “It just...It wasn’t working out anymore.”
She lifts her shoulders an inch. “You’ve gotta do what you’ve gotta do,hein? I wish it had worked out, though. I’m not supposed to have favourites, but you were my favourite trainee.”
I smile at the compliment, but I can’t hold back my sigh. I can’t disguise the heaviness in my words when I reply, “I wish it had worked out too.”
DeeDee rests an elbow on the bar and props her chin on her hand, staring at me like she knows I’m talking about way more than the job.
“Can I say something I probably shouldn’t say?” she blurts as I’m lifting my glass again.
I’m glad I pause before taking a sip because her question has me letting out a burst of laughter that would have resulted in me spraying my beer all over the bar.
“Oh, Mamma DeeDee, could I even stop you if I tried?”
“Nope.” She pops the ‘p’ while shaking her head. “So I’m just gonna say it. You know I’m bad at keeping my mouth shut. I just...I don’t know what went on with you and Dylan—”
She pauses when she sees my eyes flare wide with alarm.
“Ben là, ma belle, anyone with eyes could see thatsomethingwent on with you and Dylan. You don’t have to tell me I’m right, and it’s not my business to ask, but,ben...I wish you could see him now. After I heard you quit, I thought he would be a mess. I thought...I don’t know what I thought, but this past week he’s been sodéterminé. What’s that in English?”
“Determined,” I murmur, low enough that my voice won’t break.
Hearing about him, being back in this place, smelling the same mix of spilled beer and pine scented floor cleaner that accompanies so many memories of our covert glances and smiles—it’s almost as if he’s in the room with me now.
“Yeah, he’s been so determined. He’s a fuckingboss.Things have been kind of rough with all the new staff members and the reopening and everything, but he’s been whipping this place into shape. I have never seen him like this before. He’s always beenDylan, you know—doing his little radio shows and making everyone laugh, but he has, like,passionnow. Confidence. It’s like he was spinning, and now he’s got a direction...or something like that.”
