Page 99 of Small Town Firsts
THIS ISN’T A GAME
I went outside outof the noise and answered. “What’s up?”
“Hey, Key. I’ve got the graphic designer friend of Zoe’s up my ass. Any movement on names for the cider?”
I tipped my head back, staring up at the rapidly darkening sky. The evening had disappeared into work as usual. “I was just bugging him about it tonight. I’ll push again.”
“Thanks. My sister’s just as scary as my mother. I’d rather not have her yell at me again. She sure is belligerent lately.”
“Planning a wedding will do that.”
He just grunted. “Well, light a fire under his ass. The designer has printing capabilities in house, but we still need time to slap the stupid labels on the bottles and fill some.”
“Understood.”
Most of the cider would be kegged because of the small batch processing, but the bottles would be used for marketing and hopefully distribution in the future.
At the very least, we needed something to go with the distinctive barn owl of the Brothers Three logo.
“How’s it going up there?”
“We’re getting there. Once Ronan gives us the final flavors, Kain will make up our opening menu. They’ve been heads down for days, so I think they’re getting close.”
At least I hoped so. I was also avoiding him because I…well, because I was doing exactly what I had feared would happen. Only it was me, instead of Ronan, with the problem. If there was a wall or table to thunk my head on, I’d be doing that now. Crap.
“Good. I was thinking maybe a soft launch for Hayes’ birthday would be a good idea to test everything out. You know, before our resident rockstar drives everyone insane.”
My belly twisted. Not that I wasn’t expecting all the family to show up for opening night, but an actual family party? One more thing to figure out and plan.
“It’s a good idea. See where the kinks are before the actual opening night.”
“Gotta say, I didn’t even think about kinks.” I heard the slam of a door through the phone. “Laverne ambushed me. I know you have stuff under control, but she’s got a point.”
I’d been planning for every problem since Beckett had come to me about running the taproom. The reality of how close the opening was suddenly crashed in on me. I sat down on the new swing and stared out on the shadowy orchard. “She has a way of doing that.”
“Twenty-fifth for my middle brother. Somehow we managed to keep him alive for a quarter of a century.”
I leaned back in the swing and set it to rocking. The chains on either side barely made a sound. As much as Kain and Ronan drove me crazy, they did amazing work. “Does he know we’re doing a party? You know he hates being the center of attention.”
“What makes it fun.”
“You’re evil.”
“Also the fun part. I had that graphic designer make up a label for his moonshine too. You know, a surprise present.”
My eyes stung. The moonshine had been a passion project for Hayes for as long as he’d been legally able to drink. And before, but he’d done that part in secret. But the bottles always had the simplest label on them. As minimalist as the man who made the dangerous brew.
“He’ll go crazy.”
“Crazier still when I show him the gear I ordered for him to start up operations next year. It will take a long time to get through the red tape for it, but our distributor is interested. So, we’ll let them figure it out.”
“You’re a good man, Beckett Manning.”
“Yeah, yeah. I’m just tired of looking at his puppy dog eyes.”
I laughed. “The Brothers Three Taproom will be ready for it.”
“I know it.” I heard the rumble of Beckett’s truck. “I’m heading home to soak my head. You best do the same. It’s late.”
