“Have you met Cheyenne, yet?” Billy leaned back against the bar.
“No, I don’t think so.” I shook my head. Over the past three hours, I’d met quite a few people, and as good as I was with names, I hadn’t been able to retain all of them.
“You’d know if you did,” he assured me.
“Hey, Red!” Clyde, one of the three “wise men” shouted from the booth in the corner holding up his empty pint glass.
With every round, the trio was getting rowdier and more belligerent. Thankfully, I was well versed in handling drunk people. And this was nothing compared to the handsy college kids I’d had to serve when I worked near the University of Washington or UDub, as the kids called it. Drunk, crying girls and handsy aggressive boys neither of which tipped well and made the entire job not worth it.
Handling the likes of the stooges was child’s play.
I only took one step before Billy handed me the empty pail. “I’ll take care of Clyde, you can go grab some more ice.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, they’re harmless once you get to know them, but I think it’s best if we take this in small doses. I don’t want you quitting on your first day.”
There was no way that I was going to quit. I’d already made over a hundred dollars in tips and I still had three hours left on my shift. And no doubt those hours would be filled thinking about Hank.
I went to the back and after dumping the final scoop of ice into the bucket from the freezer, I did a double-take when I saw Morgan Freeman. It took me second to realize that it must be Ray. Who knew in this small town there would be two doppelgangers? Actually, make that three. I’d served a woman earlier in the night who was the spitting image of Dolly Parton circa 9 to 5 days.
Both Cash and Billy had talked about Ray, the man who had been a part of this bar since before either of them were born, with the utmost respect, admiration, and love. He lived in the apartment above and basically did everything from repairs, bartending, security, to zookeeper, looking after whichever mascot there was at the time. He’d been recuperating from bypass surgery so he hadn’t been around for the past week or so.
“Hello, there, young lady. You must be Miss Skylar Thompson.”
Even someone who’d been out of commission recovering from major surgery knew who I was. Small town life was going to take some getting used to. I’d already had my mind blown once tonight when I found out that Reagan York, who was the attorney handling my grandfather’s estate, was engaged to Billy. I still hadn’t met her but from the way Billy’s face lit up every time he talked about her; I was pretty sure she was amazing.
“I am.” I smiled. “And you must be Ray.”
“Last time I checked.” He grinned.
He looked a little thin, but since I had no idea what he normally looked like that might just be his physique. He was also walking with a cane, which again I had no frame of reference to know if that was a new thing or a post-surgery addition. “How are you feeling? Can I get you anything?”
“Oh no, I’m doin’ just fine.” He patted his chest. “Got the ol’ ticker fixed and I’m good as new.”
I adjusted the ice bucket in my arms that was getting a little heavy. I’d forgotten how physically demanding bartending was. The good news was I might drop some of the baby weight I’d been carrying around for the past five years.
“Well, it was so nice to meet you. And, please, let me know if you need anything.”
“Same to you, young lady.” He tipped his ballcap.
As I walked back to the front, I was thinking that there were some people that from the first moment you met them you just knew they were special, and you loved them. I’d felt that way the first time I met Milly, Mrs. Birch, and now Ray.
And Hank, a tiny voice in the back of my head piped up.
The ice crashed into the steel bin as I tipped the bucket then set it to the side to help a new face that was seated at the bar. He looked familiar, but I couldn’t put my finger on who he reminded me of or where I’d seen him.
“What can I get for you?”
“Can I get a Hanky Panky, Fountain of Youth, Death in the Afternoon, Horsefeather, Cameron’s Kick, Bijou, Corpse Reviver, and a White Lady please?”
I froze in place, complete deer in the headlights, and my brain processed what had just been ordered about as well as that poor animal two seconds before it goes splat. Maybe math wasn’t going to be the hardest part of this job.
“No problem.” I smiled and went back to my training. Take it one drink at a time. Don’t get overwhelmed. Besides memorizing all of the prices, I’d also committed to memory all of the specialty drinks. Which was a good thing because he’d just ordered damn near all of them. “You said Hanky Panky, Fountain of Youth, Death in the Afternoon, Horsefeather, Cameron’s Kid, Bijou, Corpse Reviver, and a White Lady, right?”
“He’s messin’ with you.” Billy slid behind me carrying several pints. “Skylar meet Jimmy the youngest and most annoying Comfort.”
Ah, that is why he looked familiar. There was a picture of Hank and his siblings hanging behind the bar.