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She looks at me. Her face reddens and then she stutters her answer. “We’re… erm… friends.” At the core, that’s what we are, and I’m glad she gave that answer.
“Thank you for your time, young lady.” He smiles warmly. Nellie handled herself well with my grandpa’s questioning. He’s only trying to figure out what’s going on with the bar and my personal life.
“Thanks. Can I get back to work now?” She points to the bar.
“Sure.”
She leaves us, and when she’s out of earshot, my grandpa says, “This business isn’t for you.”
“What makes you say that?” My eyebrows pull together.
“Call it intuition.”
I nod but don’t understand what he means.
Janette brings more coffee over, minus the alcohol. “Have you had time to consider my offer?”
“You can borrow my box for your meeting, but Christopher isn’t interested in investing.” He speaks for me, and I don’t argue.
She glances at me but doesn’t question his words. “Thank you.”
“Tell me about the young barmaid.” My grandpa seems fixated on Nellie, and I’m not sure how I feel about that. She’s not my girlfriend, but I wouldn’t say she’s not significant.
“Nellie lives with her sister. She’s a good girl, but her dependant takes priority.”
Janette has opened the conversation to an area I want to know more about. “Where’s her mum?” I ask.
“She wouldn’t tell anyone this, but her mum is scatty. She isn’t good for either of her daughters. As far as I know, she’s been off doing her own thing for over six months.”
My eyes widen. What limited information I have on Nellie fits with what Janette is saying. Basically, she’s caring for her sister like a single parent. This is a lot to think about, but I try not to show any emotion. I need to process without casting judgement.
We make arrangements for the VIP box with Janette before we leave. Once in the car, we start talking again.
“That was interesting,” my grandpa says.
“Yes. Janette seems pleased she can use your box.”
“I meant the girl.”
“Oh.”
“Sweet Cocktails isn’t for you. It’s too much commitment, and you’re only looking at it on a whim. Nellie, on the other hand, is a real gem. She could be good for you.”
How did he come to this conclusion in so little time? She has someone to care for and she doesn’t have much money. Not that either of these things put me off what we have. “We’re just friends.”
“Whatever you say.”
I ponder over what happened tonight but don’t understand what my grandfather saw. He’s got me thinking hard, though.
CHAPTER Thirteen
Nellie
Two weeks pass with no contact from Christopher. No private messages or late-night visits to Sweet Cocktails. Maybe he’s finally seen us hooking up as a bad idea. Regret dampens my mood, but I try to shut down my feelings. It’s probably for the best. I already liked him more than I should have.
As many female singers have said, I’m an independent woman and don’t need no man. Not even to satisfy my lust for sex. My vibrator does the job fine.
Pushing open the door, I start stacking glasses onto the shelf from the dishwasher. Polly comes to join me, using one of the glasses to make a quick drink of water, which she guzzles down.
