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“I know, Riain. His brain never left high school” She sighs. “Thanks for running him off.”
“Of course. Morgan would have my hide if I let him hang around messing with the ladies.”
“She probably would have taken him outside by his ear like my grandmother when we were little.”
“No doubt.” Riain-the-bartender laughs at that, and I can’t help but chuckle at the thought. They both look over at me with smiles.
“Sorry,” I murmur, feeling like I intruded on their conversation. “It was a great mental image, though.”
Deena laughs again. “My grandmother was pretty fierce.” She looks my way, including me.
“I remember Mrs. Pierson,” Riain said. “My friend, Royce, used to mow her grass in the summer when we were kids. He was always extra careful trimming her shrubs, or she’d dock his pay!”
“She would, I’m sure.” Deena grins.
“Gladys was a mean cailleach!”
“Ma!” Riain exclaims, turning to the short woman coming up behind him with a tray.
“Well, she was,” she insists. “Who has the Colcannon?”
I raise my hand at the same time she looks over at me.
“Well, who is this Sidhe now?” She asks.
“I didn’t interrogate her, Ma.” Riain takes the dishes from the tray and sets them in front of me. “And neither will you.”
She scowls at him, but she’s obviously having a fun time. She plays as if to smack him with the tray, but he dodges and grabs her around the waist, kissing the top of her head. She smiles up at him and toddles back around to the kitchen. I could almost feel the love between them.
“She was teasing. She didn’t mean anything by it.” Riain says to me. My face must’ve shown my confusion. “When she called you a sidhe. A fey,” he explains. “A magical creature. Ma doesn’t have much of a filter. Is this your first time in?”
I nod, still taking in the comradery and warmth. Playful hasn’t been a significant part of my life. I’ve watched it between other people, of course, but I've never really been in the center of it until I spent time with James. I liked the way it felt. It’s the main reason I decided to come here.
“What’s your name, Little Fey,” he asks, handing Deena her check. “If you don’t mind saying.”
“Lai,” I tell him. “For Lorelai. I just got into town.”
“Well then, Ma had it right, didn’t she?”
“What do you mean?” I ask.
“Lorelai was a siren in German folklore.”
I laugh aloud at that. “My mother probably knew zero folklore, much less German.”
“It’s a pretty name,” says Deena, handing her credit card to Riain. “I’ve loved it ever since Gilmore Girls.”
Riain smiles while he runs Deena’s payment. “Well, don’t be surprised if Ma calls you a Sidhe again when she learns your name. You’ll be her new favorite and she’ll be asking you for spells.”
“Really great to meet you, Lai,” Deena slides off the bar stool, tugging her purse strap over her shoulder and pulling on her coat. “Welcome to Bearberry. If you get to be Mrs. Kelley’s favorite, you’re a lucky lady indeed.”
“Thank you,” I say, meaning it.
I went back to listening in on everyone’s conversations while I ate. The potatoes were fluffy and the bacon and cabbage added a personality to what might’ve been plain if they weren’t so buttery. The flavor combination was heavenly.
The couples have ordered shots and are almost shouting their “Cheers” and “Slainte”. The older couple have paid, and the gentleman is helping the woman with her coat. The teens are warming to each other, discussing what colleges they had applied to. My ears really perk up when one of the moms mentions a teacher leaving due to his wife’s new job in "the city”.
I am so intent on eavesdropping, I miss the apron-clad young man approaching my shoulder. He startles me when he asks if he can clear my dishes. I look down to find I’ve finished every bite. He takes my dish with a flourish and gives a dramatic bow. He smiles and winks at me. I can hear the quotations dripping with innuendo when he offers to recommend a “dessert”.
