AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“It looks like a script from a pharmacy.” I see that the patient’s name is on there with directions on how to take it. “This could be really cool. What if we did the theme from the twenties?” I start getting all the ideas. “You know who is going to love this?” I try not to laugh. “Brady.”
“Oh, he’s going to love this,” my father agrees. “I’m going to go and bottle a few and see how it looks.” He walks out and stops. “Love you, kiddo.”
I smile at him. “Love you too, Dad.” I watch him walk away from me with a vow that I’m going to do everything I can to make him proud of me.
Chapter Thirty-One
Charlie
I walk into the bar just after seven, and see it’s slower than usual, but it’s also a Monday. I head to the bar, seeing Brady behind it. “Hey,” I say, looking around to see if I spot her, but she isn’t here.
The bell from the kitchen rings. “You can go get that and take it back to her,” Brady suggests. “She’s in the back going over the menu for the party.”
“Okay.” I walk over to the kitchen, finding the chef there smiling at me.
“Hello, Mr. Barnes.” He nods at me. “You taking the food to Ms. Autumn?”
“I am.” I pick up the plated burger. “Can I get one also?”
“Sure thing,” he says and I walk out. It’s been two weeks since my parents have been to town. It’s also been two weeks that I’ve been at the bar every single night. I don’t think it’s a secret I’m there for Autumn, but I also haven’t come in the bar and made out with her in front of everyone. Not that I would care, but I know she would. Even though we go to bed with each other every single night, and it’s no secret when I leave her house and get home. I also don’t give a shit if anyone knows, but I want to make sure she’s ready for it. It’s gotten to the point where I’ve even helped out in the bar on nights when they’ve been slammed. Which has surprised everyone, including them. It’s like the black cloud of the Cartwrights has been lifted off them. But I also know it’s because of all the hard work Autumn has been doing to bring in new business. In fact, every single weekend their tables are full, turning them over three times. They are even talking about hiring someone.
I walk into the back and find her with her head down as she writes things on a paper. “Knock, knock, knock,” I say. She glances up at me and looks exhausted. “Brought you food.” She’s been working every single day for the past two weeks. Starting as early as I walk out of the house and finishing sometimes after midnight. Every single night we fall into bed with each other, and no matter what time I try to wake up before the alarm, I never do, and even when I do, she always wakes up when I get out of bed.
She smiles. “Thank you,” she says as I walk around the desk and put the plate at the edge of the desk before leaning down and kissing her lips. “Hi,” she murmurs softly when I let her go. “Is it busy out there?” She motions with her chin toward the door.
“Nah,” I reply, “about six tables. I think he has it covered. Eat.” I point at the plate as she takes up a french fry and dips it in ketchup. “Are you almost done?”
“No.” She shakes her head. “I never thought this party would be as big as it is,” she admits, taking a bite of her burger and then offering it to me for me to take a bite of it. I shake my head, knowing that this is probably the only thing she’s eaten today. “When I brought this up,” she says, “I thought maybe thirty people.”
“How many are you up to?” I ask. She looks at me, and I can see her eyes light up.
“Seventy-seven,” she replies. “Do you know how many people that is?” I try not to laugh. “That’s like a lot. The max is a hundred, so I’m happy it’s almost there.”
“Where are you going to put them all?” I ask and her whole face now lights up.
“We are going to close the bar for the day and do welcome cocktails in the bar. Then I’m going to have one side of the room cleared out and, on the other side, fit long tables down one wall to do a tasting menu. We are going to offer them chances to walk around. I want to get some of the pictures from back in the day set up all around with little facts about the company.”
“You did this?” I ask, shocked about how creative she’s been. “All these ideas?”
“Yes.” She laughs as she takes another bite of her burger. “I’ve been going crazy trying to get all the things here, and everyone, of course, is likecash onlysince we’re behind on some accounts, but we're catching up,” she says, avoiding my eyes. “Thankfully, I have some money left, but it’s all gone after this.” She takes a deep breath. “The next step is probably selling the house.” She trails off, and I get angry. “That’s like the last thing I want to do. I don’t think I’m going to have to do it. Business has picked up so much, but I can see the sky from under the water.”
“Your father isn’t going to let you sell your house,” I say, trying not to sound angry or tense.
“My father isn’t going to know.” She shrugs. “I have to do what I have to do, Charlie. He’s not getting better, and I can’t have anything happen to him and have him, you know…” She can’t say the words. “Worry that we’re going to lose the business.”
“Your father doesn’t give a shit about that, and you know it.” I sit up. “He cares that you are taken care of.”
“I’ll be fine,” she states, not sounding as convincing as she wants to be. “It’ll be fine.”
“It will, baby,” I assure her softly and then look over to see Brady standing there with a plate.
“You order this?” he asks of the plate in his hand.
“I did.” I reach for the plate. “I’ll pay when I come out front,” I say, and he looks at the two of us.
“I think we owe you anyway,” he replies, turning and walking out of the room.
“How do I get a ticket to this event?” I finally ask the question I’ve been dying to ask for the last two weeks since she started talking to me about it. Each day I would wait for her to ask me or wait to see if I saw anything on how to purchase tickets, but nothing.
