Page 149 of The Bartender Special

It was high heels.

It was Carol Robertson.

She didn’t have a sunhat on, but her attention was, as always, laser-sharp on Benny.

The Queen Bee of Arbor Bay herself stopped a few feet from him.

Marcus stood from his seat and walked past her out of the hall, a revolving door of Robertson twins.

A moment or two crept by.

Benny was just about to break their awkward silence when Carol finally did it for them.

“You were right.”

Three words.

Three words that were more shocking than if she’d told him she loved him.

“You are right,” she continued. “I've been a total bitch to you and to Jack and…to a lot of people. For no reason other than being jealous. Which, I know, is as cliché as you said.”

For the first time since Benny had known the woman, an expression of guilt paired with the pristine make-up applied to her face.

“The overplayed truth is, I've grown up in the spotlight. My family has, I mean, and they…I’m not like them.” She motioned behind her, manicure glinting from the overhead lights, hanging down like curious stars.

“I’m not like Marcus. Or Mom. People don’t… They don’t come easy to me. Even Dad has this way about him that— Well, I guess it’s not important.”

Another first happened right there between the two of them.

Carol looked…nervous.

She grabbed the hem of her shirt and rubbed at it, seemingly finding what she really wanted to say.

“The point is, when you came to town and everyone flocked to you, I was annoyed. But then, when I realized they were doing it because they actually cared? About you? About Jack, the guy who’s never cared about his appearance or his attitude or any of the things I’ve had to care about my entire life? I kind of lost it. And I wanted you to lose it too.”

She dropped her head a little.

Her hair was tied back in a ponytail.

It was a little messy.

“I know I’m just a cliché, the stereotypical mean girl, but I think it’s time I finally start working on it.” She snorted, another first for Benny to see. “I can’t have people thinking I’m boring, after all.”

Carol said she was sorry.

“But I get that coming from me that might not mean much. So here’s some effort to hopefully help my image.” She pulled a picture from her purse and handed it to Benny. “I don't know if you have a copy of this or not, but I found it in my mom's old book club boxes and thought you might want it.”

Benny had done a good job of not crying in public for the last three weeks.

Behind closed doors, maybe not so much, but in public?

He’d done a good job of keeping his emotions pounding within his chest.

Now?

Tears instantly rimmed Benny's eyes.

He had never seen the picture before.