Page 39 of The Bartender Special

Benny and Felicity laughed.

Jack readjusted in his seat as Butler Man dropped two tiny sandwiches onto his plate. Another server appeared out of thin air, like an Oompa Loompa at the Wonka Chocolate Factory, and started at the other end of the table.

Carol looked unamused by her brother’s attempt at humor but couldn't get a word in before her mother jumped in. Mrs. Robertson went back to looking right at Benny.

“And not to keep you in the spotlight, shug, but we were wondering if you're going to be here for the festival…because, if so, we'd love for you two to be in the Sailors and Mermaid Pageant!”

She squealed.

Jack’s brain stuttered at the noise.

That all the time needed for Benny to royally screw them.

“The pageant?”

Arnesha, quiet as a mouse when it didn’t count, finally piped in.

“It would definitely boost exposure for the town,” she said. “We’ve never had any kind of internet fame in Arbor Bay before. It could do us some good.”

“Not to mention give your bar patrons more of a reason to stop in,” Mrs. Robertson added.

Carol swooped in with a brow full of disapproval.

“But, Mother, we're not going to force them to do what they don't want to,” she tried. “This pageant is always the highlight of the festival with or without celebrities attached. We don't need to bother them to make it exciting. Ruby and I can handle that and⁠—”

Mrs. Robertson waved through her daughter’s thought, never taking her sights off Benny. The weakest of them all.

“You've already bared your soul to the great wide web, Benny dear, so what's a little strut on stage going to really do?”

Everyone was staring now.

Jack, for once, was rooting for Carol to say something.

She didn’t.

It was all down to Benny.

Benny turned back to Mrs. Robertson, poor smooshed tiny sandwich in hand.

And betrayed him.

“I—I can't think of a reason why we would say no.”

Arnesha gave a nod. Mrs. Robertson actually cheered.

“This is going to be great!” she exclaimed. “I bet our attendance will double and we might even get more sailors this year to participate since Mr. Knox here is everyone’s favorite bartender. Surely, your patrons will see this event is, and always has been, full of fun!”

Jack decided right then and there that all Robertson women had something about them that forced submission without lifting a finger.

Because Jack agreed with her and even offered a little more.

“I can definitely bring some more guys into the audience, if not on stage.”

Benny’s eyes widened.

Jack couldn’t believe himself either.

He was struggling to get a crowd at Cassidy’s Place as it was. That was the whole reason he had struck the deal with Benny in the first place. Now he was offering influence he didn’t have to get more guys to walk the runaway dressed up as sailors?