Tangling Hearts

140. Brendan

Chapter One Hundred Forty

brENDAN

W hen do I start getting tired of looking at her? I hope never.

“ M anny, since my wife won’t get me another beer, would you?”

Annie hears me from where she’s standing down the bar, wiping her wet hands on a long, black skirt, her halter (that I shouldn’t have told her to wear; she looks way too sexy) is nearly bursting at the seams from our baby and those amazing breasts he’s brought with him. Rolling her bright blue eyes, she calls over with fake annoyance, “I reserve the right to refuse service to people who don’t understand the allure of a dinner at home. You know, with vegetables or something.”

“Guinness has a lot of vitamins and minerals in it,” I argue with mock-seriousness. She casts her eyes away with a shake of her head, her long hair swaying in a high ponytail. She’s trying to get rid of me. She’s tried everything. Even the tactic where she exclaimed how boring it must be to stare at her. I just married the girl a few months ago.

Staring at her is all I want to do. Especially tonight.

“Stop looking at me like I’m dinner and go get some! You’re starving!” To the couple sitting at the bar in front of her, she says, without even a hint of humor, “That’s my brother. He’s got a thing for me.”

They look over, wondering if she’s kidding. I laugh it off, “Nice! Nice tactic, honey.”

She grins and leans forward to tell them, “I’m just kidding. He’s my shrink.”

I hold up my ring finger with my elbow firmly planted on the bar counter. “Can you believe she married her shrink?” They smile awkwardly, clearly not knowing what to believe. Turning my attention to Manny as he sets down a chilled pint glass, I throw up my hands. “Now there’s a friend!”

“Sorry Boss,” he shrugs as she glares at him like he’s dead meat. Manny makes a rounded motion in front of his stomach as soon as she looks away, shaking his head as I grin and take a sip.

“Don’t let her see you do that. She’s a little sensitive lately. And today she finally blamed me for her condition. It has begun.”

With guy-to-guy mockery, he sings, “You guys are so cute.”

“Since Mark’s not here, I’ll tell you : Shut it.” Manny laughs and leaves as my wife returns. In passing, she swats his shoulder and he grabs it, pretending like that hurt. With another roll of her eyes, she looks from him to me with pursed lips.

To avoid her, I take another sip, wiping my lips as I look around the room. The conversation is so loud, you can’t even hear the holiday music well enough to discern who’s playing. “Busy tonight. You’d think these people would all be home for the holidays. I mean, what the hell?”

She sighs, landing her palms on the counter. “Brendan, seriously. Go home. I’m fine. Come back and get me when we close.”

Focusing very hard on taking a sip and making a loud appreciative sound, I lay the pint on a coaster that has Santa Claus on it. “Nice coaster. Did you buy these or did one of the brewing companies send them to you?”

“Brendan!”

Manny calls over, “Barb’s son is here!”

I twist in my chair. “Barb! This way!”

After Annie waves them over, she says in a voice only loud enough for me to hear, “At least you won’t be sitting alone anymore. Seriously, this can’t be any fun!”

“I’m having a great time,” I smile, getting up to give Barb my chair.

Barb calls out with her usual flare, “Sorry we’re late! Andy wanted to take me to dinner. Isn’t he a sweetie?” She pats his cheek, her wild, curly hair framing a proud maternal smile. His hair is a lot like hers, which makes Annie and I share an amused smile.

“Hi Andy, I’m Brendan and this is my wife, Mrs. Clark. Stop looking at her chest.”

Annie’s jaw drops and she makes a shocked sound. Andy blushes, his twenty-two year old face spreading into a grin as she thrusts out her hand to him. “I’m Annie. Don’t listen to him. He’s in a mood. I’ve heard so much about you!”

Barb climbs onto the barstool and points to the far end of the bar, nearer the patio. “That’s where I normally sit! Oh, honey! You put up decorations!” She spins around taking in the silver orbs and garland strewn around the tops of the walls and on the backs of the booths. There are little white lights strewn through the iron gates that lock down the patio, as well as a strand lighting up the bottles behind Annie. “It’s charming! So unlike you!”

Annie gestures to Manny who’s pouring a beer from the tap, beside him are several waiting empty glasses lined up ready to be filled next. “ He did it today while Brendan and I were home. Surprised me! Isn’t it sweet?”

“I think you should keep the lights year ‘round.” Barb leans over the bar and cups her hands by her mouth, her sharp, red nails glinting in the light. “Manny! You’re a prince! Can I take you home with me? You’ll be my gift!”

He flashes a grin and calls back, “My girl wouldn’t be too happy about that, Barb!” Mercedes smiles shyly from where she’s sitting nearby with a girlfriend.

Barb calls, balls out. “She can come! I can handle a ménage!”

“Barb!” Annie laughs, shaking her head.

The crazy gypsy claps her hands over her mouth. “Oops! Sorry! It’s Christmas!”

Andy is clearly used to this behavior. His mom glances to him. “You okay to stand, honey?”

“Of course, Ma. Don’t worry about it.”

Barb pats his cheek again, glowing with pride

“What’re you having?” Annie smiles, and I can tell by the look in her eyes that she’s thinking of our son, and what it will be like to be a mother, herself.

It’s interesting how you see things differently when a baby is on the way. Normally I’d look at Andy and see a college kid and think nothing of it. But now, seeing him with Barb, it makes me think of my son going to college. Especially since Andy has dark hair like I have. It’s not hard to make the jump, imagining what it will be like to see my son coming home to visit. Him telling us about a girl he’s met, asking if she can come. Telling us he’s decided who he wants to be, what drives him, and hopefully not via a screaming match.

“Can I have a beer?” he asks with the tinge of uncertainty born from inexperience.

“Have you had Guinness?” I ask. “I know in college–you go to UCLA, right?–my friends and I used to try all the beers we could find, to expand our palettes. We wanted to know everything there was, which of course led to a lot of fun nights and very little actual knowledge.”

“How is Mark?” Barb asks, brightly.

“He’s good,” I smile, turning my focus back to Andy again.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to interrupt,” she says, doing it again. “But you guys hung out in college, right?” She turns to Andy. “Mark is this Greek god who’s as tall as a mountain and as delicious as chocolate cream pie.”

“He’s not Greek,” I laugh.

She steamrolls over me. “He may as well be, because it is a Greek tragedy that he wasn’t single so our Taryn could nab him. Oh Lord!!! That man’s body! Sorry, Brendan, but I can’t look at yours since I don’t want to piss off this one.” She gestures to Annie, who’s itching to go get drinks for other customers, but doesn’t want to rudely rush these two. It’s a special night for Barb, and she knows this. Barb waves her spread-out fingers. “But the three of you in college! Oh my! You and Mark and that Tommy guy who–” She sees my eyes change and her expression falls as she realizes her error. With her eyes darting quickly to Annie, she back peddles at the lost smile there, too. “I’m so sorry! I shouldn’t be bringing that name up! I’m so sorry!”

Annie forces a laugh. “It’s okay. They were very cute; it’s true. Excuse me, I have to go.”

With guilt and horror, Barb watches Annie leave to help her clientele. She spins on the barstool to face me, embarrassed at the awkward look on Andy’s face. He knows his mother stepped over the line, but not why or how. “Your mother doesn’t think! I’m sorry, Brendan! I really am.”

I lay a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Hey, it’s okay. Really. I will take the compliment and tell Mark you said he’s a god. He’ll love that.”

She smiles under worried eyes. “Really, you’re not mad?” I shake my head. “Whatever happened to him? I don’t watch the news.”

Inhaling for patience, I glance to the floor. “He’s in jail. There’s a trial to appeal, but I will make sure he stays in there. For good.”

Andy suddenly announces, “Yeah, I go to UCLA. And we just stick to lagers mostly. I’m not really a fan of Guinness.”

Grateful for the not-so-subtle segue, I exclaim, “What is this blasphemy? Alright, how about Stella Artois?” He nods, relieved his changing the subject worked. “Annie! When you’re ready, the boy wants a Stella, and Barb wants…”

Barb calls out, “Red, please!”

“Barb wants red!”

Annie smiles from where she’s pouring a Jack Daniels and coke. “You got it!”

Changing to easier subjects, the three of us talk for almost an hour, with Annie coming back now and again to join in. Around those brief moments, she and Manny tend bar together, with him running out to clear glasses from tables whenever needed. They move fast as the crowd is thick. My wife comes alive during busy nights like these. Watching her grab the cocktail shaker with one hand and jab the air with it repeatedly as she leans in to get another order from the next person, a huge smile on her face, I understand why she hasn’t wanted to give this up. Sitting around at home waiting for Jacob would drive her insane.

My girl’s got an edge. I love that.

But I’m glad she’s come to her senses. He’s arriving any day, and I don’t care what the doctor said, she should be resting.

She catches me looking at her and walks over, picking up a bar towel to wipe her hands on it. As she arrives in front of me, she lays her hands on her round belly with worry in her eyes. “Honey, you look tired.”

“I was just thinking about you needing to rest,” I chuckle.

She tilts her chin. “I feel fine. I rested today.”

Admittedly, I feel tired. Pulling out my phone, I check the time. “It’s eleven o’clock.”

She nods as Barb and Andy watch us, the conversation interrupted. “Yeah, you’ve been here for a long time. Maybe go get some food and come back at closing? There’s still three whole hours to go.”

Glancing around, I consider what to do. The place is still packed and probably will stay that way. Barb’s looking at me like she can sense something’s going on, not sure her instincts are right. I decide not to dampen the mood by sharing what happened to Annie last night. There’s no reason to worry anyone when I’ll be here to take care of my wife tonight, leaving nothing to chance.

“Okay. I think I will. But I’ll be back before those doors lock for cleanup.” To Barb and Andy, I explain lightly, “Don’t want her alone on Christmas Eve.” They smile.

Reaching for a kiss, our lips come together and she takes my head in her hands for a moment, firmly holding my lips to hers. She whispers, “Thank you. It was making me nervous with you being so nervous.” I nod and kiss her nose, jumping back down.

“Barb, always a pleasure. Andy, so nice to meet you.” We shake hands.

Barb holds out her arms. “Merry Christmas, you hunk!” I laugh and give Barb a big hug as Annie watches with a smile.

“I love you!” she calls to me as I turn to go.

Stopping like I can’t believe I didn’t think to say that, I look over my shoulder and meet Annie’s eyes. “I love you so much it hurts.”

She grins and I wink at her, making my way to the door.