Chapter 16
Bernie glanced at the feed store calendar hanging on the kitchen wall that Saturday morning and knew the time had come to give Nash a definite answer.
Where had the past three weeks gone? It seemed like only yesterday that Nash, Hershal, and Clara walked into her bar, each of them with a different problem.
The six days since Vernie Sue and Marsha had been there had seemed to speed by so quickly that Bernie got dizzy just thinking about it.
She and Vernie Sue had talked on the phone once since her sister had gone back to Fritch, and Bernie figured out really quick that some old dogs couldn’t be taught new tricks.
Especially Vernie Sue—bless her heart! But at least the old gal had turned her venomous bite toward a couple of women in her church and was leaving Marsha and Mary Jane alone, as well as Bernie and Clara.
That was a blessing right there. She and Vernie Sue might never be the sisters they could have been, but Bernie was willing to work with what she had.
“And after all, she lives five hours from me now, and six when I get moved,” she told Pepper as she opened the back door and followed him outside.
He ran off into the woods, and she carefully eased down into a lawn chair, being careful not to spill a drop of coffee from her full cup.
“Everything I can’t bear to leave behind is packed into boxes, so why wait another three weeks?
I called my lawyer yesterday, and he has the papers ready to sign,” she muttered between sips of coffee.
Pepper ran across the yard like a mountain lion was chasing him, stopped right at her feet, and barked.
She set her mug on the ground and picked him up.
“We are going to do just fine in Spanish Fort at the Paradise. I figure you’ll have to be on a leash more than you are now, mainly because in the beginning I didn’t care if one of those squirrels out there in the woods had you for dinner.
But you’ve grown on me, and you are a damn fine listener.
I promise to take you for a long walk every day and not let Mary Jane’s cat claw your eyes out. ”
The dog curled up in her lap and went to sleep. Bernie leaned over and picked up her coffee and took a sip. “I’ve talked to myself so long that I’ll have to be careful when we get settled in. I might tell secrets that need to be buried with me.”
Pepper snored, and she giggled.
“What’s so funny?” Clara asked as she came out the back door with a cup of steaming-hot coffee in her hands. “Do you want a heat up? I’ll go back in and get the pot if you do.”
“No, I’m fine, but I’ve made a definite decision about selling the bar.
You and I just need to visit about your plans before I put it on stone,” she said.
“Sit down and tell me if you really want to stay here or if you are having doubts and want to go to the Paradise with me. If you and Nash are getting as serious as it looks like to me, remember that it’s only an hour to Spanish Fort, and that’s close enough that you won’t even have to call it long-distance dating. ”
“Aunt Bernie,” Clara answered without even a second’s hesitation, “I love you and my Aunt Mary Jane, and I’m glad she and Mama are taking baby steps toward mending things between you. But I don’t want to go with you. I want to stay here with Nash.”
“How serious are things between y’all?” Bernie asked.
“Let’s just say that I’m glad the walls of the bar can’t talk.
” Clara gave her a broad wink. “I’m going to church with him and his grandparents tomorrow morning and the hay barn might be the place.
If you are selling to him, we’ll be living in the same apartment, but quite possibly not the same bedroom. Does that answer your question?”
“Yes, it does, and Madam Fate is telling me to call the lawyer. I’ll discuss it with you kids tonight at the cigar therapy session,” she answered.
I’ve done it, Bernie thought. My first mission has been a success.
***
“Okay, who wants to go first tonight?” Bernie lit up the remains of the last half of her cigar, crooked her finger around it, and took a long puff.
“I believe it’s your turn,” Clara told her. “We kind of hit on our stories after you went inside last week.”
“All right, then, you pretty well know all that I’m willing to tell you about my life, so I’ll just get right to it,” Bernie said.
“It hasn’t been the full six weeks, Nash, but I can see that you love this place as much as I do, so I’m ready to sell it to you.
The lawyer has the papers drawn up, and if all parties are willing for the conditions, we will sign them Monday morning at ten o’clock right here at the Chicken Coop.
Everything will be transferred at the signing.
Insurance on the place is paid up until January first of next year, and that will be included in the sale. ”
“Fantastic,” Nash said. “I’ll be here with my checkbook.”
“Not so quick!” Bernie said sternly. “I said we would make the transfer if all parties were willing for the conditions, and you didn’t even ask me how much I wanted for the building, land, and business.”
“I don’t care about the cost. If I don’t have enough in my savings account, Grandpa said he would come in as a silent partner,” Nash told her.
“I don’t think he’ll have to do that, because I’m only going to sell you half the place,” Bernie said.
Clara’s eyes lit up. “Does that mean you are going to stick around and still own the other half?”
“Sorry to disappoint, darlin’ girl,” Bernie said with a smile.
“No, I’m retiring and leaving Monday afternoon if this works for you kids, right after we make a trip to the tag agency and put my old truck in your name.
I’m giving you the other half, Clara. You and Nash are going to be full partners in this business.
You have proven your worth these past weeks, and I can see that you are happy. ”
“I love that idea,” Nash said.
“But…you’ve done so much… Why…” Clara stammered and then started weeping. “It’s too much, Aunt Bernie.”
“Dry up those tears and just say thank you,” Bernie said and blew out a whole string of smoke rings.
“My favorite nieces would inherit what I leave behind anyway. This way you just get it before I’m dead instead of having to wait.
I don’t want you to ever feel like you are less than anyone on the face of this earth again. ”
Clara swiped the tears away with the back of her hand. “Then thank you. You were right when you said that the toughest pathway often leads us to the place that will be our biggest joy. Maybe not in those exact words, but that’s what I got from it.”
“Good enough,” Bernie said. “Now that is decided, we can get on with our whiskey and cigars.”
“You could stick around until the full six weeks is up,” Nash suggested.
“Y’all have proven that you can run this place, and now that I’ve made up my mind, I’m ready to go.
I’ll always remember the Chicken Coop, but I’ve only got so many years left and a lot to get accomplished in whatever days the good Lord sees fit to leave me here,” Bernie told them.
“Before that signing process, Clara and I will be at the tag agency when it opens so that we can get my old truck signed over to her. After we make the transfer, I’m going to wave goodbye and head to Texas.
Seems only fitting that I was born and raised up in Spanish Fort, and I’ll be going back there to finish out my life.
But what was in the middle, that part from womb to tomb, is where all my good memories are stored.
I’m hoping that y’all are always as happy as you are now, and as I have been while I’ve been here. ”
Nash reached across the distance and took Clara’s hand in his. “Down deep in my heart, I feel like we will be, and thank you for doing this.”
“You are both welcome. I’m going inside now, and I will be ready for church services in the morning when you come by for Clara. Seems only fitting that I tell the friends I have there a proper goodbye.”
“Will you go to dinner with us?” Nash asked.
“I’d be glad to, but I do not want any special treatment.
No happy retirement parties or tears when I leave.
Let’s all just put on our best smiles and wave as I drive away.
You’ll open up the bar, and I’ll be at the Paradise when evening comes.
Unless”—she chuckled—“you have plans to move into the apartment all afternoon and enjoy a little time alone behind closed doors?”
“Aunt Bernie!” Clara’s eyes widened out the size of saucers.
“Don’t tell me you both didn’t already think of that,” she scolded. “On that note, I bid you both a good night. I need my beauty sleep if I’m going to be ready for church.”
“Good night.” Clara let go of Nash’s hand, stood up, and wrapped her arms around Bernie in a fierce hug. “You are an angel,” she whispered softly.
“Not yet, darlin’, but I hope that when I draw my last breath, the good Lord sees fit to give me wings to fly,” Bernie said around the lump in her throat.