Chapter 9 #3
Lucien was leaning with his back against the bar, watching Charlie watching Hellen lead Daisy away. He could sense the worry Charlie was feeling as he watched Daisy get pulled away. “So, y’all know each other long?”
“Few months. We met when I took my son to sign up for her art classes,” Charlie said, still glancing back at the opposite side of the bar Hellen and Daisy had gone to.
“She’s been through a lot,” Lucien said.
“Hellen?” Charlie asked.
“No. Daisy. It’s a shame really. She’s very sensitive and some shit took advantage of that. She won’t admit it, but I can feel it.”
Charlie didn’t say anything, but nodded awkwardly. Part of him wanted to agree, part of him knew there was no way he’d betray Daisy’s confidence by voicing what he knew. So he just stood there and nodded like a fool.
Lucien noticed the change in mannerisms immediately and was about to call him on it when Hellen was waving to them from across the room as she pulled Daisy with her onto the dance floor.
Hellen had her arms raised in the air and was dancing to the rhythm of the song that was playing. She turned to Daisy and forced her arms up also, and Daisy laughed, falling into step with her. Both women had natural grace and their bodies moved effortlessly in time to the music.
“We better go get our women before somebody else tries and I have to remove them from the building. I don’t share well,” Lucien said with a grin.
Charlie followed him through the other couples dancing and before he knew it, thirty minutes and at least six songs had passed. They came off the dance floor, winded, but happy.
“I need a drink!” Hellen announced, still swaying to the music and singing the lyrics to the song playing at the top of her lungs.
“Whiskey?” Lucien asked.
“Oh, yeah!” Hellen agreed.
“Charlie? Daisy? What’ll you have?” Lucien asked.
“Just a strawberry shake. We gotta go. Carson will be ready to go by now,” Daisy said.
“You sure?” Lucien asked.
“Yeah. We’ll do this again some time soon, though,” Charlie said.
“I’m gonna hold you to it!” Lucien said.
“Alright,” Charlie said. He handed him a twenty. “Make it two strawberry and three chocolates, please.”
“That’s a lot of milkshakes,” Hellen said.
“One for everybody,” Charlie said.
“Yeah, you’re right. Make sure you make a good impression,” Lucien said. He placed the order with the girl helping Vince that night, and turned around just in time to catch Hellen with her arms up swaying. He pulled her in and held her against his body as they swayed back and forth together.
“Oh, my gosh! Look who else is here!” Hellen exclaimed as Bailey and Shaun came toward them through all the people.
Daisy turned to see who it was and smiled when she saw Bailey. “Hey! How are you?”
“I’m good. Really good. How are you?” Bailey said.
“Hey, everybody,” Shaun said, slipping his arm around Bailey’s waist.
“How’s it going?” Lucien asked, performing a complex handshake move with Shaun straight out of the 80’s.
“What do you want to drink, baby?” Shaun asked.
“Something light, fruity,” Bailey said.
“Amaretto and Pineapple?” he asked.
“Sounds wonderful,” Bailey said.
Shaun let go of Bailey and stepped toward the bar to order their drinks.
“Y’all been here long?” Bailey asked.
“Yeah, a while,” Hellen said.
“We were at the steakhouse in town,” Daisy said.
“Oh, and that’s where Charlie met Havoc,” Hellen said.
“Oh, yeah. That’d be what happened,” Daisy said.
Hellen shook her head. “God love him, he’s a handful. But he’s a good guy. Most of that is just bluff. He rarely lets anybody see what’s underneath, but don’t let all that subterfuge fool you, Charlie. He’s not stupid by any means, and he’s as loyal as the day is long.”
“As much as I’d love to disagree, she’s right. He’s a pain in the ass, but nobody else I’d trust as much I do him, in the worst situations,” Lucien said.
“Who are we talking about?” Shaun said, turning back to the group with his and Bailey’s drinks in his hands.
“Havoc,” Lucien said.
“Call me crazy, but I like him. He’s a character,” Charlie said.
“Me, too,” Shaun said.
“That he is,” Lucien agreed. “Stubborn Sonofabitch!” he finished on a laugh.
“Here you go!” Vince’s bar back said. “All virgin shakes, right?”
“That’s it! Going home to the family,” Lucien said, accepting the shakes two at a time and handing them off to Charlie and Daisy. With the last one, he handed Charlie his twenty back.
“No, man, let me pay,” Charlie said.
“Not a chance,” Lucien said.
“Well, then give it to her as a tip.”
“Already took care of that, too,” Lucien said.
“Then give her an extra tip.”
“That I can do.”
“Y’all leaving already?” Shaun asked.
“Gotta get home to Carson,” Daisy said.
“Carson?” he asked.
“Charlie’s son.”
“Ahhh, okay.”
“Oh, and by the way, Charlie, this is Bailey and Shaun. Bailey and Shaun, this is Charlie,” Daisy said.
“Another cousin?” Charlie asked.
“Um, not exactly. More like adopted family,” Daisy settled on, smiling, satisfied with her explanation.
“Good to meet you,” Shaun said.
“Same,” Charlie answered.
“Thanks for hanging out with us for a little while,” Hellen said, hugging Daisy, and waving at Charlie as they stepped away in preparation of leaving.
“Of course! We had so much fun!” Daisy said.
“Anytime you want a redo, let us know,” Lucien said.
“Will do!” Charlie called out, waved quickly, then allowed the door to close behind them.