Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
Austin
It’s the day of the bar’s soft reopening, and in a few hours, Bowman’s will be full of people again—just like it was always meant to be.
The thought has me rolling out of bed with a smile on my face.
Making the most of the calm before the storm, I whip up a cooked breakfast of scrambled eggs on toast, enjoying it in silence at the kitchen table.
I’m meeting Dev for a run before he’s due to teach his first swimming class, but I’ve got plenty of time before I need to get ready.
I take my time watching birds fly to and from the feeder my neighbours have set up on their front lawn.
The sky’s a pale grey, but we’re not due any rain until much later tonight, so I shouldn’t have to worry about bad weather putting people off coming out to Bowman’s this evening.
Smoothing a hand over my short beard, I begrudgingly admit it doesn’t really matter that Cassie crashed into the beer garden.
If the weather forecast is anything to go by, everyone will be driven inside by the rain long before closing.
Still, I’m glad the fence panels arrived in time for me to fix up the most obvious damage to the outdoor seating area before today, even if it’s likely to go unused tonight.
Hopefully the weather will be better next Saturday.
We’re expecting a crowd tonight since we’re running special offers on food and drinks all week while the team gets used to the new menus, but the grand reopening is going to be on another level.
I even booked a band to play—adding frequent live music is just one of many changes I’ve made to help make Bowman’s the place to be again.
After cleaning up my breakfast things, I pad through to the living room and take a seat on the large navy corner sofa.
It’s one of my more extravagant purchases for the house, but I’m a big guy and I don’t see the point in having a sofa if there’s not enough room for me to spread out on.
Admittedly I thought I’d have someone to spread out and cuddle with by now but with how busy I’ve been revamping the bar it’s probably for the best that I’m still single.
I’ve barely had time for my friends, let alone a romantic relationship.
I’ve just switched on my laptop to search for more local musicians to book for Bowman’s when my phone rings, my sister’s name appearing on screen.
“Hey, what’s up?”
“Don’t ‘what’s up’ me,” Aria says, doing a poor imitation of my much deeper voice. “Today’s the big day! How are you feeling?”
“You remembered.” I’m pleased she’s called to check in, and the corners of my lips tilt up into a small smile even though she’s not here to see it.
Aria scoffs. “Of course I remembered—it’s all you’ve talked about for months. So, are you excited?”
“I’m… optimistic. We had a bit of an incident last week that threw me, but I got everything back on track. The staff training day went well, and this week is all about ironing out any remaining wrinkles before the big party next Saturday.”
“Fair enough, but please try to enjoy yourself at least a little bit. You’ve worked so hard for this. Don’t get so caught up in the finer details that you lose sight of what you’ve already achieved.”
Swallowing around a lump of emotion, I reply, “I won’t—thank you.”
Having my sister’s support is a fairly new development, and it’s something I’m still adjusting to.
It’s taken us some time to get here, but now that she knows I don’t resent her for leaving Pine Grove and I know her leaving had nothing to do with her not wanting a relationship with me, we’re in a much better place.
Since she came for her first proper visit in years last summer, we’ve been repairing our frayed sibling bond, and both of our relationships with Mum have improved immensely too.
It’s amazing what a real, honest conversation can do.
I only wish we’d all sat down and talked sooner.
“Good. Alright, I need to get going. Toby’s got a friend coming over this afternoon. I promised we could bake cupcakes together, but I just checked and we’re almost out of flour, so now I have to brave the supermarket on a Saturday morning.”
“Lucky you.”
“I know.” She chuckles. “Try not to stress yourself out all day worrying about tonight—you’ve put the work in. It’s going to go fine. Oh, Eric says good luck too, by the way.”
“Thanks.”
“Alright, I’m off, but I want to hear all about how tonight goes. Talk to you soon, OK?”
“Will do. Try not to murder anyone at the supermarket.”
“That’s more likely to be Rose, not me.”
“What?” I ask, wondering what her best friend has to do with anything.
“Gotta go. Love you, bye.”
She ends the call before I can catch up to her train of thought, and I decide it’s probably for the best that I don’t know.
Aria and her two friends from university have an incredibly close bond I don’t quite understand, nor do I want to.
She says it’s because they all connected when they worked the same shitty job together, but I think it’s got more to do with the fact that they’re all creatives in different ways.
From what I’ve gathered, their trio has only grown closer since they all graduated, and now that Aria’s with Eric, she and Rose are pretty much family, seeing as Rose married Eric’s younger brother last year.
Rather her than me. I love my friends, but I can’t imagine becoming part of any of their families—they’d be even more up in my business than they already are.
* * *
To my immense relief, the soft reopening of Bowman’s is going smoothly.
The kitchen team has been a little slower getting orders out than I’d like—the same goes for the bartenders making the new cocktails—but that will come with more practice.
It’s what this week is all about—ironing out the creases before the grand reopening next Saturday.
Everyone’s aware that the next few days are a bit of a trial run for us, which is why meals and cocktails are half price all week.
People are much less likely to complain about slightly slower service when they’re getting a bargain.
It’s also a great way to encourage folks to try the new menu items so they can help spread the word about all the exciting new options before Bowman’s is officially back.
There’s a surprisingly large crowd, given that we’ve made it clear the big party isn’t until next week.
My chest squeezes at how the community has come together to support my taking over the family business.
We lost a few customers because we let the business grow stale and—though I never admitted as much to Mum—I worried the turnout would be low even after all the work I’ve done to breathe new life into Bowman’s.
“It seems like everything is going smoothly. You’ve done a wonderful job, Austin,” Mum says, lightly squeezing my arm in support.
“Thanks for trusting me.”
She nods. “I’m sorry it took me so long to hand over the reins. I know that was frustrating for you.”
It was. Sometimes I felt like I was fighting an unending uphill battle trying to keep the place going.
I never resented the assumption that I’d stay in Pine Grove to take over Bowman’s, but managing the place while Mum prevented me from making any significant updates really put a strain on our relationship.
She continues, “I let my fear that there wouldn’t be a place for me here after all the changes you wanted to make hold us all back.”
“Hey, none of that,” I say, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. We’ve already had the tough conversations, and I’m ready to leave that rough patch behind us. “Tonight is a new beginning, but you’ll always be a part of Bowman’s. Everything I know about how to run this place I learned from you.”
“I think you taught yourself a few things too, but I appreciate the sentiment.” A customer in her section catches her eye. “Duty calls. Try to enjoy the night, son.”
I watch her leave, then scan the bar for anything that may need my attention, my gaze snagging on a few familiar faces.
The guys are all here, and I noticed that the group of women Mei often hangs out with has made an appearance as well.
Cassie stops to say a quick hello to Gem, surprising me until I remember they’ll have met through Gem’s garage.
Jamie is looking a little flustered where he’s working behind the bar, so I make my way back over there to help.
By the time closing hits, everyone is exhausted, but most are still smiling.
The only obvious hiccups I noticed were Cassie dropping a plate and Molly getting someone’s drink order wrong.
Before the shift started, if I’d had to pick one person whose attitude was going to cause me problems, I would have guessed Cassie, but I’m begrudgingly impressed with how she handled her mistake.
She immediately cleaned up the mess, put in a replacement order with the kitchen, and brought a complimentary portion of fries to the table with her when she went over to explain what happened.
Nobody kicked up a fuss, and the fresh meal was delivered shortly afterwards.
Unfortunately Molly did not handle her mistake anywhere near as well.
She argued with the customer, saying they hadn’t asked for a mojito before eventually admitting she was in the wrong and putting in an order for the correct drink with Jamie at the bar.
I have no idea whether the customer misremembered or not but the way Molly argued back was unacceptable.
I’ll need to have a word with her about her attitude.
Hopefully she was just overwhelmed because this was her first shift, but I’ll need to keep an eye on her to make sure there aren’t any more issues.
“Great job tonight, everyone. Get home safe,” I say, unlocking the front door to let everyone out.
Gentle congratulations on a successful evening quickly turn to grumbles as the team steps out into the rain.
It’s coming down heavily enough that the opposite end of Bowman’s small parking area is obscured.
Hoods are raised, and umbrellas opened around me as I turn to lock the front door of the bar behind me.
Moments later I cross the car park towards the shelter of my SUV, pausing when I notice Cassie striding out with a determined look on her face.
Surely she’s not planning to walk back to the B&B in this weather?
Then again, I’m painfully aware that she doesn’t have access to her car right now.
A heavy sigh escapes me as I prepare to make an offer that I’m positive I’ll regret.
* * *
Cassie
“Are you planning on walking home? It’s late.” Austin asks, brow furrowed. Is he… concerned? For me?
“No car, remember?” I reply with a wry smile.
It’s not like I’d walk back to the B&B if I had another option.
I thought Bailey had been exaggerating when she warned me how much my feet would hurt after my first few shifts.
After all, I’m used to running and dancing around an arena stage in heels for hours.
Compared to that, how bad could one eight-hour shift as a server be?
Turns out she was right and I was wrong. My feet are killing me.
Austin’s mouth flattens into a grim line before he turns his back on me. Right, probably shouldn’t have reminded him I drove into his outdoor seating area. I’m about to continue walking in the miserable, icy downpour when his gruff voice stops me in my tracks. “Get in.”
Too used to living in the states I thought he’d been walking towards the driver’s side door so he could leave, but here the driver sits on the right. Austin’s holding open the door on the left side of the car—the passenger side—with an expectant look on his face.
“Me?” I ask, looking over my shoulder to make sure there’s not someone else there.
All I see is a handful of other employees getting into their own cars.
Everyone but Molly is completely oblivious to our interaction—she’s staring daggers at me from across the parking lot.
For fuck’s sake, it’s not like I asked Austin for a lift.
As if. Until two minutes ago, I’d have said Austin wouldn’t pour water on me if I were on fire—he’s literally the last person here I’d consider asking for a ride.
His emerald-green eyes roll skyward as though he’s asking a greater power for the strength to deal with me. “Yes, you. Unless you want to walk back to the B&B in the rain?”
“No, I’m surprised, that’s all.” I scuttle over before he can change his mind. “Thanks,” I say once I’m settled in the passenger seat.
Austin closes the door with a grunt. Oh good, he’s not had a complete personality transplant. I was beginning to worry.
Austin folds his large frame into the driver’s seat, then buckles in. “You dropped a plate tonight. I was—”
I cut him off with a groan. “If you only offered me a ride so you can scold me, I’d rather walk,” I say, fumbling to unbuckle my seatbelt.
Austin reaches out to stop me, laying one large hand over mine. “That’s not what I was doing. What I was going to say before you interrupted me was that I’m impressed with how you handled the situation. Explaining what happened quickly and offering free fries was the right move.”
My annoyance leaves me as quickly is it arrived, and I deflate. “Oh. Well, thanks.” Then, because I don’t know when to shut up, I add, “I didn’t have you pegged as the type to hand out compliments.”
“Maybe that’s because you’ve not done anything worth complimenting since we met.”
Rude. I mean, he’s got a fair point, but still. I’m not used to people being so blunt with me. Usually everyone around me is tripping over themselves to make me happy. This is kind of fun.
“What are you smiling about?”
I wipe the stupid grin off my face. “Nothing. So, are you driving me back to the B&B, or are we going to sit here bonding all night?”
Predictably, he scowls, then starts the engine and pulls out onto the road without another word. Yep, no kind of about it, this is definitely fun.