2. Chapter 2
Chapter 2
Kai
I leaned my elbow on my open window as I sat in my driver’s seat and watched the Nissan until it disappeared around a curve. “This small town keeps looking up,” I said aloud to the cow standing by the fence.
The cow lifted its head before it let out a soft moo and headed on its way. I chuckled, feeling unexpectedly good. I patted the steering wheel as I cranked the key. “Sorry, Matilda, old girl. You don’t need to listen to those words. You’ve always been reliable and had my back.”
She revved high, then loud, then purred like a kitten. Okay, maybe it was closer to roaring like a lion, but the point was, she was still reliable even after all these years—the most reliable thing in my life—even more so than any person had ever been, including my parents.
I drove back toward town and enjoyed the scenery as the open country, with scattered houses, gave way to sidewalks and houses closer together with cute fenced-in yards. Driving out to the country had been useful. The land I had looked at, five acres surrounded by woods and farms on one side and bordered on the other by the Red River, was perfect, peaceful, and exactly what I wanted. As soon as I could get the papers signed, I’d pull my fifth-wheel camper onto the property, get the septic in place, and start building my dream home. It was time to lay down roots and stop roaming the country. Orlinda Valley was the perfect out-of-the way town to call home and live a quiet life, and since I’d met some of the occupants, it became even better.
Finally, the bumpy road came to an end—the county really did need to make fixing the roads a top priority—and I pulled into the parking lot and into a spot at the front of Jerry’s Pub. Gary, my realtor, better not have been wrong about Jerry’s having the best sandwiches in town. I was ravenous.
Jerry’s Pub was a brick building that had been painted beige. There was a covered deck off the side with tables and an outside bar with a garage door that could probably open up on nice nights to expand the space and let the fresh air in.
I walked through the door and was greeted by country music playing through the speakers. There were televisions on the walls. One was on a local news station, and a ball game was playing on most of the rest. High-top tables and booths were scattered around, and the space was decorated with local high school sports team pictures and jerseys, and artifacts from an old fire station. It was a cool atmosphere, and I made myself comfortable at the bar and opened a menu.
The bartender placed a coaster in front of me. “Hey there. I’m Trevor. Welcome to Jerry’s Pub. How can I help you?”
I glanced at the menu for a second longer, then closed it and pushed it away. “My realtor told me you have the best sandwiches in town, but looking at the town, I’m not sure if that’s a compliment.” I tried to make the statement sound light and funny, but I might not have succeeded, and it could have seemed slightly condescending.
Luckily, Trevor seemed to have a good sense of humor. “I thought you were new in town, and yes, that doesn’t say much as there’s not a lot to choose from, but it also says a lot. Because it’s so true, no other restaurants have ever tried to compete with us.”
Tension left my body, and I relaxed. “Good to hear. What do you suggest?”
“Nico, our chef, makes a mean Reuben. The fries are seasoned and amazing, and we have some great local craft beers.”
“Well then, a Reuben and fries would be perfect, but I’ll just take a Coke.” Though the beer sounded good, I could do without it.
Trevor smacked the bar. “Coming right up.” He tapped on the computer screen, then pulled out a hose and filled a cup with Coke. “Here ya go.” He placed the Coke on the bar.
I took a sip and leaned back on the stool to have a better look around. The pub had a typical American small-town vibe. There was an entire wall dedicated to Orlinda Valley High School sports, and another with the University of Tennessee orange decorating the area. It was relatively empty, but seeing as it was just one o’clock on a Saturday, it wasn’t surprising.
There was a group of older men in a corner booth laughing and cutting it up. There were four teenagers, two boys and two girls, at another table. I sipped my Coke as I watched them. I tried to decide if they were on a date or just hanging out, but I gave up.
“Here ya go. One Reuben and fries.” Trevor placed the basket of food on the bar. “Can I get you anything else? Ketchup, Tabasco?
“Here’s a weird question, but could I have a side of mayo and some Tabasco?”
“Not weird at all. Be right back.” Trevor pounded on the bar again, disappeared behind the double doors, and quickly reappeared with a small bowl of mayonnaise and the hot sauce.
“Thanks.” I shook the Tabasco sauce into the mayonnaise, stirred it with a fry, and ate it. My mouth was accosted with flavor. “Damn. Those are some amazing fries.”
“Right,” Trevor agreed. “And I’ve gotta say, you’re the first one I’ve seen do that.” He pointed to the mayo and Tabasco concoction. “I’ve mixed that combo together for years and have gotten some strange glares. Until they try it, of course.”
“Nothing’s better.” I dipped another fry into the mayo and popped it in my mouth. Delicious.
“Let me know if you need anything else,” Trevor said as he refilled my glass.
“There is something else. Can you tell me if there’s anyone in town needing a handyman? I’ve got full-time work, but really want to keep myself busy and can do all types of home repair and small remodeling jobs.”
“You know what? Shear Perfection, the hair salon just across the street, needs an addition. Let me make a call and talk to Diane and Kaye.”
“That’d be great. Thanks.”
By the time I was finished eating, I had a meeting with Diane and Kaye, the owners of Shear Perfection. It sounded like a simple addition. They just needed a storage area turned into additional shampooing stations. I didn’t think it would be difficult or take too much time.
“Thanks, Trevor. You were right. The food was delicious.” I handed him my card to pay for the meal. “And thanks for the reference to the salon.”
“Glad you enjoyed it, and not a problem at all,” he said. “Don’t want to pry, but do you have a wife or kids who’ll be joining you in town?”
“Nope.” I shook my head. “Just me. I’m hoping to settle down, build a house, and see what happens.” I placed my card back in my wallet. “What do you do for fun around here?”
“You’re looking at it. Friday and Saturday nights, this place gets full. You should stop back by tonight. The cornhole competition starts, and it can get competitive.”
My brows shot up. Cornhole was the weekend fun. “Sounds interesting.”
Trevor laughed. “Yeah, the expression on your face says otherwise. If you don’t come for cornhole, come for the females. We have quite a nice group of single women in this town.”
I had to agree. If Kora was any indication of the type of women occupying the town, I was looking forward to getting to know them. Maybe Kora would show up. I wouldn’t mind seeing her again.