Chapter Four
Aspen leaned against the bar as far as her body would allow, pulling her lower lip between her teeth as she took in a better view of her new customer.
Even seated she could tell the woman was tall, her soft-looking short hair messily styled in a way that taunted Aspen to run her fingers through it.
Aspen also noticed she was lean, barely filling out the flannel shirt she was wearing.
Her gaunt face was gorgeous, soft, and handsome all at the same time.
But it was easy to tell the woman hadn’t had much sleep, the bags under her eyes slightly puffy and dark.
She could barely pay attention to all that, though, finding herself easily lost in the woman’s hazel eyes, the deep green pulling her in toward the golden flecks of brown.
They were the saddest eyes she had ever seen.
“What brings you to Orick?”
“I uh—” The woman fumbled, her eyes flipping between the menu and Aspen’s. “Do you have a drink menu?”
“I am the walking drink menu. What’s your poison?” Aspen asked, her voice coming out far more sultry than she meant. “You seem like a sour kind of gal. Definitely something tastier than a Bud Light, but not overly hoppy like a bitter IPA. Also, I’d love to know your name…”
“Huh?”
“For the order.” Aspen winked.
“I’ve not ordered.” She laughed, finally giving up on the menu. “Do you have cider on tap?”
“For you, of course. Short or tall?”
The flirting fell easily from her mouth, a practice she had honed on tourists since moving to Orick.
But unlike the many women she had made subtle playful banter with before, this one twinged differently in her chest. There was something about this woman that intrigued Aspen more than her attractive butch exterior and adorable awkward vibes.
Aspen was compelled to learn as much about her as she could.
“Tall,” the woman said, finally seeming to relax a tad. “Mo.”
“Mo?”
“My name. For the order.”
“Ah yes.” Aspen grinned. “Nice to meet you, Mo. My name is Aspen. Is Mo short for something? Like Morticia? Or Morgan? Ooh, is it Montana?”
“It’s short for Imogen.” A small smile curved the edges of Mo’s lips. “Why did you think of Morticia before Morgan?”
“The Addams Family is my third-favorite movie,” Aspen explained, picking up the menu. “What’s your favorite movie? Oh, and did you wanna order food as well?”
“I’ve not thought about movies in a long time.” Mo chuckled, her face lighting up in a way that was infectious for Aspen. “And yeah, I’m really hungry, actually. You seem a whole lot more put together than I am, what do you recommend?”
“When I am famished, I get a cheeseburger. All the toppings. With fries. You can never go wrong with a classic,” Aspen replied gleefully, her eyebrows lifting as she waited for Mo’s reply.
Aspen watched Mo look around, taking in the rather slow weekday evening crowd. Nervous energy seemed to come off her in waves, like she was constantly swinging between being comfortable and uncomfortable. Aspen desperately wanted to know why.
“I’ll try it,” Mo finally agreed.
“Ten-four.” Aspen resisted the urge to wink at her again as she backed away slowly, clutching the menu to her chest. “And while I am gone, you can think of that favorite movie of yours.”
“Okay.”
Aspen couldn’t hide her excitement as she skipped through the doors to the kitchen window, happily writing down Mo’s order. Virginia was behind her before she could register it properly.
“Fresh meat?”
Aspen jumped, replying as uninterested as she could make her voice sound. “I have no idea what you are talking about.”
“I’ll finish up the floor tables,” Virginia said, ignoring Aspen’s denial and reaching around her to grab a handful of napkins from the server station. “I think you can handle the now one bar patron on your own, just make sure you get this one’s number before she leaves your bed tomorrow morning.”
“Oh my God, stop,” Aspen whined, putting the order onto the slider. “Order in, Ben!”
“Never,” Virginia teased, ambling back through the doors.
“Oh, by the way, Mr. Pearson forgot his wallet. He’ll pay tomorrow,” Aspen yelled in her direction, following her out to grab a tall glass. “He was very insistent that I tell you. So don’t let him convince you I didn’t do my job properly.”
Aspen poured the cider, her eyes back on Mo, who was fiddling with the paper coaster in front of her.
She wondered why the woman glossed over her reason for being in town.
Orick obviously wasn’t a popular Northern California destination like Monterrey or Lake Tahoe.
Its sole purpose was being a pass-through on the way to the Redwood National Park, and most people were either camping there, staying in Eureka, or driving up to Crescent City afterward.
Aspen wondered if there even was a reason Mo was here, walking the cider back to where Mo was now ripping the paper coaster into tiny strips.
“Hey, stop that, silly. Those are fifty cents a pop,” Aspen joked, pulling out a new coaster and placing it over the shreds before plopping the cider down on top. “One Humboldt Cider Company Drysdale for Mo.”
Mo looked up, her face a tad sheepish. “Thank you.”
“You are very, very welcome.”
“I didn’t figure a small-town bar would have cider,” Mo remarked, sipping. “Ooh yeah, nice and dry.”
“My boss likes having a variety. She always says that the people eating and drinking here aren’t hardcore backpackers and they need something that tastes like home.
Did you think of that movie?” Aspen leaned over, placing her chin in her hands as she locked eyes with Mo.
“If it helps, my favorite movie is The Parent Trap—of the Lindsay Lohan variety.”
“That…” Mo closed her eyes, her face pulled in amusement. “Makes a ton of sense, actually.”
“How so?”
“I feel like the high jinks of Hallie and Ann—” Mo stopped short, clearing her throat instead of finishing her sentence.
Aspen watched curiously as she reached for the glass of cider instead, pulling a long sip before looking back in Aspen’s general direction but not directly into her eyes.
“Twin high jinks seem down your alley for sure.”
Aspen felt the atmosphere around them shift, watching as Mo used the glass to block the view of her face.
Rarely at a loss for words, Aspen pressed on.
“It’s the perfect romantic comedy. I would watch it on repeat as a kid, quoting it religiously, desperately wanting to discover if I had a long-lost twin.
I think I also just wanted Dennis Quaid to be my cool ranch-owning dad who actually gave a crap about me. ”
“I had a crush on Chessy,” Mo replied, her eyes still on her drink.
“Mmm, good taste.”
“Thanks,” Mo remarked, her voice low and sad.
Aspen watched as Mo covered her glass with both hands, slowly bringing it to her lips.
Her shoulders were tilted inward, and Aspen considered giving the woman some space as something was obviously bothering her.
Just as she was about to make an excuse to walk off, Aspen noticed a small glint on Mo’s left hand.
It was a wide but very simple silver wedding band, resting gently on her ring finger. Aspen’s heart sank.
“I think I like Speed the best.”
“Huh?” Aspen blinked, pulling her gaze away.
“My favorite movie.” Mo finally met her eyes. “It’s called Speed. It’s got everything you could want. Edge-of-campy action, interesting twists, and a cute romance subplot. I mean, who doesn’t like a good explosion or five?”
“I don’t think I’ve seen it…” Aspen crossed her arms, racking her brain. “What’s it about?”
“Your order is up, Aspen!” an older male voice yelled across the bar, reminding Aspen where she was.
“Oops, I forgot I was at work. I bet your food is ready.” Aspen beamed. She reached forward to squeeze Mo’s hand instinctively, the cold of the ring very obvious on her palm. “Be right back.”
Aspen strode off, hipping her way into the bright kitchen. “Sorry, Ben.”
“You good?” Ben queried, his concerned eyes staring at her between the counter and heat lamp.
“Totally, just got lost in the sauce. What needs running?”
Ben didn’t respond, instead pushing a plate with a delicious-looking cheeseburger and fries toward her.
“You’re the best.” Aspen grabbed the plate and a bottle of ketchup before walking back out to the bar. She slid expertly by Virginia, reaching Mo quickly with her meal. “One cheeseburger all the way with fries. Ketchup?”
Mo drained her glass silently, nodding.
“Another cider?”
“Please.”
Aspen switched the ketchup bottle for Mo’s empty glass, striding away to go and fill a new one.
The easy conversation between them had obviously lulled, and she couldn’t help but feel disappointed.
She looked around, noticing that Virginia was making her way back toward the bar.
Aspen waved her over with her head, her confidence a tad shot.
“Are those wedding bells I hear?” Virginia demanded in her usual gruff way, depositing bar glasses into the sink. “You been smiling like a dumbass since you seen her sitting over there.”
“No go on this one, Virginia,” Aspen responded, trying to stay cool about it. If she could convince Virginia it was a bad idea, then she’d probably make less of a fool of herself in front of Mo later. “She’s married.”
“Do what? That woman is manlier than Sal.”
“Gay marriage is legal in all fifty states, grandma.”
Virginia backhanded her on the arm, spilling a bit of cider. “I ain’t your grandma. Anyway, what’s a little marriage if you’re between the sheets?”
“Oh my God,” Aspen replied with shock, making her way back toward Mo. “I can’t believe you.”
“Tell her that her clothes would look better on your cabin floor!” Virginia shouted, starting yet another eye roll.
Aspen ignored her boss, placing the cider down with a bit of force. “How’s the burger?”
“It’s divine.” Mo groaned, obviously enjoying the meal. “I forget how much I love food until I’ve forgotten to eat it.”
“I’m glad! I also tend to forget to eat sometimes, so I understand how you’re feeling,” Aspen said, mentally trying to come up with more to say to her. “So…”
“Mm-hmm?” Mo murmured after taking another bite, her face unreadable.
“What are you and your”—Aspen nodded toward her ring—“partner doing in the redwoods?”
Mo’s eyes followed her motion, and she let out a little, “Oh.”
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah, I just expected you to ask something different.” Mo set her burger down on the plate.
“Like what?” Aspen leaned forward inquisitively.
“Like if my clothes would look better on your floor?” Mo smirked slightly, not meeting Aspen’s gaze. Aspen watched her instead grab a fry and dip it in ketchup on the edge of the burger, moving it to her mouth for a slow chew. “Or some other similar pickup line.”
Aspen laughed, not embarrassed in the slightest. “As much as I want to be mad at Virginia for not being subtle with that, she ain’t wrong. That would be my usual go-to for sure. But I saw the ring and figured I would be respectful.”
Mo was quiet for a long moment, and Aspen watched as she fiddled with the ring on her hand before lifting her head to meet Aspen’s gaze. “I was married. My wife, um…she died about four years back. I’ve just not taken it off, is all.”
Aspen felt warmth spread throughout her body and she immediately turned to walk away.
“Wait,” Mo said suddenly, but Aspen was already under the bar gate near the taps and making her way back toward Mo on her side of the counter.
Aspen jumped up into the stool next to Mo and placed her hands softly onto Mo’s left forearm. “That’s a great way to remember her.”
“I thought—” Mo half laughed, half choked out. “I thought I had scared you off.”
“Sorry.” Aspen laughed with her, squeezing her forearm. “I just didn’t think it was proper to show respect for her from across a bar, is all.”
“Thanks, but it’s, uh…no big deal.”
“I bet she was a big deal,” Aspen said earnestly. “What was her name?”
“Uh…” Mo pulled her arm away.
“You don’t have to tell me anything you don’t want to. I’m sorry I made it awkward. I am well known for being too much, too quick,” Aspen added, watching as Mo twisted in her seat uncomfortably. “Now, enjoy the rest of your meal, and I’ll come back over and see if you need anything in a bit, okay?”
“All right.”
“Good. Now eat before your fries get too cold.” Aspen smiled, jumping down from the seat and making her way back behind the bar.
A few more locals wandered in, and Aspen made quick work of their orders.
Working the bar was something Aspen could do with her eyes closed, but she did find herself a bit distracted tonight looking over toward Mo just to check and make sure she was still there.
She felt a bit of regret for bringing up the ring, but Mo’s general disposition made a lot more sense with the new context.
And in a way, Aspen now felt closer to Mo even though they had only just met.
As she considered this new feeling, her peripheral vision caught Salvador sneaking toward the kitchen, letting her know it was probably just about six.
Checking the time proved her theory correct.
“Like clockwork,” Aspen mused, her eyes then darting to Mo.
Mo’s head was down, her hands playing with something in her lap. Aspen made her way over and she was happy to see an empty glass and clean plate. “Someone hated dinner.”
“It was terrible,” Mo agreed cheekily, quickly pocketing whatever she was playing with below the bar. “And the server just would not leave me alone.”
“You should definitely make sure to put that in the Yelp review.” Aspen played along, moving the dishes out of Mo’s way. “Can I possibly bother you some more?”
“Depends.”
“Can I maybe tempt you with—”
Mo cut her off. “I thought you already did that.”
Aspen felt her cheeks warm at that comment. “I meant dessert, but I do get off around ten.”
Mo smiled the smallest of smiles. “I don’t think so, but I appreciate the offer.”
“No worries. Let me grab your check.” Aspen tried to keep her voice happy and even, but she did feel the slightest bit of disappointment as she sauntered off to grab the check and deposit the dishes.
On her way back, she noticed Mo was now standing, her hands awkwardly stuffed in her pockets. Aspen’s heart couldn’t help but melt, so she just placed the check down and said, “Here ya are.”
Mo pulled a wad of cash from her pocket and dropped three twenties on the bar. “Keep the change.”
“Wow, thank you. You didn’t need to do that.”
“No, I did. I’m not the easiest to hang out with, and you made my dinner more than bearable, so…” Mo shrugged.
“Well, thank you. And don’t act like it’s a goodbye, I will see you here tomorrow before noon for breakfast,” Aspen said enthusiastically, watching as Mo’s face twisted in confusion. “I’ll be here around nine, so make sure you get up and at ’em, all right?”
“I mean, I don’t know if I—” Mo began to argue.
“I do.” Aspen winked. “See you then.”