Page 94 of Tricked in October
“I think that’s the last of the boxes from the kitchen,” Leo said, hands on his hips and slick sweat on his brow, despite it being under forty degrees outside.
“Thanks,” she said, glancing around the empty dining area of the bar, and trying not to focus on one area too long. There were memories all over this place. From her childhood, her teenage years when she, Leo, Ricky, and Izzy hung out there, from her adult years as she supported Ricky’s dream. Even the past eleven months she’d worked here tirelessly.
The anguish built in her chest, tears threatening at the corners of her eyes. But she wouldn’t cry here. She’d wait, until she was alone. Ben and Jerry’s would be getting an earful tonight, that was for sure.
“I think all that’s left is the office. And you mentioned you wanted to pack that up on your own,” Isabella said.
Right. The office.
Not only had it been Ricky’s office, but then hers. She’d never spent much time in there until after Ricky had passed. Mostly, she only came to O’Henry’s so the kids could see their daddy before bed, or she’d pick up dinner and take it to her in-laws.
“It’s mostly packed up. It will just take me a minute.”
“Take your time,” Maddie encouraged her.
Kelsey bit her bottom lip and nodded before turning and heading to the back of the restaurant. Inside the office, she’d already cleaned up the Halloween decorations, wrapped up the kids’ photos, and taken down Ricky’s posters from the walls.
The old green tool bag sat on the desk, and she dragged a finger across the worn material, her heart racing. Tears welled in the corners of her eyes, and she blinked them back. Lifting the heavy bag, she set it into a box and closed the flaps.
Her vision took a trip around the small space, taking in every nook and cranny, trying to memorize the room in its entirety. When her eyes found the couch, they zoned in on it, her mind bombarded with the memory of her and Davis making love there. The loss of him hit her out of nowhere. When she’d been prepared to miss Ricky, her emotions had surprised her, throwing her a curveball.
Her chest filled and tightened as her heartbeat thudded louder and faster. While she did miss her late husband and the life they shared together, she’d already grieved him. Now, she felt as if she was grieving the friendship with Davis. She yearned for him, and what they’d been. She craved him and what they could be.
She had to hold onto hope that he hadn’t given up on her, because she wasn’t ready to give up on them. She’d lost too much. But him, and their friendship, she wasn’t willing to let go of either. If she’d learned anything through the process of losing Ricky and now O’Henry’s, it was that life was too short. You had to grab onto what you wanted and not let go.
* * *
When Kelsey had foundthe job listing online at Tapp’s Brewery as an assistant brewmaster, something quivered in her belly. Learning how to brew beer had always been an interest of hers. She’d told Ricky it would save them money in the long run if they supplied their own, but he’d always shot down the idea.
Sure, she lacked the skills and experience for the job, but everyone had to start somewhere. And she’d had a longstanding relationship with the current brewmaster, along with the owner of Tapp’s Brewery.
She didn’t want pity. But at this point in her life, she wasn’t opposed to groveling. This new career could be the best thing for her. She wouldn’t know unless she tried.
Dressed in heels, her black leather pants,thank you, Spanx, and an aqua fuzzy sweater, she entered Tapp’s Brewery with her head held high. Even though her ankle wobbled, she hadn’t worn heels in quite some time, she felt confident.
Despite Kai Johnson’s boyish face, he had a body resemblance to The Rock, with similar Samoan tribal tattoos on his chest and arm. He grew up in Pineridge and after he finished college in Oregon, he returned with a business degree and opened Tapp’s Brewery. He and Kelsey had never been super close as he was a few years younger than her, but they’d done business together and that meant something. She hoped.
Standing inside the brewery’s restaurant, Kelsey glanced around, admiring the space. It was bare, though with a rustic Pineridge vibe she could appreciate. The door to Kai’s office opened and she straightened.
“Kelsey?” Kai scratched at his bare chin. “You’re here to interview for the assistant brewmaster?”
She nodded and raised her hands at her sides. “Yep. Surprise.”
He chuckled nervously. “Yeah, surprised is right. I mean…don’t get me wrong, I’m stoked you’re here, I just never thought you’d be interested.”
“Well, not only have I been serving beer for nearly a year. I was in business with you and a number of other breweries, which required me to sample all the different brews.” She talked fast. Or maybe it only sounded fast to her own ears.
He adjusted the trucker hat on his head with the large Tapp’s Brewery logo across the front in bold threaded lettering. “Okay, yeah, I feel you. Why don’t you come with me, I wanna show you something. It’s been a while since you’ve been in the brew pit.”
“Oh, uh…sure…I just thought…” she paused, hiking a thumb over her shoulder as she hurried to keep up with his stride, “we would go into your office for the interview.”
“You already sold yourself, you’re overqualified for an interview.”
She wasn’t really sure what that meant, but excitement burrowed in her chest. Kai took her into the brew pit, giant, shiny vats lined up one side of the wall. All her senses were on heightened alert and her skin tingled.
“First, I want you to taste the newest brew we’ve been working on. Then I’ll introduce you to our brewmaster.”
“Okay,” she answered, a lightheadedness. She felt giddy.
