Page 20 of As the Years Pass

He shakes it, then steps inside, a couple guys following behind him.

I don’t know who thought having a bar in a basement in Seattle was a good idea because it’s awkward as hell, especially coming in through the back. The stairs from the alley are steep and narrow, and I still can’t figure out how they got the big fridge and freezer down here. Oh, and Pete warned me that it leaks because the drains get clogged often. Getting someone to come here regularly for that was just another thing I added to my list of things to do.

“So, you’re looking to put in some ovens?” the guys asks, walking deeper into the small kitchen, looking all around.

“That’s right. I was told the ventilation system would have to be redone for that.”

“Do you have the blueprints?” the guy asks, turning his attention on me.

He’s a good looking guy, maybe in his fifties. Greying short beard and hair, rough hands and a muscled build.

“Yep. They’re in my office.” I head in that direction, and grab them to hand over. He lays them out on my desk and takes a look. His eyes dart from one end to the other, his finger trailing along some dotted line that means nothing to me.

“If this is all accurate, it looks like we’ll just have to upgrade and replace the equipment. The way everything is laid out, looks up to code.”

“That’s good to hear.”

“You okay with us looking around today?” he asks, flicking his eyes up to me.

“Yeah, of course. Do what you need to do.”

He meets the other guys waiting in the kitchen, and they share some conversation as they glance around and point to different areas. Hopefully this doesn’t turn out to be a disaster.

Adam

Is it Friday yet?

I wish

Adam

Why? You work weekends

Thanks for the reminder.

I can picture him laughing. He always found me funny when I was dry in my humor. His laugh was one of my favorite things,and though I’m not an overly funny guy, Adam always found me funny at all the right times and it always made me feel good.

I listen to the HVAC guys as I figure out an event schedule for the bar. Something in the spring sounds like a good idea. Like a new owner celebration party, or something of the sort, though I’m not sure what to call it. But the title and theme can wait. I can reach out to other businesses in the city and see if they will donate or show us their support in any way. We can have games and door prizes, and just a ton of things to draw people in. Maybe we could make it a week-long thing. After that, assuming it goes well, we could do one in the summer. Halloween party, too. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year. There are plenty of opportunities to bring the crowds in.

Planning is not my favorite task, and I’m not much of a people-person, but I have enough experience from all the events we hosted for Mom at Durant’s. In the end, it wasn’t enough, though, and was ultimately why we had to sell the bar. She needed the best treatments, and the insurance barely covered what she needed. The only way to get that money was to sell the business my father brought to life, and neither of us would take that back for anything, as much as we miss how things were.

Adam

Did you know that octopuses have three hearts?

uhhh… no?

Adam

And blue blood, apparently.

Are you studying to be a marine biologist?

Adam

LOL!

Adam