Page 24 of Break the Barrier

I took Wednesdays off because it was one of our slower days, but the truth is my sisters could take care of the bar just as well as I could any day of the week, but we all had to pick a day, and Wednesday is basically my Sunday.

“Oh, hi, Thea!” I look up from the can abruptly, startled by the close voice, and look over to see Lue standing there.

She’s gotten so tall. Her blonde hair seems to get longer every time I see her, and her height has taken off at just fourteen.

Behind her, Didi Cash, a.k.a. Logan’s mother, is standing beside Lue, smiling at me. “Hi, Thea.”

“Hello, Mrs. Cash, Lue, how are you doing?”

“I’m doing great!” Lue answers, her face bright and bubbly. I’m not sure outside of my sister Juniper that I’ve ever met someone who was always happy, but Lue is one of those girls who is.

“How are you doing, Thea? How’s the restaurant?”

Didi was another longtime supporter of Bottle Grounds. From the moment we opened, she and her girlfriends would come in about once a month for a moms’ night out.

“It’s great.” I give her a pleasant smile.

A phone ringing interrupts us, and Didi reaches into her purse. I politely step away a bit as she answers and peruses the milk section. Do I go dairy-free or just stick with what I know? Is it really that much healthier to be dairy-free?

Maybe I won’t bloat so much.

I shake my head and grab a half gallon, sticking it in my cart.

“Oh dear, okay, I’ll be there as soon as I can.” Didi hangs up, and because they’re still close to me, I look over. “That was aclient. I’ve gotta head into the salon and help her with a hair emergency.”

“What? But I thought you were going to help me practice my lines.” Lue sounds so disappointed, and I feel for her.

“I know, sweetie, but maybe your dad can help you after he’s done at the ranch. You’ll have to come with me to the salon.”

Lue pouts, and I bite my lip, trying not to offer what I so badly want to offer. “I can practice with you.” The words are blurted out before I realize what I’m doing, and both Didi and Lue look at me.

“Oh, you can?” Lue asks excitedly, clasping her hands together in front of her chest.

“Yeah.” I look at Didi and raise my eyebrows. “If that’s okay with you.”

“Oh, well, I suppose that would be okay. You’d just take her to Logan’s and stay with her until he gets home? Or I can come over after I’m done with this client. I don’t know how long that will take though.” She looks at Lue, biting her lip.

I shrug. “I can stay until Logan is back. I’ll even make dinner—that’s what I was here for anyway. I’ll just have to stop by my apartment and drop off groceries.”

Didi seems to be contemplating her choices for a moment, her eyes locked on Luella, who’s got her hands clasped under her chin and her bottom lip poking out. “Please, please, please!”

She sighs and smiles at her granddaughter. “Well, all right. If that’s what you want.”

“It is!” Lue says immediately, her hope rising with each word.

“You have your phone in case of an emergency?”

“Of course.” Lue pats the fanny pack over her shoulder. She wears it like a crossbody bag. “I always have my phone.”

Didi shakes her head, smiling teasingly at the girl, “What was I thinking? Of course, you do.”

I smile at the back-and-forth banter, and we make plans for me to take Lue with me. Nerves bubble in my stomach for a moment before I remind myself that I practically raised my sisters. I can take care of Lue for a few hours.

After checking out, Lue rides with me to my apartment to drop off my groceries. She enters with a bag in one hand and her eyes on everything else. “Wow.”

“It’s not much, I’m afraid.” My apartment is…not where I put my energy, if you will. I have a couch, no TV, a bookshelf, and a rug.

“This is your apartment?” Lue sounds so disappointed that I blush slightly.