Page 19 of Last Call (Open Tab #5)

Hope grinned and babbled something that delighted her.

“Mm. I agree. I wouldn’t trade it, either,” Riley said. “Let’s get your things together and go see Grandma.”

“Ma!” Hope exclaimed.

“There certainly are a lot of those around here. Thank God.”

Pete stood and paced across the waiting room.

“Pete,” Beth called gently.

“I can’t lose her.”

Beth crossed the room and turned Pete to face her. “I don’t believe that will happen. I trust that Marge and the baby will be fine.”

“And if they aren’t? I don’t know how I will help Dale. And Marge? If she loses…”

“Stop,” Beth said. “Stop. Billie told me these are the best doctors you could hope for.”

“Billie wants to make everyone feel better. That’s Billie.”

“Billie loves all of you. I’m sure that’s true. I don’t know her as well as you, but I don’t think she’d try to give you false hope.”

“She was worried. I could hear it when Andi handed her the phone,” Pete said.

“She’s concerned because she cares about all of you. Look at me. No matter what happens, we’ll get through it.”

“You’ve been through enough. Did you see Evan’s face when we got in the car? He’s been through enough, too.”

“Evan adores you. He wants to help, too. And that’s not how this works.” Beth cupped Pete’s face. “Yes. It’s been a tough road for me. I think I’ve turned the corner, and you are the biggest part of that. Let’s not project the worst. Okay?”

“I wanted this to be a happy time for her,” Pete said. “Marge deserves to be happy.”

“She’s going to hold that baby,” Beth said.

“You believe that, don’t you?”

“I do. We’ve all had enough loss. I think we’ve earned a little joy. I still have faith the universe knows that.”

Pete’s eyes twinkled as he looked at Beth. “You know I love you.”

Beth smiled.

“Bad timing to tell you that, huh?”

“No,” Beth promised, kissing him softly. “There’s never a bad time to say those words. I love you, too.”

“Really?”

Beth giggled. “Really. Now, sit with me. I’ll bet we’ll hear something soon.”

“Beth?”

“Hm?”

“Thank you for being here.”

“I wouldn’t be anywhere else.”

Fallon nearly fell over when she saw everyone at the pub. It seemed like half the town had taken Andi’s suggestion to heart.

“Grandma!” Owen ran through the door full speed when he spotted Andi.

“Did she call everyone?” Fallon whispered to Riley.

“I doubt she needed to,” Riley replied. She bumped Fallon lightly with her hip and gestured toward Evan, who was quietly slipping into a booth in the far corner.

Fallon sighed.

“Bring him a soda,” Riley said. “And talk to him.”

Fallon nodded and ducked behind the bar. “How many free drinks am I giving out tonight?” she teased Carol.

“All of them,” Carol replied without missing a beat.

“I figured as much.” Fallon followed Carol’s gaze across the room to Evan. “He’s probably worried about Pete.”

Carol nodded. “I’m sure he is. He and Pete are close.”

Fallon hesitated. “I don’t know what to say to him. It’s not like I can promise everything will be okay.”

“No. No one can,” Carol said quietly. “But you can sit with him. That might be enough.”

“Well, he did put himself in the corner.”

Carol rolled her eyes, grabbed Fallon’s arm, and pulled her into the kitchen.

“What did I say?” Fallon asked.

“You are one of the smartest people I know. How can you be so thick?” Carol pointed through the small window in the swinging door. “Look out there.”

“I’mlooking. What am I supposed to be seeing ?”

Carol exhaled. “Owen has you and Riley. Dave’s here with Andi and Billie. You’ve got Ida. There are families out there, Fallon. Evan’s alone. Pete’s like a father to him. Maybe that’s not what you want to hear, but it’s the truth.”

Fallon leaned back against the counter. “I know he looks up to Pete.”

“He does. It’s more than that, Fallon.”

“Yeah. I know.”

“I know things between you and Dean have been rough. I’m not trying to make anything worse.”

“You didn’t. It’s just—every time I think I’ve made peace with Dean; something happens to remind me of the shitstorm he and Liv caused.”

“He’s still your big brother,” Carol said gently.

“Yeah. And I love him. He still pisses me off.”

“I know he hurt you. You’re not the only one who feels disappointed by Dean.”

Fallon nodded. “I know. I’ve been so focused on Summer and Emily since their mom died. I haven’t really been there for Evan.”

“Summer and Emily lost their mom. She’s not coming back. I think everyone understands—Evan included. It doesn’t change his reality. He played second fiddle to Emily and Sumer with Dean for years. At least, that’s how he feels. You know that’s true.”

Fallon groaned. Dean didn’t skip Evan’s soccer games or award ceremonies because he loved Emily and Summer more; being there for the girls allowed Dean to see Liv. Evan paid the price for his father’s selfishness.

“I should’ve done better,” Fallon said.

“I don’t think that’s true.”

Fallon looked at Carol.

“I don’t. Evan is happy spending time with Pete and Beth. They meet Marge and Dale here at least once a week for dinner. And Pete brings Evan in every Thursday afternoon.”

Fallon’s brows lifted. “ Every Thursday?”

“After they finish working,” Carol explained. “They’re rebuilding a Mustang.”

Fallon blinked. “Wait—seriously?”

Carol chuckled. “Seriously.”

“I know Pete’s been teaching Evan about cars. No one said anything about rebuilding a Mustang.”

“It’s a surprise for Beth. I only know because I overheard Evan whispering to Pete. They came clean on their master plan. Evan’s been worried about his mom. I guess Beth mentioned to Pete that she had a Mustang when she first met Dean. Said she’d buy one tomorrow if she didn’t need a ‘mom’ car.”

“I remember that car.” Fallon’s voice softened. “Beth always said driving it made her feel free.”

Carol nodded. “I heard.”

“She told Pete that?”

“I don’t think there’s much Beth doesn’t tell Pete. He bought the car at auction a little over a month ago. He and Evan were hoping to have it ready by Beth’s birthday. I think Evan’s worried about Marge, about the baby, but also about whether they’ll finish the car in time.”

“Thanks for telling me,” Fallon said, studying the unfamiliar weight in Carol’s eyes. “There’s something else bothering you.”

Carol hesitated. “No.”

“Come on.”

“Fallon.”

“If you tell me, I’ll go sit with Evan.”

Carol sighed. She knew Fallon wouldn’t let it go. And deep down, she didn’t really want her to.

“Charlie might need to close the shop,” Carol said finally.

“What? Why?”

“We’re underwater. People don’t come into Whiskey Springs to shop anymore, and they don’t use butchers. Even his regulars are fading. He’s been thinking about going back into the restaurant business. He helped his dad with banquets for years.”

“Carol, if Charlie needs an investor, all he needs to do is ask.”

“No.” Carol cut her off. “No, Fallon. He would never accept that kind of help. And it wouldn’t fix the problem anyway. If money could save it, he’d take out a loan.”

Fallon frowned. “Then how can I help?”

Carol smiled. “Saying it out loud helps. That’s enough.”

“What about moving the store?”

Carol exhaled deeply. Growing up, she realized that Whiskey Springs wasn’t the best place for well-kept secrets.

People tended to choose what they saw and what they ignored, a common trait magnified in a small town.

Most people preferred to overlook the negative happenings around them.

Acknowledging that something was wrong meant taking action, and few were eager to get involved in others’ issues.

Fallon was different. She would go out of her way for those she cared about, something Carol had witnessed time and again.

Occasionally, Fallon forgot that sometimes people just needed someone to listen, not to fix their problems. Fallon's eagerness to help was one of her most endearing traits, though it could also lead to frustration.

“It’s a problem for another day,” Carol said. “It’s just money. Marge and Dale are what matters.”

Fallon nodded but didn’t move.

“I’m serious,” Carol added. “Go sit with Evan. I’ll have Don make a plate of nachos.”

“Only if you’re sure.”

“I’m sure. My drama can wait. Go on. I’ll bring you some sodas.”

If circumstances were different, Fallon would have pushed.

But Carol was right—tonight was about Marge and Dale.

And Evan. Fallon noticed the tight pull around Carol’s eyes.

It stemmed from the weight of helplessness that came with worry.

Marge wasn’t just Carol’s friend; she was more like a big sister.

And this night—waiting, hoping, fearing—must have felt impossibly heavy for Carol.

As Fallon stepped out of the kitchen, she glanced back to see Carol walking behind the bar, wiping down the counter even though it was already spotless. It was her worry tic—a small, futile motion to keep her hands busy when her heart and her mind were overwhelmed.

Fallon sighed. She’d known Carol for years, watched her shoulder burdens without complaint, and navigate chaos without faltering. She was the kind of person who always knew what others needed: a refill, a minute alone, a soft word, or a harder truth.

But tonight, Carol looked tired. Not physically, not exactly.

It was something deeper. There was a quiet ache in her posture.

Fallon understood why. More than Marge and the baby occupied Carol’s thoughts.

It was about what remained unsaid. About the way joy and grief tangle when you’re waiting for news beyond your control.

It was the burden of being the one who supports everyone else, even when you’re the one who might buckle next.

Carol had been trying to get pregnant for over a year, surrounded by the births of babies, pregnancy announcements, and celebrated milestones.

This situation weighed heavily on her. Now, her closest friend was in surgery, and while everyone prayed for a positive outcome, a lingering fear of what could happen remained.