Page 38 of Stronger Than Blood

Chapter thirty-five

Rory

Both Kalinda and I sat mesmerized as Mick explained in a hushed voice that Brenda had offered to hand the restaurant over to Essie and him. “We just need to find her wife a job,” he said and looked at Kalinda, who was suddenly smiling like the cat who ate the canary.

“And do tell, what is it your wife does?” Kalinda asked.

When Essie explained her wife, Bev, was trying to become a master distiller, I almost choked on my soda, and Kalinda had to pat me on the back.

“For real? This isn’t a setup?” I asked. Essie looked confused, and Mick just smiled.

“Why don’t you explain what we were doing yesterday?” Mick said.

For a moment, I couldn’t put my thoughts together, but Kalinda didn’t seem to have the same problem. “We had a party yesterday at a new location in town. We want to start a new distillery here in Piston Creek.”

“Wait, no way,” Essie said, getting a chuckle from both Mick and Kalinda.

“Don’t you think this is all a little strange?” I asked.

Kalinda playfully slapped my hand, then laughed.

“Rory, for over a year you have worked in my shop; you’ve seen people come in and leave with the right answer at the right time for them.

Likely, we are sitting in front of the right person at the right time to ensure our business can get off the ground. ”

“Um,” Essie said. “I-I don’t know why or what’s happening, but I’m with Rory. It feels like a lot to meet you, and then you provide the perfect answers. Doesn’t the saying, ‘if it’s too good to be true, it probably is’ apply here?”

Kalinda put her hands over Essie’s and smiled.

“My dear, the universe operates in its own way and at its own time. Most of the time, things are slow and methodical. However, sometimes, it’s just the right people coming together at the right time.

We are at the beginning of this venture, so why don’t you call your wife and see if she can come to Piston Creek to visit us? ”

“We can take her on a tour of the building we want to convert,” Mick suggested.

“Um, yes,” Essie said. “Yeah, that’s a good idea. I’ve already agreed to return to the restaurant for the next few days to work. I promised Auntie Brenda I’d try it out.”

“Where are you staying?” I asked, and she immediately told me she was staying at Elias and Brenda’s place with Rebecca.

“I-I’m as overwhelmed as you, Essie, but why don’t we just play the game and see how it works out?” Mick said, and I put my hand over his.

“Yeah, that sounds like a good idea,” Essie said before getting up and going into the back.

We finished eating and were just about to get up to leave when Jonah came in, spotted us, and smiled.

“Hey, do you have a moment?” he asked.

“Sure,” Kalinda said, smiling like she had when Essie had first been introduced to her. “Why don’t you sit down, Jonah.”

“Okay, well,” he said, looking around the room, then leaning in and whispering.

“Um, I spoke with my buddy, who’s an expert in high-end liquors.

I took pictures of what you had and sent them to him.

” We all nodded, sitting on the edge of our seats.

“Well, let’s just say it’s a good damned thing you didn’t give it away yesterday. ”

“Why not?” Mick asked.

“’Cause if what he told me is correct, you might have all the money you need to start this venture of yours.”

I looked at Kalinda, who was still smiling, then over at Mick, whose mouth was hanging open.

“You should keep that safe locked tight, and don’t tell anyone what I just said until, you know, we can get an assessor out to review the inventory.”

“Okay,” Mick said.

“Okay,” he repeated.

When Jonah left, I looked at Kalinda, eyebrow cocked. “You knew this was happening, didn’t you?”

She shrugged. “I knew something good was coming, and when I saw Essie, I knew she was the one who was bringing some of it. Jonah, well, he’s so good-looking it’s hard not to think he’s bringing good news.”

I chuckled. I hadn’t noticed Kalinda looking the middle-aged attorney’s way until now. “Is romance in the air?” I asked.

“You need to keep those thoughts to yourself, but I’m not averse to anything at this point.

It’s nice that life is working out so easily.

Unfortunately, we have some tough times coming,” she said, looking at Mick.

“Having a few good things in our lives is definitely something I won’t complain about.

Now, we need a name for this venture of ours, wouldn’t you agree? ” Kalinda asked.

I chuckled, knowing my friend and mentor was deliberately pushing the attention away from her. She wasn’t wrong though. I winked at her, and then heard the words, “Eddie’s Spirits,” in my ear.

Mick’s eyes grew wide and Kalinda laughed. “Um, I believe your uncle has weighed in… and I agree… Shall we name it after him?” she asked.

Mick swallowed hard but nodded, as did I. “Then, Eddie’s Spirits it is!”