Page 36 of Two’s A Charm

EVERY LITTLE THING SHE DOES IS MAGIC

Bonnie

She’d never before been able to volunteer to help out with a bill, especially one bigger than a split meal or a coffee order.

All right, she couldn’t completely cover it, but she knew she was on track to get there just so long as the numbers for this week stayed where they were.

And it had been more of a pride thing, really.

She’d seen that look in Effie’s eyes, the tired, motherly one that she always affected when it came to day-to-day life stuff, as if she hadn’t taken it upon herself to claim the mantle of Queen of the Domestic Realm.

That judgemental look that assumed Bonnie would beg Effie to cover the expense.

Those days were over, thanks to her arrangement with Uncle Oswald.

All right, so Uncle Oswald wasn’t her favourite human, and the items he stocked in his shop were all flimflam (a word Effie overused when she’d gone through her hardboiled crime paperback phase, and which Bonnie found hilarious to parrot).

And he still made her feel queasy whenever he was around.

But there was no denying that their arrangement had single-handedly changed Bonnie’s fortunes.

So much so that not only was she ahead on payments for the Cadillac, but she could finally afford to hire some extra help behind the bar.

Someone who wasn’t Bobby or one of her entourage, who were becoming increasingly flaky (Hannah), increasingly bitchy (Kirsty) and increasingly absent (Alana).

Obviously, Bonnie would have to be the one who remained in charge of the specialty drinks, but an extra set of hands would free her up to focus on planning the events the bar needed to become sustainable in the long term.

And give her more time to finish renovating the upstairs apartment so she had an option to move out of the Chalmers residence, away from the stifling memories of Mom and the endless pressure and judgement from Effie.

Besides, she was spending so much time at the bar these days that the idea of being just a few steps from her bed appealed enormously.

Bonnie pulled up a shortlist of résumés on her phone.

They’d come in from all over the place via email, text, Instagram messages, scrawled notes on napkins.

Bonnie didn’t mind so much, as it wasn’t like bartender was a gig that needed a standard CV.

She didn’t even have one of her own. Her social media pages and the online reviews of her bar were résumé enough.

And she had her reputation, which was all the calling card you needed in this town.

Well, assuming you had a reputation like Bonnie’s.

She scrolled through the selfies and copy and pasted bulleted text, looking for someone who might be a good fit.

Hmm. Sara Settimana, current poli-science major and pole-vaulting champ.

She’d probably be good for reaching things off the top shelves, but Bonnie could imagine some heated discussions between Sara and the darts-playing gents, who had opinions about things.

Then there was Lily Nakamura, who was currently one of the baristas at The Winged Monkey, and who famously got everyone’s orders wrong.

People tolerated it because Lily was adorable, but Bonnie probably didn’t need to add extra chaos to her business right now.

What about Clark Grenier? He was a PhD at the college, and with those dark eyes and stubble, he wouldn’t be a bad asset to have behind the bar.

He’d attract a whole new cohort of patrons, and he’d give Bonnie something to look at.

Besides, with the whole Bobby and Kirsty situation, Bonnie felt she needed to up her game to stay competitive.

She considered texting, but decided to do right by her new entrepreneurial identity and make an actual phone call.

To her surprise, Clark picked up.

‘Hey, Clark? This is Bonnie from The Silver Slipper. How’d you like to come in for an interview?’

Clark’s voice was slightly gruff, but with a mirthful undertone that she liked, and he agreed to come down after his next class. Maybe this could work.

While she waited for Clark to arrive, Bonnie busied herself preparing the bar for midday opening.

Much of this prep work now involved making room for the pre-made Memory Lane concentrate used in the new cocktail series.

She hadn’t seen people get so excited over a drink since kombucha had first hit the market.

Bonnie banged around in the cabinets, trying to find more space for the concentrate.

She liked to minimize storeroom runs during opening hours, but soon they’d be unavoidable.

Unless she expanded the bar area. It was times like this she missed Bobby’s easy presence – he had such a good eye for design, and he got what Bonnie was trying to express, even if she wasn’t so sure.

They’d always been on a very similar wavelength, even though they were so different.

There was a knock at the door, and Bonnie jumped up, almost smacking her head on the bar counter. Her heart sank slightly as she saw it wasn’t Bobby, but immediately perked up when she realized it was someone just as welcome: Sabine.

‘Bonnie,’ Sabine breathed, in that zen, hippie tone that even Alana hadn’t mastered. If you were looking for an individual with their chakras aligned and their energies balanced, it was Sabine.

‘Sabine!’ Bonnie drew her in for a hug. ‘I’m so glad you came by.’

‘I’m afraid I’m here as the Toto Hotel’s sole ambassador. Maureen had good intentions, but we’ve had a wedding party making our lives miserable for the past few days. She sends her love.’

Sabine spun a slow circle, making appreciative noises as she took in the bar that Bonnie had worked so hard to bring to life.

‘There’s an upstairs as well,’ said Bonnie, feeling suddenly shy. She was so proud of the bar, and part of her worried that Sabine’s practised eye would find it lacking in some way.

‘May I?’ asked Sabine. ‘If it’s anywhere near as gorgeous as downstairs, I know I’m in for a treat.’

‘Of course,’ said Bonnie, feeling a flicker of pride at Sabine’s kind words.

Sabine made her way up the stairs, running a hand over the ornate banister as she went. Like everyone, she stopped when she saw Mom’s paintings, her hand reaching for the locket she kept around her neck.

‘And these are the event rooms,’ said Bonnie, opening the doors so that Sabine could explore. ‘Birthday parties, engagements, things like that. Obviously on a smaller scale than the hotel.’

‘I hope so,’ said Sabine with a chuckle. ‘Because the other way lies madness. And the next floor?’ she asked curiously, as she stepped back out to the landing.

‘My apartment. It’s strictly a work in progress.’

Bonnie unlocked the door for Sabine to take a look.

The renovations were still underway, but now that she had some extra spending money set aside, she’d be able to hire someone to help out with the bathroom and kitchenette areas.

She’d painted, and had found a gorgeous vintage light fixture to go with the retro lamp that currently lit the space.

Maybe whoever they hired to do the electrical panel could throw in a free installation.

‘Your mother would have loved this,’ said Sabine, as she picked her way back downstairs, pausing for a few moments to drink in the warmth of Mom’s paintings once more. ‘It’s absolutely perfect, Bon. You’ve outdone yourself.’

Bonnie felt a lump grow in her throat as she imagined Mom sitting at the bar, sharing a brownie with Sabine as they chatted about Freddie Noonan’s lawn or the latest adventures of Pickles the wayward French bulldog.

Bonnie knew she had to hold on to what she actually had, her memories of Mom, but it was so hard not to focus on what might have been. What would never be.

It had been almost a year, she thought, although how that was possible she’d never know. How had she survived a year without Mom in her life? A year of silent evenings in the living room and outfits that didn’t get commented on and solo breakfasts in the kitchen.

Which reminded her: during one of their awkward kitchen interactions, Effie had suggested they visit Mom’s grave to honour the day.

Bonnie had half-heartedly agreed, not wanting to make Mom’s absence any realer than it was.

Effie had made a point to visit Mom regularly, but the length between Bonnie’s visits had been growing. It was too hard.

‘Are you free on Thursday?’ Bonnie asked. ‘We’re going to visit Mom. For her...’ She trailed off, then started over. ‘It’ll just be us.’

Sabine squeezed Bonnie’s shoulder. ‘I’d love nothing more. Besides, there’s strength in numbers.’ Then, picking up one of Uncle Oswald’s coasters, she added, ‘Now, what does an old hippie have to do to get one of these famous purple cocktails I keep hearing about?’

‘Coming right up.’ Bonnie couldn’t wait to show off her most popular drink.

Sabine was sipping the cocktail when Clark waved from the door, which Bonnie had locked after Sabine’s arrival to avoid the inevitable drop-ins who didn’t think that opening hours applied to them.

He was dressed simply in dark jeans and a T-shirt, with his hands shoved in his pockets as he peered through the stained glass.

He was gorgeously handsome, and definitely gay.

Which was actually somewhat of a relief, as Bonnie probably didn’t need the extra drama.

Sabine gave Clark an approving up-and-down look through the glass. ‘He’s hired.’

Bonnie chuckled. ‘I think you might be right.’

She opened the door to let him in.

‘Thanks for coming down so promptly,’ she said, batting her eyes in that way that, unlike her magic, never backfired. ‘Have you tended bar before?’

Clark gave an easy smile. ‘Of course, hon. In Boston, during undergrad. And I make a mean mixed drink at a house party.’

‘And you know how to work a till and fend off the advances of drunken tourists?’

‘Yes, ma’am.’

‘You can lift heavy objects?’

‘Say, ones of up to about 140 pounds?’ broke in Sabine.

He laughed at this. ‘Would you like me to demonstrate?’

‘Please,’ purred Sabine.

‘I think we’ll take your word for it,’ said Bonnie, amused. ‘Are you free tonight?’

Clark’s blue eyes twinkled. ‘I’m free right now, if you need help opening.’

‘Well, then. Welcome to The Silver Slipper.’

She said it coolly, but inside she was screaming with delight. Between the soaring profits, her new status as the fiscally responsible sister, and the presence of a hot bartender who posed no risk of distraction, things in Bonnieland were on the up.