81

The regulars were a little leery at first, but soon you could hear discussions and sometimes arguments over which farm provided the best produce, and which fresh herbs and spices complimented which dishes best. It was a riot to see two big bikers almost come to blows over which soup was better, pumpkin or butternut squash.
She also added a wine list, all locals, with Jacks’ getting top billing. It was funny, in our state you couldn’t serve wine in a place that had pool tables, so they had to go. Helen and Sam really didn’t mind because that was usually where the fights started, and they could add eight more tables in the space.
Helen took the lead and worked a deal with a local brewer to feature their beers on draft.
A local food critic, hearing good things, paid us a visit. We didn’t even know it until the review came out.
THE BEST HIDDEN JEWEL IN THE STATE was the caption, followed by an outstanding review.
“Sam’s Bar and Grill, located on Swan Pond Road just outside of the city limits, has been around for seventy five years. A local favorite, the addition of minority owner Amanda Gooding and her recent upgrade of the kitchen has pushed it out of the shadows and into the limelight. I’m sure the regulars would have preferred it stayed local, but word has spread and there’s no going back.
Blue collar, white collar, bikers, farmers, college kids, you’ll find them all rubbing elbows in an amiable mix. The only time I heard raised voices was when two patrons disagreed over which herb should be dominant in the pork stew, rosemary or basil. I sided with the biker, because, well, he was bigger, and I’ve always liked rosemary.
It features simple fare, well seasoned and prepared, at a reasonable price. The service is excellent, the atmosphere relaxed, and it almost sparkles it’s so clean. The sanitation rating is 102, just one point short of perfection. I complimented Mrs. Gooding, and she promised they would get the top rating in six months if she had to work her whole staff to death.
Being outside the city limits, all it offers is beer and wine, not liquor. Helen Conners, the manager and principal owner, along with her husband Sam, says they have no intention of getting a liquor license should the limits expand and include them.”
“It’s just so much easier without liquor,” she said.”
“The bar portion looks like an old time saloon, featuring local brews and wines, as well as a full complement of national brands. The staff is well schooled, and can explain the difference between a pilsner, a lager, or a bock, a dry white and a sweet red, with ease. It’s a little out of the way, but worth the trip. I’ve been three times, gotten three different meals, and have been satisfied every time with the quality, the quantity, and the service.”
“One more thing. I demand you try the banana pudding. It’s a weakness of mine, and it’s the best I’ve ever tasted, and I’ve tasted a lot over the years.”
Helen and Amanda just looked at each other and grinned.
“I didn’t know who he was,” said Amanda, “I just thought he was a nosey customer with a little knowledge.”
Celeste and I ate dinner there nights Amanda worked, and she always scheduled her break so she could dine with us. Celeste wanted to start working there when she got old enough for a child work permit, and I had no problem with it. There were a lot of families there now, most of the serious drinking was done in the bar. Thursday night was bike night, and the local Harley Owners Group showed up in force, along with guys riding all different kinds. They wanted to hold their meetings there, but we didn’t have a private room. Amanda, Sam, and Helen talked about it, got an architect, and almost tripled the size of the place. Soon even that space was filled.
…
I was up to eight percent ownership by now in our agency.
Celeste turned sixteen, went to work after school and weekdays part time, learning how to cook along side her sister/mom. Her goal was to go to the local culinary school when she graduated from high school.
She wanted the Dart, but there was no way I was going to give a sixteen year old girl something that would go that fast. We got her a Mustang instead, not one of those turbo monsters, but one with a nice little V6. Still went pretty fast, though.
Amanda was almost twenty six, and I was ready to start our little family. She agreed, but wanted to wait until Celeste had graduated, so she could concentrate on the baby. Celeste laughed when she walked in our conversation.
“Mom, do I look like a baby? I can take care of myself. You should think about Dad, give me a little sister/neice or brother/nephew while he’s still young enough to help take care of them.”
I thought her argument had a lot of merit, but Amanda just laughed and said we’d talk about it later.
Our business was expanding as well. My ad campaign for Jack had led to a lot more business, especially among the local alcohol industries. We now handled two more wineries and three brewers, and were talking to a local distillery that was just starting to get some national attention.
I was at a regional conference when I ran into an old friend. I hadn’t seen Aida in almost six years. Still an ebony goddess, maturity had added to her beauty. I saw her first, and slipped up behind her.
“Still got a thing about color lines? I got tired of waiting for you, but there’s a lot of white boys in here right now practically drooling over you.”
Of course, I had gathered her up in a big hug while I talked. Shocked at first, she returned the hug when she realized who I was.
“Jace! Man, it’d good to see you. How are you? Where have you been? You just disappeared off the face of the earth. I’ve missed you. There were times when I needed good advice and a sounding board.”
We got a table and talked for an hour. She was divorced, her husband had cheated on her and she caught him.
“Apparently he wasn’t as rigid over color lines as I was. A skinny little blonde with the figure of a twelve year old boy. I caught him, he promised it was over, we went to counseling. I was just abut sure we were over it when she rolled up pregnant. I never saw him again after that, he didn’t even show up at the final decree.”
I took her hand.
“Sorry, Aida, I know how it feels. Anyone in your life right now?”
“No, too early, I guess. I’ve been thinking about making a change, my agency was sold and I don’t like the new owners. I think the only reason they keep me is because I’m so good at what I do. I really need a change.”
I grinned at her, fishing out a card.
“Ever think about relocating to the sunny South? Think about it and give me a call.”
To my surprise, she took the card.
Just before we left she asked me about my life. I held up my hand so she could see the wedding band.
“I literally thank God every day for the life I have now. I’ve got a great woman, a good daughter, an excellent job, and a large group of really nice friends. Here.”
I fished out pictures of Amanda and Celeste. She looked at them in wonder.
“How in the world did you end with a woman this beautiful? And the daughter looks just like her except for hair color. And she looks so young. Did she have the daughter when she was six?”
I laughed and explained. She hugged me hard, genuinely happy for me.
…
I didn’t think about it until later, but neither of us brought Becky up, not once.
My boss called me into his office two months later, tossing a resume at me.
“Look this over. She gave you as a reference, even said you trained her. Is she any good?”
I looked at it and grinned.
“I might have trained her, but she’s a natural. By now she’s better than I am. If we can afford her, we’d be idiots not to hire her.”
He grunted.
“Hire her then. Have her report to you. Now, I got something serious we need to talk about. I haven’t told a soul yet, and it doesn’t need to leave this room.”
“I’m sick, John Charles. It’s pretty serious. I’ve got a tumor on my brain. They just found it, and it has to be removed or it’ll kill me. There’s a fifty fifty chance I won’t make it. I talked to Gloria, and she agrees with me that you should run the place until I’m better, if I make it. If I don’t, we still need you to take control, keep the place viable until Gloria can decide what she wants to do.”
It shook up our little circle of friends pretty badly when he announced it. He and Jack were really close, had been for years. The day of the surgery, our whole office, even Gail, was there. Many of his friends were there as well. He called every one of us into his room to say goodbye, just in case. Ken, June, Amanda, Celeste, and me took turns holding Gloria. When we weren’t holding her, we were in the chapel with the rest of his friends, praying for him. He was under for five hours. When the doctor came out, everyone held their breath.
“He’s doing fine, so far. I feel pretty good about his chances of recovery. It’ll be tomorrow before he’s strong enough to allow visitors.”
We shouted, we cried. We thanked the doctors and God.