12.

R OOSTER

The last three days had been hell - not really on me, but on the people around me. After I spent a sleepless night wondering what the hell I said that made Rosie run away and then ignore me when I knocked on her door, I had a day so shitty, it should go down in the history books. I woke up to find that the bottom had fallen out of the water heater in my cabin, not figuratively, but literally, and caused a mess I'd be working on for at least the next week. The microwave gasped its final breath right in the middle of heating up my breakfast, and then my electric razor died when I was only half finished with my weekly beard grooming.

After Dianna walked down to my cabin to chew my ass, somehow convinced that Rosie had left because of something I said or did, my day took an even deeper nose dive which didn't get any better when I went to work. It went on to include a fucked-up liquor order, a clogged sink, three cabin guests who tried to run on their tab, and a fistfight between two locals who figured out they'd been seeing the same woman.

By the time I got home from work, two hours later than usual, I still had more of a mess to clean in my house and no hot water for a shower, which meant I had to cart all my stuff to an empty cabin just to clean up after working all evening.

Yesterday started out much better than the day before. I was able to get the new water heater installed, sort out the liquor delivery, and even get caught up on my paperwork for the week. I'd stayed so busy that I didn't have much time to think about what happened with Rosie but felt like things were looking up, at least as far as my attitude was concerned. Then a wedding party checked into their cabins and decided to show up en masse at the bar, yelling that it was ‘shot time' every fifteen minutes which ended with two bridesmaids in tears after they got into a screaming argument and a groom with cold feet puking tequila all over the restroom.

I was cautiously optimistic that today would be better after an uneventful morning spent working on the mess in my cabin and taking a long ride on my favorite winding roads where I took a little time to ponder why Rosie's about-face had affected me so much. I decided that it was probably for the best that she had taken off so quickly before I got even more invested in trying to build a relationship with her, and I avoided any situation where we might run into each other.

Now I felt much better and came to work with a whole new attitude. I had almost convinced myself that I was better off without all the drama a long-distance relationship would cause in my life and then the invasion happened.

The wedding party that had enjoyed their shots so much was back in full force, but they brought guests. Lots and lots of guests. I had wrongly assumed that everyone from the wedding was staying here at the cabins but there was absolutely no way that could be true. Obviously, the event was much bigger than I could have imagined, and when it was finished, their guests became my patrons after invading my bar.

When they started arriving, trickling in with groups of six and more at a time, I sent the server over to the restaurant to see if Clark had anyone he could spare. She came back with a wide-eyed look and said it was just as busy there, and he had already asked Dianna to call for backup and ask any of our other employees to come up and help if they could. Now Dianna, who absolutely hated food service, had a four-table section, and there was a line out the door.

I knew that my server was so far in the weeds, she couldn't cover everything, so I rushed around the bar toward the two women who had been patiently waiting for service as they talked with each other.

"What can I get you, ladies?"

"I'll take a pina colada," the first woman said cheerfully.

It took everything I had not to groan out loud, but I managed to smile at her before I nodded and then looked at the other woman to get her order.

"Hmm. I guess I'll have a Long Island Iced Tea."

I swallowed hard and then smiled again before I said, "It might take a few minutes to . . ."

Both women burst out laughing, and the one on the left reached out and touched my arm before she said, "We're just fucking with you. Everyone knows how much bartenders hate making those drinks."

I wiped my forehead as if I were swiping away sweat and laughed along with them before I said, "Thank goodness."

"We'll just take two of whatever dark beer you have on draft," the first woman said.

The second chimed in and said, "We're waiting for seats to open up at the bar so we can give this table over to some of that . . ." The woman cringed and said, "Oh, it's a wedding party, isn't it?"

When I nodded, the other woman sighed as she slowly shook her head. "Y'all are gonna be busy tonight."

"There's not any kind of y'all to it. It's just me and one server. Hopefully, another one will show up soon, but I'm the only one behind the bar, so if you need a drink, come find me."

The woman on the left looked at her friend . . . No, they had to be sisters. They looked too much alike to be just friends. The second woman shrugged and said, "Why not? What else do we have to do this evening?"

"Let's do it."

"Do what?"

The women hopped off their stools and walked around each side of the table so they were on either side of me. "Our good deed for the year."

"What's that?"

"Give us some trays so we can get to work, boss."

"Work?"

"Unless you'd rather take care of this . . ." The woman motioned toward the packed bar before she smiled at me and finished with, "All by your lonesome."

"Hell no. I'll take all the help I can get."

◆◆◆

"Whew!" Fauna, one of the sisters who had been so helpful tonight, said in relief as she hopped up and sat on the bar, looking out over the room. "That was just as wild as I remember."

"I think the night went pretty well considering how much they all had to drink," Flora said as she finished wiping off the last table. She tossed the bar towel she'd been using toward me and as I turned to throw it into the laundry hamper behind me she picked a stool and sat down near her sister. "I haven't had a workout like that in ages."

"We've gotten soft," Fauna declared. "My feet are killing me."

"Remember that Halloween we got volun-told we were waiting tables and you attempted to wear heels with your costume?"

"Ugh. I'm still recovering from that, and it was at least ten years ago."

"That's what you get for being so basic." Flora rolled her eyes and said, "Slutty nurse. Might as well have just gone as a porn star."

"That was better than your costume," Fauna said angrily.

After only a few hours with these two, I'd learned they liked to argue with anyone that would take the bait, so I jumped in to change the subject and asked, "Volun-told?"

"Our dad owns a few bars back home, and we all worked for him at one point or another over the years."

"And where is home?" I asked as I started the liquor inventory. It wasn't my usual night to take care of this chore, but after the busy weekend we had just survived, I knew I was running low on some staples and would need to put in an order sooner rather than later.

"Colorado Springs," Flora answered.

"And you two are guests here?" I asked as I worked. I realized that they were sitting at the bar without a drink in front of them after they'd just worked their asses off for me, so I pulled them each a draft beer and then slid them along the bar.

I had just picked up my clipboard to get back to work when Fauna said, "Well, we didn't plan to be here for long, but the friend we came to see won't be back until tomorrow afternoon."

"Your friend lives in Red River?"

"No, she's a guest here, but she took a quick trip home for a few days," Fauna explained.

"Rosie?" I asked eagerly.

"You know her?" Flora asked.

"Yeah." I tilted my head and said, "That's where I've seen you before! At the wedding!"

"What wedding?"

"Dub's."

"Elizabeth's husband?" Fauna asked.

At the same time Flora said, "I remember you! You do know Rosie!" When her sister looked at her in question, she said, "He's the guy. "

Fauna twisted around so that her bent leg was resting on the bar and said, "You're the guy? "

"Um.I guess?"

"He is," Fauna said with a grin. "Now we know why Rosie chose Red River."

I understood then that they knew I'd spent the night with Rosie after my friend's wedding but thought I should point out, "She didn't know I lived here because she didn't even know my real name."

"But she knows now, doesn't she?"

"She does."

"And how did that go?" Flora asked as she propped her chin in her hand and leaned onto the bar. "Do tell."

"How do you know her?"

"I guess you could say she's part of our extended family. We met her when we were kids, soon after our Mom and Dad got together, and have been good friends ever since," Fauna explained.

"We spent a lot of time in Texas at our grandparents' and aunt's and always got to hang out with her when we were in Rojo. She even came to Colorado Springs and spent time with us almost every summer," Flora added. "Oh! And she dated our . . . cousin? He's our cousin, right? No . . ."

"Sort of?" Fauna said uncertainly.

"She said that she had a lot of friends and family in Rojo. Sounds like it's the same for the two of you."

"Our parents have seven kids. You have no idea."

"But if you and Rosie work out, you'll see," Fauna said with a bark of laughter.

"Yeah, he will."

I wasn't sure if that would happen, especially since I didn't know if I was willing to deal with Rosie regularly running off rather than telling me why she got upset. If that was her go-to problem-solving technique, or rather problem-avoiding technique, there wouldn't be a future between us.

Hell, at this point, I wasn't even sure there was a friendship. The woman had me so confused that I was turning myself in circles with indecision and irritation.

"I guess we'll see," I hedged. "From what I understand, she's got an entire life in Rojo that she can't imagine leaving, so if anything does happen between us, it will have to be a long-distance relationship."

"Our family owns a few bars in Rojo. I'm sure we could find you a job," Flora offered.

"I'm not just the bartender here. I'm a co-owner. Plus, my daughter and little sister live here. I'm not willing to leave either one of them."

"Oh! Well, that changes things, doesn't it?"

"It's probably not even worth exploring," I said sadly as I gave up all pretense of trying to work and set the clipboard on the bar.

"But you want to?"

"I did, but then she flipped out and took off without a word."

"She's a runner, that's for sure."

"Unless she's mad," Flora corrected. "Then she'll set her feet in stone and become an immovable object."

"True," Fauna agreed.

"I don't know why she took off in the first place," I admitted. "We had a great afternoon together, hung out with my sister for a while, and then went back to my house. We had just walked in so I could show her around, and she got really weird about a rocking chair of all things."

"Hmm," Fauna hummed. "A rocking chair."

Flora smiled and asked, "And what does a rocking chair represent to you?"

"Rocking?"

Flora laughed and said, "I mean in the big picture of things. You don't look at a rocking chair and think ‘party animal,' you think about home and comfort. Children. Forever."

"I guess. I did mention that I sit in that rocking chair and read to my daughter."

"That did it!"

"What did?" I asked Flora, still confused.

"Rosie has always . . ."

"Nope!" Fauna interrupted as she shook her head. "This is dangerous territory."

"You're right," Fauna agreed. "Let's talk about something else."

"What's dangerous about this conversation?"

"We're not the kind to give away secrets," Flora explained. "I almost slipped."

"What's the big secret?"

"Hopes and dreams should be a person's private thoughts until they share them with the one they love so they can help them become reality."

"And that chair represents Rosie's hopes and dreams?" I asked, trying to put the pieces together. When they shrugged, I knew I had to be right.

Rosie ran because she was scared - not of me, but the possibilities. She wasn't sure I was the man who could see them through with her.

I didn't know whether to be offended or enlightened, so I decided to choose neither. Instead, I would set aside my irritation and anger at her abrupt departure and hope that if she came back . . . when she came back . . . she might find a way to talk to me.

If she meant what she said that afternoon while we were together, she'd find a way. If not, then I guess I meant a lot less to her than she'd led me to believe.

"If it's meant to be, it will happen," I said aloud.

"Exactly," the sisters chimed in.

◆◆◆

ROSIE

I lugged my suitcase up the steps onto the porch and smiled when I heard my friends laughing through the open window. I wasn't shocked when I heard Madison's happy giggles in the mix. I knew that they had probably met her when they went to get their morning coffee. Flora and Fauna were cheerful and pleasant women . . . until they had a reason not to be, and I couldn't imagine any situation where that might involve Madison.

When I opened the door, I found all three women lounging in the living room with various snacks strewn around, each holding a drink from the cafe.

"It's about time you got here!" Flora said as she hopped off the couch and rushed toward me. She threw her arms around me and said, "I've missed you soooo much!"

I laughed as I hugged her back and then walked toward Fauna as I asked Madison, "What are they spiking your delicious coffee with?"

"Caramel vodka," Madison answered with a grin. "I'm glad you're back."

After I hugged Fauna, I flopped down onto the couch next to Madison and put my arm over her shoulder to pull her closer to my side. "You're just glad I'm here to take over care of the wild animals so you can go get some peace."

"They're funny."

"Funny-looking," Flora said as she pointed at her sister.

"Your mom is funny-looking!" Fauna retorted.

"No! Your mom's funny-looking!"

"Aren't they sisters?" Madison asked.

"No, they're savages."

"Your mom is funny-looking," Flora said sassily, pointing at me.

"My mom's dead," Madison said sadly. Flora and Fauna's faces fell, and I slowly turned toward Madison in shock, horrified at the thought that we'd upset her. Suddenly, she burst out laughing and said, "You should see your faces!"

Fauna gasped. "Oh. My. God. She made a dead mom joke."

"Bet you can't do that," Madison teased.

"I love her so much!" Flora squealed. "You're coming home with us! You'll fit right in."

"Only if I can be back in time for work in the morning."

"That's it. We're gonna have to kidnap her," Fauna said with a sigh. With a cheer, she said, "Felonies all around! Who wants another shot?"

Flora and Fauna walked off to the kitchen, and I asked, "How long has this been going on?"

"I caught them spiking their coffee this morning at about eight."

"Good grief. I bet they'll pass out soon."

"They said they're celebrating a business thing," Madison explained. "Well, then they said they were drinking because it's Monday, so I'm not sure of the real reason."

"Usually, they're calm and respectable . . ." I started laughing and shook my head before I admitted, "I can't even finish that sentence with a straight face."

"I think I love your friends. If the rest of them are like that, I want you to adopt me."

"It's chaos and craziness from sunup to sundown," I mused as I watched Flora pull her sister into her arms and start two-stepping around the kitchen. "I can't even begin to describe it."

"Tell me more."

A few hours later, after Madison had gone to Dianna's for dinner with her family, Flora and Fauna joined me on the couch to chat, and the subject of Rooster inevitably came up. We were sitting side by side as we talked about him, and when I was explaining the reason I took off back to Rojo, I heard one of them snore softly and looked over to find Flora asleep with her head resting on her sister's shoulder. Fauna's eyes fluttered closed, and I smiled when she let out an even louder snore than her sister.

I got up from the couch as quietly as I could and then turned around to snap a pic of the women. Once I had a few from different angles, I stood very still and recorded them snoring in unison and then sent it to three different group message threads so that I could reach as many of our friends as possible because I was a caring person like that. There was no sense in me having all the fun by teasing them about sawing logs. I was more than happy to share the joy.

I thought about going up to my room to work but decided to go out to the front porch to write for a while instead. In reality, I knew I wouldn't get much work done since I'd probably just stare dreamily at Rooster's cabin while I wondered about the best way to approach him and apologize for the way I acted that day.

My first instinct was to avoid confrontation. However, in the last few years, I'd come out of my shell quite a bit and started speaking my mind. I had my ex-husband to thank for that. Otherwise, he would have steamrolled over me until I was nothing but a mouse that had no voice at all. I luckily found my backbone and started using the voice God gave me to speak up for myself. However, in instances like what happened between me and Rooster the other day, I still tended to run, even if it was just to gather my thoughts for a few minutes before I went back to say my piece.

I could hear faint music coming from Rooster's cabin, and since it was getting dark outside, I watched as the lights came on one by one. Suddenly, the music got louder when he opened his front door, and then I heard him talking to the cats as he fed them their dinner.

Without thinking, I stood up in my chair and brought myself to his attention. He stared at me for what seemed like minutes before he raised his hand to wave. I waved back but didn't move until he tilted his head in question and then started to turn away.

I was running across the grass toward his cabin before he had a chance to make a move, and I took the steps two at a time to get between him and the door before I breathlessly blurted out, "I'm sorry I ran away, but I was standing there looking at this comfortable home with this handsome man who has all his shit together and loves his daughter and his sister and is such a good person and thinking that there's surely got to be something wrong with him, but the only thing I can find is that he lives in a different state. You'd think that would be an insurmountable problem, but it's really not because it's just a few hours away, so if I did throw caution to the wind and try this . . . whatever it is . . . it's not like I couldn't go home to visit whenever I want to, but I don't want to do that because there are a million people there. But I love being here where it's calm and quiet. My life is back home where it's loud and crazy. I worked so hard to become good at my job that now that I have, I thought I'd try my hand at my dream of writing but figured out that all I could write about is you and the possibilities that seem so close but so far away. I want kids and don't know if you want more kids. It scared me when I looked at that chair and imagined you sitting there reading to your daughter. I had a vision where I saw me rocking a baby, and I could feel it so deep inside that it scared the shit out of me, so I ran away."

Rooster didn't move, just stood there staring at me until I got so uncomfortable that I actually considered sprinting back to my house and slamming the door . . . again. I was glad I resisted the urge when he finally asked, "Wanna come inside and have a beer?"

"Yes, please."