Gage

by Tess Oliver

  “Might be better if we don’t see each other.”

  Her tears flowed again. My chest felt filled with lead. She walked to the door, raced down the front steps and ran to her car. I sat there in my kitchen for a few seconds before lifting my foot and kicking over the table.

  chapter 30

  Summer

  I hadn’t been sleeping well, and so it figured that once I’d finally drifted off into a rock solid sleep, the phone rang. It took me a moment to figure out what the obnoxious, persistent noise was and another confused second to remember that the phone was on my nightstand.

  “Hello,” I sat up, but then shuffled back beneath the covers to shield myself from the morning chill.

  “Sorry, were you sleeping?” Clark asked.

  “Gee, what gave it away? What’s up?”

  “The meeting is set for tomorrow.”

  Now I sat up and ignored the cold in the room. “That’s too soon. I have to make arrangements here, and I don’t have a plane ticket.”

  “Figure it out,” he said in a cranky tone that I’d never heard from him before. He was getting tired of dealing with me, and frankly, I’d had enough of this whole thing too. “Oh, and I told them your demands, and—”

  “Fuck you. Demands? You make me sound like a bitchy diva.”

  He didn’t respond. “Anyhow, they already have their in-house backup singers, and they want three. No original songs. And they’re still deciding on how to expand the band.”

  “In other words, no to everything.”

  “Look, Summer, seven digits is a lot of money.”

  “Yeah, I remember place value in math. But they aren’t letting us have any input. The guys are all O.K. with letting their sound get watered down by a bunch of studio musicians?”

  He paused. “For that kind of money, I think they’ll each hand over a ball.”

  “Fucking sell outs, all of them.”

  “Look, it’s a four year contract, and yeah, if they hand out that kind of money, they can basically tell you what to wear, when to get up and how to sing. But after you’re established, you don’t have to renew with them. You’ll have more clout in the industry.”

  “So sign my soul over to the devil, but just for four years, and then I can look for a new devil?”

  “Something like that.” He paused, and I sensed that he had more to add. “How do you feel about changing the color of your hair?” He blurted out the question in an obvious attempt to make is sound less awful.

  “I don’t feel a thing about it because I’m not changing it.”

  “That might become an issue.”

  “Well then, I’ll shave myself bald, and they won’t be able to ask me. Holy shit. So they don’t like my style, and they apparently think my singing needs to be propped up by studio singers and musicians. Why don’t they just stick a paper cut out of me in front of the microphone. Then they can paint my hair whatever color they’d like. I don’t know why I ever wanted to do this in the first place. None of this sounds fun to me, but I guess I’ve got nothing much keeping me here.” The last words tightened my throat. “I’ll see about getting a ticket and let you know when you need to pick me up at the airport.”

  I hung up and scrunched back under the covers. This time I pulled them over my head. I had no idea how to find a business partner for the restaurant. The few people who’d inquired wanted to buy the place outright, which I figured was going to be my only choice. I’d hoped to at least hold on to half. It had been my grandfather’s pride and joy, and handing it off to a stranger sucked. It made me sad to leave behind the friends I’d made at the restaurant. They were far kinder and less money hungry than the people back in California. Gage’s coldness when I’d stupidly decided to visit him had helped me decide that I should just go back to L.A. and give this whole thing a go. I’d let myself believe that something had started between us. It had for me, but that was my fault. I’d allowed myself to fall for him even when I’d known he was a player who slept with every girl who turned his head.

  I lowered my feet right into my strategically placed fuzzy boots. I needed to get to work and figure out who would take over for me tomorrow. After the shitty phone call and the attitude from Clark, the one person I’d left in California who had never been an asshole to me, I wondered if the call would be the lowlight or the highlight of my day.

  chapter 31

  Summer

  A light was on in the kitchen, but the dining area was dark. Maxwell liked to arrive early to chop onions and prepare his special barbecue sauce. He was truly dedicated, and I wished he’d had the money to partner with me. But, apparently, he had a bit of a gambling problem. I flicked on a few lights. Maxwell poked his head around the corner of the kitchen. “Hey, boss,” he called, and returned to his work.

  I headed straight to the office to make supply orders. Each day the restaurant’s business grew, and it seemed that there were rarely lunch or dinner hours where people weren’t waiting for a table. Somehow, I’d managed to bring the place back from the brink, and the best part about it was being in control of my own decisions. Everyone else had been a great help, but I’d managed this on my own without anyone telling me how to do it or what to do or how to wear my damn hair. It seemed that Lemon Records didn’t like anything about me. I couldn’t figure out why they were bothering unless they just needed a band of puppets to fill their needs. I guess they figured a bunch of newbies would be perfect for that.

  The front door opened. A few seconds later Rita stepped into the office dressed in her puffy winter coat and a grin that I’d never seen before.

  “Why are you here so early?” I asked. “Can’t get enough of the place, huh?”

  She came over and stood next to me.

  Her expression made me smile. “Is that what they refer to as one of those Cheshire Cat grins?”

  “Could be.” She reached down and took hold of my hands. I’d gotten the stitches out this morning, and only a tiny scar remained. “I’m going to be your business partner.”

  “What? How?”

  “I broke down and went to see my grandmother. She’s quite wealthy. I finally worked up the courage to ask her to loan me some money. And she said yes! She said I deserved it for working so hard and being a good mother.”

  “She is absolutely right.” We looked at each other for a second and then I hopped up and hugged her. We jumped around for a few minutes before Maxwell finally came in to see what the commotion was about.

  “Rita’s going to be my partner,” I said.

  “Two women bosses,” Maxwell rolled his eyes, but he forced back a smile.

  “Now I know you’re going to meet with some music people in California, but I’ll be able to run the place between your visits.” For the first time since she’d walked into the office, her grin faded. “You know I want whatever is best for you, Summer. But it sure would be fun to run this place together.”

  “It would, Rita, but I promised I’d go and see what they had to offer. Although, after the conversation with my agent this morning, none of it sounds tempting. The important thing is I’ll still be able to be a part of the Raven’s Nest. Even if I’m not around much, with the money I make, I can help by investing more. You can hire more help.” I hugged her again. “I’m especially happy for you, Rita. You deserve this.”

  “I hope Gage won’t be too upset.” Rita seemed to want to pull the words back in after she’d said them.

  “It’s all right, Rita. That was just a moment of ignorance on my part. I’d just come out of a three year relationship, and I left myself open. Gage doesn’t seem to be interested in any partnership or anything else for that matter.”

  “That’s where you’re wrong. I went to see him the day before he left for work, he was a mess. I’ve never seen Gage upset over a girl, but I’m sure that’s what I was seeing. As hard as he tries to maintain that tough as steel exterior, there was something going on below the surface. I’ve known him long enough to see through the shell
.”

  “It would be nice to think that, Rita. Makes me feel less foolish. But he acted cold as ice to me the last time we spoke.”

  “That’s proof as far as I’m concerned,” Rita said.

  “Well, I’ve got a bunch of things to do before the restaurant opens. Hopefully, there’ll be a lull in activity so we can discuss our partnership.” I hugged her again. “This is the bright spot of my week.”

  chapter 32

  Gage

  It was still dark in the tent when Pinkett forced his big fist through the opening. Fortunately, his fist was wrapped around a cup of coffee. I finished tying my boot and grabbed the cup. He leaned down and pushed his head through. “Dispatch called. Seems the storm is barely going to graze us, so the operation is on. The crews from up north arrived this morning, so we’re good to go.”

  I sipped the coffee and winced at the taste. “Who the fuck made this?”

  He laughed. “You think the coffee’s bad? Wait until you down one of those charbroiled pancakes. I wrapped mine with bacon and that helped it move along better.”

  “All the luxuries of a first class resort.” I stooped low and climbed out of the tent. The storm might have been passing us by, but the fringe edges of it were freezing. At our elevation, the clouds had sunk low enough to touch the ground. The cold mist was so thick it was hard to see anything but your own two feet. The warmth of the cook’s fire had cleared a small patch of air around the tables. I grabbed a plate and some extra bacon and sat down.

  Pinkett sat across from me. “I see you’re taking my bacon advice.”

  “Yep.”

  “Listen, Barringer, is everything all right? You haven’t seemed yourself since you got up here.” He laughed. “Now I know it can’t be girl troubles.”

  I shoveled in the pancake and chewed slowly hoping he’d bug off, but he waited for me to answer. “Everything is fine, boss.”

  He eyed me suspiciously for a second and then stood up. “That’s good because with this shitty weather and men out there that we don’t normally work with, the hazard level is extra high.”

  I chewed another bite of the rubbery pancake. “I don’t think I’m the one you have to worry about out there.”

  “That’s true. I guess that’s why I don’t like seeing you off your game.”

  “I’m not off my game. So, let me finish this shitty ass breakfast without anymore interrogation.”

  He lifted up his hands in surrender. “You’re right. See you on site.”

  I took another sip of coffee and then poured it in the dirt. The din of the machinery rumbled through the opaque mist. The day was starting, and while my mood had been black for sure, something about the morning made it darken more. It wasn’t the bad weather or the crappy breakfast. Whether it was the axel or the axis, something just didn’t feel right.

  chapter 33

  Summer

  It seemed the usual afternoon lull had eluded us. While the dining room wasn’t crowded, there was still a definite buzz in the room. Cold weather had caused customers to linger longer over their hot coffees. I took a second to call David to see if the band could play on the weekend.

  “Hey, Summer, I was just going to call you. Rose is out.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “She’s just got too much going on with her family right now. She quit the band. We’d sure love to have you be our permanent singer. We get some nice paying gigs, and they’re always within a hundred miles of the Raven’s Nest.”

  “You don’t know how tempting that sounds, Dave. I love singing at small venues. But to be honest, I’m flying to California tomorrow to meet with my agent and a recording studio.”

  “Wow, sounds awesome.”

  “But, hey, don’t take me off your list of potential singers yet.”

  “You’re at the top of it. Just say the word.”

  “Thanks a lot. I’ll let you know.” I hung up and sat back, thinking how cool it might be to just tour around with a local band. I was sure they wouldn’t complain about my hair color.

  Footsteps sounded behind me. I turned around. Rita had the opposite expression of this morning. Her mouth was drawn tight with worry.

  I stood up. “What’s wrong?”

  She swallowed hard. “There’s trouble up on the mountain, at the logging site. A yarder slipped off the landing, and the pile of logs came with it.” Her hands trembled as she wiped them on her apron. “One man is dead, and they’re airlifting another one out.”

  I grabbed the back of my chair for support. “Who is it?”

  “No names yet.”

  I walked to her, and we threw our arms around each other. Hours earlier we’d hopped around in joy. Now we held each other to brace ourselves for despair.

  I took a deep breath. “What is the yarder?” I asked.

  “It’s the big machine that moves the cables up and down the hillside. It lifts the logs onto the landing where they get sorted for transportation. When the hillside is icy and the visibility is poor, anything can happen.”

  We walked out of the office. A terrified hush had fallen over the dining room. Most of the remaining customers hovered around a radio someone had set on a table. Even Maxwell had taken a seat to listen. Just about everyone who came into the Raven’s Nest had a relative or friend who was a logger.

  Ned, one of our regulars, looked over at us. “No word yet. I’m sure they’re tracking down next of kin.”

  Kristina walked over to us, and we all hugged again. I felt nearly sick with worry. I put on my apron. My fingers shook so much, it was a struggle to tie it. “I’m going to put on some more coffee. Looks like we’ll need it.” I walked over to the coffee pot but rather than fill it with water, I braced my hands against the counter to keep from dropping to my knees. Rita walked over and squeezed my arms. “I stomped out of his house like a spoiled brat whose ego had been smashed,” I said. “That’s the last memory he has of me. I was so hurt by it all, but now I just want him to walk thought that damn door. Even if he never wants to talk to me again, I want all six feet plus of him to come lumbering across that damn dining room floor.”

  “Me too, Summer.” She took the coffee pot. “You’re right. Let’s get some coffee brewing, and maybe we should lace it with a little of your grandfather’s secret brandy. From the faces in that room, it seems everyone will need it.”

  “One confirmed dead, one in critical condition,” Ned announced. “No names yet.”

  I pulled the brandy out from under the counter and poured myself a shot before putting it on the tray with the coffee cups.

  Rita joined me. “That seems like a good idea, although brandy is supposed to be sipped. But I think this warrants shooting it straight down the hatch.”

  We filled everyone’s cups and most were appreciative of the brandy topping. It seemed as if hours had passed, but in truth, it had only been twenty minutes. Several customers had gone home to wait by the phone, and two had received text messages from loved ones letting them know that they were all right. A hearty round of cheers had gone up for them and everyone toasted with their coffee cups. It was one of those small towns where everyone knew each other, and everyone genuinely cared about one another. And because they’d all loved my grandfather, they’d accepted me into their community family without thinking twice. It was something I’d never forget about this place.

  Kristina, Rita and I had finished pouring coffee. We hovered behind the bar to wait for news. I couldn’t believe how quickly they’d both become my friends, and I felt incredibly close to them. They’d both known Gage for a long time, much longer than me, but they’d also known how I’d felt about him. Maybe even before I knew.

  We kept checking our phones, but there was no news from anyone.

  Ned, who’d appointed himself the town crier, glanced toward the bar. “They’re about to announce the names.”

  We immediately fell into a group hug, and as our arms tightened around each other someone yelled, “Barringer!” I gasped
and Rita’s arm grabbed me to keep me upright. Then the same voice called out again. “You made it out alive, eh?”

  All three of us popped our faces up at the same time. Kristina’s eyes widened as she stared at something behind me. “Summer, look,” she said, still trying to catch her breath.

  I felt slightly unstable as I turned around. He looked tired and sad, and there was dirt and what seemed to be blood smeared on his face and shirt. I’d never seen anything so glorious in my entire life.

  Rita and Kristina ran to him. I walked tentatively behind, not completely sure what to say or if he even wanted to see me. All I knew was that I was so relieved to see him, I couldn’t stop the flow of tears.

  They hugged him for a long time, and I stood and waited behind them. He lifted his face and gazed at me. Rita and Kristina left his arms, and I ran to him.

  His big arms wrapped around me. “You don’t know how badly I needed to feel you in my arms,” he said quietly.

  For a change, I had nothing to say. I was overwhelmed with relief and reeling from the realization that I was madly in love with the man.

  ***

  The restaurant had slowly cleared. The two men had been from the crew up north. The man who’d died on site had a wife and two children and the other had been only twenty.

  Gage and I sat alone in a booth sipping beer. The lights had been turned down to a dim glow, and the faint odor of onions and bacon lingered in the air. I reached up and wiped a smudge of dirt off his face.

  “Rita is going to buy half the restaurant.”

  Gage took a drink of beer. “Really? How?”

  “Her grandma is lending her the money.”

  He nodded. “Good for her.” He put down the glass. “And what about you and the band?”

  “I fly to California tomorrow, but so far, the whole thing seems like a big pain in the ass.”

  “Don’t say that just to please me,” he said.