“Can I have a beer?” he asks with the tinge of uncertainty born from inexperience.
“Have you had Guinness?” I ask. “I know in college–you go to UCLA, right?–my friends and I used to try all the beers we could find, to expand our palettes. We wanted to know everything there was, which of course led to a lot of fun nights and very little actual knowledge.”
“How is Mark?” Barb asks, brightly.
“He’s good,” I smile, turning my focus back to Andy again.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to interrupt,” she says, doing it again. “But you guys hung out in college, right?” She turns to Andy. “Mark is this Greek god who’s as tall as a mountain and as delicious as chocolate cream pie.”
“He’s not Greek,” I laugh.
She steamrolls over me. “He may as well be, because it is a Greek tragedy that he wasn’t single so our Taryn could nab him. Oh Lord!!! That man’s body! Sorry, Brendan, but I can’t look at yours since I don’t want to piss off this one.” She gestures to Annie, who’s itching to go get drinks for other customers, but doesn’t want to rudely rush these two. It’s a special night for Barb, and she knows this. Barb waves her spread-out fingers. “But the three of you in college! Oh my! You and Mark and that Tommy guy who–” She sees my eyes change and her expression falls as she realizes her error. With her eyes darting quickly to Annie, she back peddles at the lost smile there, too. “I’m so sorry! I shouldn’t be bringing that name up! I’m so sorry!”
Annie forces a laugh. “It’s okay. They were very cute; it’s true. Excuse me, I have to go.”
With guilt and horror, Barb watches Annie leave to help her clientele. She spins on the barstool to face me, embarrassed at the awkward look on Andy’s face. He knows his mother stepped over the line, but not why or how. “Your mother doesn’t think! I’m sorry, Brendan! I really am.”
I lay a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Hey, it’s okay. Really. I will take the compliment and tell Mark you said he’s a god. He’ll love that.”
She smiles under worried eyes. “Really, you’re not mad?” I shake my head. “Whatever happened to him? I don’t watch the news.”
Inhaling for patience, I glance to the floor. “He’s in jail. There’s a trial to appeal, but I will make sure he stays in there. For good.”
Andy suddenly announces, “Yeah, I go to UCLA. And we just stick to lagers mostly. I’m not really a fan of Guinness.”
Grateful for the not-so-subtle segue, I exclaim, “What is this blasphemy? Alright, how about Stella Artois?” He nods, relieved his changing the subject worked. “Annie! When you’re ready, the boy wants a Stella, and Barb wants…”
Barb calls out, “Red, please!”
“Barb wants red!”
Annie smiles from where she’s pouring a Jack Daniels and coke. “You got it!”
Changing to easier subjects, the three of us talk for almost an hour, with Annie coming back now and again to join in. Around those brief moments, she and Manny tend bar together, with him running out to clear glasses from tables whenever needed. They move fast as the crowd is thick. My wife comes alive during busy nights like these. Watching her grab the cocktail shaker with one hand and jab the air with it repeatedly as she leans in to get another order from the next person, a huge smile on her face, I understand why she hasn’t wanted to give this up. Sitting around at home waiting for Jacob would drive her insane.
My girl’s got an edge. I love that.
But I’m glad she’s come to her senses. He’s arriving any day, and I don’t care what the doctor said, she should be resting.
She catches me looking at her and walks over, picking up a bar towel to wipe her hands on it. As she arrives in front of me, she lays her hands on her round belly with worry in her eyes. “Honey, you look tired.”
“I was just thinking about you needing to rest,” I chuckle.
She tilts her chin. “I feel fine. I rested today.”
Admittedly, I feel tired. Pulling out my phone, I check the time. “It’s eleven o’clock.”
She nods as Barb and Andy watch us, the conversation interrupted. “Yeah, you’ve been here for a long time. Maybe go get some food and come back at closing? There’s still three whole hours to go.”
Glancing around, I consider what to do. The place is still packed and probably will stay that way. Barb’s looking at me like she can sense something’s going on, not sure her instincts are right. I decide not to dampen the mood by sharing what happened to Annie last night. There’s no reason to worry anyone when I’ll be here to take care of my wife tonight, leaving nothing to chance.
“Okay. I think I will. But I’ll be back before those doors lock for cleanup.” To Barb and Andy, I explain lightly, “Don’t want her alone on Christmas Eve.” They smile.
Reaching for a kiss, our lips come together and she takes my head in her hands for a moment, firmly holding my lips to hers. She whispers, “Thank you. It was making me nervous with you being so nervous.” I nod and kiss her nose, jumping back down.
“Barb, always a pleasure. Andy, so nice to meet you.” We shake hands.
Barb holds out her arms. “Merry Christmas, you hunk!” I laugh and give Barb a big hug as Annie watches with a smile.
“I love you!” she calls to me as I turn to go.
Stopping like I can’t believe I didn’t think to say that, I look over my shoulder and meet Annie’s eyes. “I love you so much it hurts.”
She grins and I wink at her, making my way to the door.
Chapter Thirteen
Annie
2:30 a.m.
“You’ve been counting that same stack for five minutes, and its only twenties.” Manny eyes me. “What’s up?”
Brendan was so obsessed with keeping me safe tonight that I can’t understand where he could be. I haven’t told Manny what happened last night, not wanting to infuse unnecessary drama into an otherwise lovely night. But now my eyes keep flitting to the window, and a frown has begun to rest in my soul. Where is he?
Glancing to answer Manny, I quip, “My husband likes to make me wait. It gives him a charge to see me light up when he finally arrives. Little stinker.” Manny smiles. “Okay, I’ll bite. Guess he wants to make me beg for him.” I roll my eyes, dropping the money and walking to where I set down my phone earlier. “Manny, could you turn off the music? I think I’m done with Christmas songs for the night. Do you mind?” He goes over to turn it off. As I hit the top number on my favorites list, I exhale. Resting the fingers of my free hand on our son, I feel a kick and whisper, “It’s okay, Jacob. Daddy’s okay.” But I don’t know if I believe me. The call goes to voice mail. “Where are you?”
“What?” Manny asks, walking back.
“Nothing.” Frowning deeply, I dial again.
After three long rings, Brendan’s sleepy voice answers, “Hello? Oh shit! Oh no! What time is it?”
Relieved, I smile. “It’s half after two, babe. You must have fallen asleep. Manny is still here with me. Don’t worry.”
Brendan mutters a slew of swear words at himself, then to me says, “I’m so sorry! I’ll be right there!”
Chuckling and happy he’s okay, I slide the phone closed, lay it down, and tickle my tummy with all of my fingertips. “See that, Jacob? Stress makes Daddy swear a lot.” I look over to Manny as he unplugs the sink to let the water drain. “He’s on his way.”
“Great. I’ll cover the bottles with plastic. Okay if I take off after that? Mercedes is waiting up for me.”
“Of course!” I start counting the twenties again, and this time without difficulty.
Manny, happy to be going home, slaps on strips of plastic over all our sticky liqueurs to keep away fruit flies, and by the time he rises up, I’ve counted the tens and the fives as well.
“When is Taryn coming back?”
“Day after Christmas, just like Laura. Why, you need some time off?”
He doesn’t answer at first, so I turn my head to find him pursing his lips wi
th his eyes on the ground. “Nah, I’m cool.”
I rest the one-dollar bills on the open register and tilt my head, concerned. “Manny.” He shrugs, looking up with a smile. It occurs to me suddenly how selfish I’ve been, keeping the staff so small when Le Barré is finally booming. Brendan’s wanted more time with me, and my poor team of three has been working the shifts of five or six. “I’ve been working you hard, huh?” He shakes his head.
“I’ve been making a lot of money. It’s all good.”
“Yeah, but you’re tired. Look, it’s my fault. I feel so close to you guys that I’ve been unconsciously hesitant to bring new people into our fold. But don’t worry. I told Brendan I’m going to hire a male bartender and I think I should really just break down and hire a few more people. Some will have one or two shifts and be there for backup. How does that sound? You three will still get prime slots, of course!”
His wariness shifts to gratitude and he grins. “Sounds great, Boss.”
Turning back to finish the count, I shrug, “You guys are my family now, you know. I love you.” As I get to seventeen, I feel Manny’s arms wrapping quickly around me for a hug. I laugh and turn to hug him back.
“You’re the best, Annie.”
“Hey! You only call me Boss,” I smile.
“You deserved an Annie that time.”
Laughing I push him away from me and he acts like I hurt him, cowering a little as he breaks into laughter and walks to the front door. “Merry Christmas!”
“Merry Christmas, Manny!” I wave. “Oh! Lock the door behind you?”
“Always!” He waves and disappears. In the silence of the room, I can hear his keys locking it from the outside.
Writing down the total on the ledger, I glance to my phone, pulled to call Brendan and see if he’s coming. Now that I’m alone, my heart has begun to pick up speed a little. Will there ever be a time when I don’t feel nervous being here alone at night? Well, I guess with the new plan to only work early shifts, I won’t have to worry about this anymore.
“Calm down, Annie. He’s going to be here any second.”
I start to hum to myself as I close the register, deciding to count the coins when he gets here. I can’t think like this. Glancing around for something to do, the Christmas lights and ornaments take on a strange eeriness that I do not like at all.
Walking to the bathroom to relieve this pressure on my bladder, which could or could not be imaginary thanks to Jacob, I glance to the locked iron gates of the patio to see if Brendan’s car is pulling up. There are only empty parking spaces out front, from where I can see, so I bite my lips and start to the go in. A knock at the front door stops me, and I sigh and call out. “Yay!”
Walking quickly to let him in, I pull my keys out of my pocket and unlock the door. Swinging the door open with a huge grin on my face, everything happens so quickly. A ski mask. A cloth muffling my gasp. I reach for the eye cutouts to gouge them, but the cloth mashes harder against my lips and just as I try to kick, my legs give out and darkness comes.
Chapter Fourteen
Brendan
2:35 a.m.
Hanging up the phone, I slide it in my pocket and scramble around for my keys, mentally kicking myself for falling asleep. At first I can’t find them, but then I remember I went straight for the kitchen when I walked into the penthouse earlier, starving. Striding quickly in there, I snatch them up from the counter next to the refrigerator. Walking back to leave, my gaze falls on the glowing Christmas tree and I smile at the sight of it, thinking, tomorrow it’s just us and no more work. And the day after that, too, now that Annie’s agreed to not work again until the baby comes.
I can’t believe she finally agreed to that.
Grinning, I head out the door, but stop to return for my coat. “She’d have my hide if I showed up with just this shirt on,” I mutter to myself, amused and considering not bringing it, just to see her react. But I decide not to provoke her simply for my endless entertainment, and slide it onto my arms as I walk out and lock the front door. Taking the stairs as I always do when I’m alone, I hum the bars of Silent Night, the sound echoing off the staircase walls with my trumpeting footsteps.
As soon as I’m in my car, I turn on the heat to make it cozy for her, the radio turning on as loud as I left it. A D.J. says, “The manhunt is still underway. The last person to escape–” I flip the sound off. Turning the ignition, nothing happens. I stare at the dashboard, and try again. Still nothing. That’s odd. Leaning back in my seat, I look at the console to see if any of the warning lights are on, but there’s nothing out of the ordinary. I try the key again.
Must be a dead battery.
But the music came on, and the heat. I give it one more try. Nothing. Maybe a weak battery?
Jumping out of the car I glance over to Annie’s and look at my key chain. Shit. I knew I should have put her key on here. She keeps a spare in the bowl by the door, so I run back up the stairs, this time without song. Dashing into the penthouse, I find only hair ties, gum, and change there.
“She keeps her spare credit cards by the desk. It’s gotta be there,” I mutter, jogging to the desk we rarely use since both of us have offices of our own. Drawer after drawer I open, finding no keys. “Dammit! Calm down, B-man. Manny’s there with her. There’s nothing to worry about.”
Pulling out my phone, I see for the first time I’ve missed a ton of calls and messages tonight. When I was at the bar, I couldn’t hear them. I never checked my phone after I went home to eat. When Annie called after two, I picked up and didn’t see them.
For a brief second, I write off the amount of calls to people reaching out for the holidays, and I’m about to dismiss them and phone Annie to tell her I have to come get her in a cab, and to wait there. But something makes me hit the text icon, and I see five texts from Mark alone. Hitting his name, I read them.
Merry Christmas Fucker.
I just gave Nicole her gift. You were right.
B-man. Tommy escaped prison last night. Did you hear?
Yo B. I’m going to call you. It’s all over the news.
Brendan, I just called. Where you at? Hit me back.
My heart stops as I read the third one again and I hurriedly call my wife. As it rings, my body begins to shake. When voicemail picks up, I can no longer see straight, the room is spinning. I dial her again, my mouth dry. Voicemail again. I call the bar. No one picks up. I call Manny, but there’s no answer there, either. With veins slamming adrenaline into my body, I dial Knockout. Bobby answers after two rings, the music loud in the background, “Merry Christmas B-MAN! WOOHOOO!!”
“Bobby! Tommy’s escaped,” I choke out in a rasp. “I need you to go check on Annie. My car…it won’t start.” I start running for the door, crushing my phone against my ear.
He speaks over me, “What?! Wait, what? Are you serious?” He calls to one of his employees. “Hey, turn off that music!”
Barreling down the steps of our building, I gasp, “I’m dead serious. My car is dead. I’m going to run there. I can’t wait for a cab. GO NOW!”
The music cuts off abruptly. “Yeah! Okay! I can’t believe it. Wait, when?”
“Last night! It was probably him following her.”
“Oh man, Brendan. Okay. I’m sure she’s fine. Don’t worry! I’ll call you as soon as I get there!” He hangs up as I vault out of our building onto the sidewalk and break into a run.
Through the fog, I race down Mission past late-night stragglers and homeless people sleeping on the sidewalk. I go over the moments from our phone call to now. How long it took to find my keys. How I hummed and took my time leaving.
How I fell asleep when I should have been there.
How I should never have left in the first place.
A car honks and I look, hoping it’s her in a cab. But it’s a stranger honking celebration. Ignoring their wave, I keep running as fast as I can, my legs plowing so quickly I can hardly see them. After a few blocks, Bobby’s ahead in the distance,
by himself waiting in front of Le Barré with his eyes on me. Fear explodes in my chest at her absence, and my mind pictures the worst. Is she inside? Is she dead on the floor inside? Tears spring to my eyes.
“Where is she?!” I come to a stop in front of him, panting. “WHERE IS SHE?!”
He stares at me, scared. “Brendan. It’s unlocked.”
A pain I’ve never known before takes hold of me. “ANNIE!” I go for the door, but he stops me.
“She’s not in there! I checked.”
I rush inside, searching. “Annie?!” The storeroom, the office, the bathroom, all empty. Picking up her phone and her purse, I stare at them like I can’t believe what I’m seeing. “He took her. He took her, Bobby,” I whisper, falling to my knees. “ANNIE!!!!”
Bobby grabs me and pulls me back up, shaking me by the shoulders. “Brendan! They can’t have gotten far. We’ll call the police and we’ll get her back! Where would he have taken her? Can you think of anywhere?”
Staring at my friend, I search my mind for any place I can think of. “He doesn’t have his apartment anymore. He doesn’t have any friends. Margaret! You call 911. Tell them you need to speak to Sergeant Lewis. Get him out of bed if they have to.”
He nods, remembering the name. “They’re going to send anyone who’s there now.”
“Fine. I just want him to know, since he’ll care. I want someone who cares about Annie on this.” Tears sting my eyes as I finish, “I’ll call Margaret. They were having an affair, she’s the only one he might have called.” It’s a long shot, but as I dial our agency’s C.F.O., time stops. When I hear her sleepy voice pick up, I ask her if she’s heard from Tommy, informing her abruptly that he’s escaped prison.
“What? Brendan, is this a joke?”
“Margaret, I don’t have time to fuck around. I know you were having an affair. Are you hiding Tommy?”
Silence, then, “Brendan, I can assure you, I have no idea what you’re talking about.” The way she said that indicates Joe is next to her and having been woken up, is now listening.
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