His Forgotten Love (A McGinty's Of San Antonio Series Novel Book 4)

by Donalyn Maurer

  Together with Chief and other local veterans that have been stopping by and offering to help we’ll be able up and running soon. The last thing to go up is the replacement tin roofs and Jesse’s dad said they were going to need special equipment to get those on.

  I think some of the old timers, as Chief calls them, needed something to fill their time because so many of them have been in and out offering a hand. During this time, I also learned Chief is a widower and has one son and a daughter that live nearby. He also has four grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren. And they’ve all been in and out too, offering to help with whatever I needed whether it’s bringing lunch for everyone or helping clean or paint. The youngest of all the children is almost four, like Callie. His name is Dylan and they’re inseparable when they’re together.

  I talked with Jessie and we decided to hold a private celebration at Holloway’s. Our families and Chief’s family are all suppose to come and we’re having a cookout and I’ve already ordered a moon bounce for the kids. Nash and Chase are sitting up for a baseball game and Bradley said he’s bringing all the stuff needed for the kids to go snipe hunting. I asked Jesse what that was and he started laughing but would never really say which worries me. I followed him around the bar for over an hour begging him to tell me if I should buy traps or if there’s a spray I can buy so these snipes don’t invade my place. Each time I asked him he laughed even harder till I finally gave up but called back, “Fine, Jesse, but if one of these snipes eats me, you’re to blame,” which made him almost fall down laughing.

  The morning after we first found this place, Jesse and I came back in the daytime because I wanted to see how close we were to the Guadalupe River. I was happily surprised to see that the iron fence I ran into that night runs all along the edge of the river and there’s stairs that lead right down to the river bank. There’s a gate but it’s kept locked for safety reasons and I was thrilled to find out that property and halfway down is an easement of the county but runs along this property. Since it’s the only means to the river, Chief, and now I have rights to use it. Chief told me he’d give me the key and he only opened it during the summer for his family and friends.

  But this afternoon I’m interviewing bartenders, waiters and waitresses. Patrick is hiring three more onto his security company and they’ll be designated bouncers at Holloway’s. Patrick said he wanted to do this for me and Cody and that he would see to their salaries at least till I started seeing a decent return on our investment.

  Inside the bar is dark so when the front door opens and the sun shines through I’m momentarily blinded, again, and slap my hands over my face.

  Gah! I forget every single time.

  I hear a chuckle and I laugh too. It’s my dad.

  “You do that every time. When are you going to learn not to look?” He laughs.

  “I don’t know.” My voice is muffled behind my hands. After a few moments, I lower my hands and squint at my dad. He’s still laughing and so am I but stop when I see he’s carrying two guitars.

  “Come on.” He hands me a guitar. “One thing we haven’t checked, the acoustics of this old place. Plus, it’s been awhile since we played together.” He trails off softly.

  He walks over to the stage Jesse and his brothers and cousin made, I admit, it’s awesome. It’s huge and looks a lot like an outdoor deck. They also added chicken wire to protect the band as a joke. When I came in and saw it I started laughing and then promptly told them to take it down which caused them to start laughing. But now, the more that I see it up there, the more it’s become a part of Holloway’s and I like it. It adds a little something to the place so maybe it’ll stay. I follow my dad with the other guitar as he makes his way to the side steps of the stage and we both set our guitars down.

  “Hang on.” He goes back out, grabs a couple of chairs and brings them back in. He sits them next to each other and then sits down and pulls his guitar from his case. I follow his lead and do the same.

  Once we’re seated I look at my dad. “What are we playing?”

  “You know Ledges by Noah Gundersen?” I slowly nod. “How about that?”

  “Okay.” I wait for my dad to take the lead.

  As my dad sings I listen to his beautiful voice only joining in on the chorus all the while thinking I could never find a better man.

  When we finish up my dad stands and pulls me into a hug. “Love you, Allie.”

  “Love you too, Dad.”

  “I’ve got some things in the car to give you. Mom told me to bring them over. She was going through Cody’s room. She said it was time and guess she’s right. Anyway.” He takes a deep breath. “She thought they’d make you feel closer to Cody and help you to remember he’s here with you, us all the time.”

  “Okay.” I follow him back off the stage. My dad walks outside and a few minutes’ later returns with a small box and a guitar, Cody’s guitar. My hands fly to my mouth as he walks back over to me and sets the box and guitar down. I walk closer and look in the box and again, tears, when will they stop?

  I reach in and pull out a picture of Cody and me playing the guitar while laughing. It’s the same one pinned to the corkboard in my room only it’s enlarged it to an 8x10 and framed. I reach in and pull out another framed picture of my dad and brothers and the Army Ball all in their dress uniform. The last thing in the box is a folded up American Flag.

  “It’s the one that hung over Cody’s bed.” He shares. “Thought you could hang it somewhere in here.”

  My eyes fly to the bar and I point to the back wall behind it. “There.”

  My dad nods and walks back out to his truck and comes back in with his tool box. I stand back and watch as he hangs Cody’s flag then takes the framed pictures and looks at me question. “By the door.” My dad looks at me in question. “So everyone can see them.” I explain.

  He nods again and walks over and hangs the pictures on the wall. Seeing them there I immediately know I’ll add more photos to that wall. More memories. More love for everyone to see when they walk in. My dad drops his hammer back in his toolbox and walks back over to me.

  “Perfect.”

  “Perfect.” He agrees.

  “The guitar, I’m not sure. I’ll give it some thought.” I look around in thought.

  The door opens and again I blind myself when I look over at it. Despite the deep emotion my dad and I just shared we both start laughing when my hands fly to my face again.

  “Hey, I’m sorry. You okay?” I hear the voice ask but I can’t see anything.

  “She’s fine.” My dad says through his laughter. “Can we help you?” I hear my dad ask.

  “Uh, yeah. I heard...” Something in his voice, the shyness, the softness, it’s familiar and it’s beautiful. I’ve heard it before but I can’t place where. As my vision comes back I look at him and recognize him and his eyes immediately. His hair is longer; almost black soft curls hang around his neck. Instead of looking like a soldier in his uniform he looks like a rock-n-roll god in jeans, boots and nice fitting t-shirt. He’s wearing large silver rings on almost every finger and leather cuffs on his wrists. I walk over and pull him into a hug. I surprise him but after a second he wraps me up tight too.

  “I’m so glad you here. It wouldn’t be the same if you weren’t.” I whisper in his ear.

  “I wouldn’t be anywhere else. It’s all he talked about. This place.” He whispers back and we slowly come out of our embrace.

  “I’m sorry. Am I missing something?” My dad asks.

  I pull him to my side and smile. “Dad, this is Garrett Cooper.”

  My dad’s eyes go wide as he takes Garrett in. “I didn’t recognize you, son. You got a full head of hair on you now. I’m sorry.”

  “No problem, sir. It’s been a while.” He returns and they shake hands.

  “Not since Cody’s funeral.” My dad’s voice is almost vacant.

  “You were at the funeral?” I ask surprised. “I didn’t s
ee you.”

  “Yes.” Garrett responds softly.

  “Kept to himself and then left without a word.” Dad shares concerned.

  “Sorry, Sergeant Major. I was in a bad way.” He confesses.

  “I understand. We all were. And call me Jack. You doing better?”

  “Yes, sir. I separated a while back. About two years now. It wasn’t for me anymore.” Garrett confides.

  “So what are you doing now? You working down here?” Dad inquires.

  “No. Haven’t really worked a steady job lately.” He admits. “Haven’t been worth anything since I got home. Just keeping to myself.” My heart takes on a painful panicked rhythm as I listen to him talk. He’s lost. Cody brought him to me. I have to help him. I come up with a plan as I continue listening to him. “Ran into a buddy though, told me he’d heard that Cody’s little sister had followed through with the place Cody was always talking about. The one thing I did know was I had to be here. Hope you don’t mind.” he finishes up.

  “NO!” I yell a little too excited, startling my dad and Garrett. I laugh before going on, “I mean, no, I don’t mind that you’re here. Of course not.” I say a little calmer.

  Garrett looks around and smiles. “Crazy. It’s almost exactly like I pictured it would be.”

  “Really?” I asked surprised.

  “Yeah, looks a lot like Cody always described he hoped it would.”

  When he shares that, my heart warms. Cody saw it before me and led me right to it.

  “Bartender!” I blurt out loudly and point at Garrett. Surprising both of them.

  “What?” Garrett asks.

  “You’re not working right now, correct?” I exclaim, not really a question.

  “No. Not now.” Garrett looks at me curiously.

  My dad looks at me and smiles and then over at Garrett before asking him, “You ever bartend?”

  “Sorry. No. I haven’t.” He answers and looks down.

  “But you do know how to pop a top on a beer? Pour a finger of whiskey? Pull a cork from a wine bottle?” Garrett glances back at my dad and smiles and what a beautiful smile he has.

  “Yes, sir. I do know how to do those things.” He chuckles almost embarrassed.

  My dad laughs and then looks at me and shrugs his shoulders.

  “Garrett, if you want, you can work here. If you like it, stay. Either way you’ll always have a place. You saved my brother’s life.” Garrett’s eyes snap to mine and he shakes his head.

  “I didn’t. I didn’t react fast enough. Because of me, Michael and Cody are both dead.” He bows his head.

  “No, son, they’re gone because of the war. Not you. I need you to get that through your head and heart. No one blames you.” My dad assures him.

  From this conversation I know that I’m going to ask Jesse and Patrick to talk to Garrett about PTSD, survivor’s guilt and show him where he can get help.

  Garrett only response bow his head. He finally looks around and walks over to the framed pictures. He walks slowly to them and stares at them. I walk up behind him and share my plans. “I’m going to make it a memory wall. Like a wall of fame. A wall of love and honor. Anything and everything will go up and when it’s full, I’ll find another wall to cover.”

  Cody reaches around and pulls out his wallet. He pulls a picture from it and then he hands it to me. I look down and for the first time I don’t cry, I smile. “Can I keep this for a couple of days? I want to make a copy. Enlarge it and hang it on the wall.” Garrett nods and I look back down at the picture and smile again. It’s Cody, Michael and Garrett sitting all together at a table laughing.

  I hear tires crunching on the gravel of the parking lot and then a couple of car doors open and then slam shut. I know what’s coming so I quickly turn my back and cover my eyes. I hear the door squeak open and Garrett’s chuckles quickly stop and he clears his throat.

  “Um, hi.” he mutters shyly.

  “Hi.” A soft sweet voice responds and I smile into my hands.

  Bella.

  I’ve met her a few times when I was over at Grandma Lila’s. She delivers pizza and always stays and chats for a while. She’s so sweet, hilariously funny, endlessly energetic and outrageously beautiful. She has gold eyes and long dark brown hair and a precious chin dimple. Her skin is flawless and has deep touch of olive to it.

  “Is the door closed?” I ask from under my hands.

  I hear my dad laugh. “You’re good.”

  Not trusting though, I slowly turn with only one eye open to make sure. When I see it’s clear I turn around fully and smile as I take in Bella and Garrett standing staring at each other.

  Finally, Bella smiles and her tiny chin dimple pops out even more. Garrett smiles but looks back down shyly. He smiled earlier but this is a different smile.

  These two would make pretty babies. Oh, my Lord! Where did that thought come from? Gah! But, they would.

  I’m looking at the two of them and already planning their wedding. My eyes bug at the thought and when they do I look over at Jaycee who is standing next to Bella and she’s glancing back and forth between the two of them too. When it sinks in, her mouth drops open and she smiles wide.

  Yes, pretty babies. She’s see it too.

  “Sooooo,” Jaycee says dragging it as she steps around Bella and Garrett and walks over to me. Garrett and Bella are standing side by side. They’re so close they’re almost touching. I can feel the electricity coming off the two of them and I think it would be wise to take a couple of steps back before the bolts begin shooting out between the two of them and strike me.

  “We brought the t-shirts.” Jaycee stops next to me. Now we’re both facing Garrett and Bella and their facing us. Jaycee is talking to me but I can’t stop looking at Bella and Garrett. “These are the green ones we ordered for St. Patrick’s Day, the ones for the grand opening and the ones everyone will where now and after.” I hear her but don’t reply.

  “Nope, I’m out.” Dad mutters, grabs his toolbox and starts for the door. “Oh, Garrett, you got a place to stay?” Dad turns back and asks.

  “Um, no, sir. Was going to look around for a motel for a few nights after that, I’m not sure.”

  “Well, save your money, we have plenty of room at our house so just head over there when you’re done here. You’ll stay with us until you figure things out.” My eyes snap to him. “Give him the address, Allie, will ya?”

  “Yes, sir,” I respond with a smile. This is a huge step for my dad and I’m so proud of him. I know he also realizes Garrett is in trouble.

  “And, Garrett, my wife, don’t ask her to cook for you.” Dad warns but Garrett misunderstands his meaning.

  “Oh, no, sir. I wouldn’t expect her to cook for me.” Garrett quickly agrees.

  “No. What I mean is, my wife, she can’t cook, at all. She burns water. I’m giving you a heads up. She offers…” Dad’s words trail off as he shakes his head, NO.

  “Yes, sir.” And Garrett’s lips twitch.

  My dad winks at me then raises his hand and signals me to turn around. I turn around and cover my eyes as my dad’s laughs disappear behind the closing door.

  “Alright then. Let me show you I have manners. Garrett Cooper, this is Bella, Isabella Rollins. Bella, this is Garrett Cooper.” Then I clasp my hands together and wait for the light show that’s about to happen when they touch.

  Jaycee and I both take a step back when Bella reaches her small hand out and offers it to Garrett. He looks at it for a moment and then reaches out for it. Jaycee and I both rock back on our heels when their hands finally touch.

  Holy cow! The room is thick with the something-something these two are putting out.

  “Hi, Garrett.” Bella smiles while looking in his eyes, unblinking.

  “Bella.” He says her name reverently.

  Oh, my God!

  I finally get past planning Garrett and Bella’s future and walk over to the shirts Jaycee set on the bar. I reach in, pull one out and let it unfold
. My stomach does a flip when I see Holloway’s across the front.

  This is really happening.

  “What do you think about my dad and Jesse making a small case by the entrance and we can put some of these shirts on display for sale?” Jaycee shares her idea.

  “Wow, wouldn’t that be something? People wanting to wear our shirts.” I giggle because that’s crazy. Jaycee laughs at my reaction and then looks over at Bella and Garrett. They haven’t moved an inch.

  “Um, Bella?” Jaycee calls and Bella and Garrett’s eyes look at each other before Bella steps forward and makes her way to Jaycee.

  “Sorry.” She whispers sounding a little bit embarrassed.

  “No. no. no, no, no.” Jaycee shakes her head, “Don’t be sorry. It’s just I told your mom I’d have the other order back before lunch so we kind of need to hurry up.” Jaycee explains.

  Most of the waiters and waitress will wear black t-shirts with Holloway’s across the front but for all the other staff and bartenders I decided on a black western style snap down shirt with the Holloway’s logo across the top left side for the men and women and they’re going to fit perfect. I want them tapered so I’m having them tailored made. I got the idea from Stone, Jesse’s dad. I love his monogrammed, perfectly fitted shirts and I think it would work great for Holloway’s too but of course, in the summer, we probably all are in t-shirts. I’ve ordered Holloway tank tops for the girls and when summer comes, the ones that will be working the outside will get to wear those.

  Bella’s parents own graphic design and silk screening shop. They also do embroidery on hats. A lot of places in town use them for their uniforms designs or special event promo merchandise. When Jaycee told me about them, I called and they had me come in and gave some amazing ideas. I knew I wanted button downs and they came up with them being the western style shirts with the Holloway’s logo. I was supposed to let them know how many of those I was going to need and the sizes but the only person I’ve hired is Garrett. I did take on two cooks but their friends of Chief’s. They’re older and may be set in their ways so I didn’t want to insist that they wear our uniform out of respect.