Out of the Blue

by Elizabeth Holland

  “You know, he’d always eat the same cereal for breakfast. Watch the same sitcom on Friday night.”

  “Sounds reliable.”

  Hailey leaned over and nudged Tom and his sun came back quick.

  “I think he’d be good for me now, but back then, I just wanted to, I don’t know, live a little.”

  “And what’s different now?”

  “Now, I think I want something… well, reliable.”

  Tom cleared his throat as he got up and went to the other side of the bar. Collecting the butter and the syrup, he started to put things away.

  “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

  “No, you’re not the one who upset me.”

  “Some foolish ex?”

  Hailey leaned over the counter and propped her chin up on her palms. Tom knew that look. He somehow had gotten Hailey attached to something in Blushing Bay, only trouble was, it was him. She obviously wanted to know more about him, more about the love he once had. More about Caroline.

  A deep breath, then he explained. “My brother and I didn’t always get along. I’m the older one, so I try to take care of him when I can. And every time he comes back into my life, I get burned.”

  Hailey leaned closer over the counter as her deep brown eyes pulled more of the story out of Tom.

  “Last time he came around, I was engaged. I needed his help for something, and he used it against me. And when it was over, she left town right along with him.”

  “Oh, Tom, that’s terrible.”

  “It’s been a year now, so, it’s in the past.”

  Hailey leaned back and bit her lip. Tom knew she wanted to say more, that’s what people do when they hear sad things. And he waited, but Hailey just sat there with her eyes wandering around at his hands and his arms and then his face.

  “Anyway, I should take a look at that drain.”

  “You don’t have to; I can call someone.”

  “No need. I’ll take care of it, Hails.”

  “Hey,” she stopped him before he could hit the stairs. “Why do you call me that?”

  “What? Hails?”

  “Yeah. Why did you think of it?”

  Tom shrugged. “I don’t know. Just sounded good. Does it bother you?”

  “No,” she shrugged, looking to the floor in thought. “My dad used to call me that. I haven’t heard it in a while.”

  “I can stop.”

  “No, I like it.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Hailey sat on the sofa as she went over the payroll records and invoices for the week so far. It wasn’t all that different from the record keeping she’d done at the museum. Even so, she didn’t want to mess anything up, especially with payday coming in two days.

  Gathering up the payroll register, checks, expense reports, yearly maintenance records, and Dierdre’s journals, Hailey decided it was time to pay Tom’s bar a visit. He had, of course, been the keeper of her books for a while, so he’d have to know all the details on what to pay and when.

  After getting into a pair of snug jeans and a soft shirt that stretched to her thighs, Hailey fluffed her hair and went out to her car.

  “Hailey,” a woman called from the pie shop. “Hey, I’ve been meaning to come up and introduce myself. I’m Laney.”

  “Oh, right. Nice to meet you,” Hailey jumbled the papers as she reached out her hand to Laney.

  “Here,” Laney opened her car door. “I’ve been helping my dad at his farm lately so I’m not here as much. And Nikki’s been studying for her midterms.”

  “Your sister?”

  “Yep.”

  “So, you’re doing some stuff for the festival?”

  “Yeah, we make a bunch of things, in large quantities,” she laughed. “My number’s on the post board inside the shop if you ever need me.”

  “Cool. Hey, do you know the best way to get to Tom’s bar?”

  “The Port?”

  “Um, yeah, I guess. I didn’t know the name.”

  “Yeah, just take Main Street down to second, then you go left. You can practically smell the fish from there.”

  Both women laughed.

  “Thanks. I’ll see you around.”

  “Sure will.”

  Mack’s River—sadly named for a man who lost his life drowning in it years ago—wound through the western part of town, even touching the back of the orchard. Dierdre had told Hailey all sorts of stories about the river, including how some people believed it was haunted by Mack himself. Following it was impossible, but Laney’s directions were just the ticket. Soon, she spotted the sign. Up high on an amalgam of white-painted planks, letters written in bright blue, block print, sat, “The Port.” Hailey laughed a little at the name. It was simple and original, just like Tom.

  As she parked her coupe and turned off the engine, Hailey spotted a raindrop. Then more, until a steady flow of light drops came straight down over her car like a cleansing shower. She took the papers in hand and went rushing into the bar. Wiping her hair from her eyes as she shook off the cool moisture on her arms, Hailey spotted Tom looking over at her with a playful smile.

  “You’re wet,” he smirked.

  Hailey rolled her eyes, but a grin crept over her face. She went to the bar and sat the papers down, and then she took a napkin and wiped the rain from her skin. “I was hoping you could explain some things to me,” she looked up at Tom, who then gave a nod. “It’s a lot to go through. And I know you’re familiar with her finances.” She turned to see the people behind her—the young couple at a booth, the two older men at a table—and then looked back at Tom. “If you’re busy, though—”

  Tom shook his head as he wiped the counter with a big white towel. “This isn’t busy, Hails.”

  “Okay, good.”

  “What are you drinking?”

  “Oh, I don’t think I should drink. We’re going over business.”

  “Diet Coke?” he offered. Hailey gave a nod. As he poured, he asked her, “And food?”

  “Food?”

  “You must be hungry,” his eyes shot to hers and then back down to the glass. “It’s six, unless you already had dinner.”

  “Uh, no,” she shook her head. “I haven’t eaten since lunch.” She thought then of the Cheetos she had munched around one. Sure, that could pass for lunch.

  “Well then,” he carried the glasses over to a small booth that was tucked to the right of the entrance. There were other papers and a mess of handwritten notes. Obviously, this was his private table, a place where he would sit and take care of his own business. Just the thought of him being in charge gave her the chills. Tom looked back at Hailey and motioned for her to follow. Gathering her things, Hailey went to the booth and sat down opposite where he was standing. As she got comfortable, Tom leaned on the back of the booth and glanced down over her with his arms crossed. “What is your favorite food?”

  She sort of laughed at the question while trying to think at the same time.

  “You don’t have one?”

  “No, I do, I just… I guess I don’t really know it,” she rambled. “I don’t exactly cook. I never have, actually. I’m terrible at it.”

  “That can’t be true.”

  “It is,” she smiled. “But I bet a place like this has a great burger.”

  “Burgers are for lunch,” he shook his head and those dimples of his seemed to appear and disappear as fast as Hailey could blink. “Alright, I’ll make us dinner and you try to organize what you brought. I left everything with the lawyer when she passed, so I don’t know if things are still organized.”

  “I don’t think so.”

  “Alright, a challenge then.”

  Tom walked off to the kitchen, and as he did, a young woman came out from behind the bar. If that was Ash, god, how was Hailey going to compete with her? Bright hair, tight body.

  “Ash, grab those potatoes over there,” Tom yelled. He was leaning around the wall that divided the kitchen from the bar, smiling at Hailey as she tried not to
throw a tantrum.

  “Sure thing, boss,” Ash yelled back across the dining room. The restaurant was only big enough for a handful of tables and eight booths, including the one Hailey now sat at.

  Ash walked over by the door and grabbed a sack of potatoes. Oh, come on. She lunged it up over her shoulder as her arms popped little perfect muscles. She joked with the customers in her lively, delicate voice. They all laughed with her like it didn’t matter what she had to say. She was gorgeous, adorable, and she suddenly became competition.

  Now Ash passed by Hailey’s table and the two women made eye contact for the first time. Ash smiled at Hailey and her rounded cheeks perked upward showcasing her prominent, emerald green eyes. Hailey gave a quick smile, and as the girl turned her back to go into the kitchen, Hailey sighed in disgust. How could she contend with that? Womanly curves and an attitude that seemed to capture every pin-up and girl-next-door known to man. It sickened her to the core, but she smiled again as the woman turned back for one more glance.

  Opening the binder, Hailey set out her documents and started to sort through them. A few pages in, she could hear Tom laughing, followed by a light, flirty giggle that could have only belonged to the blond. Their friendly conversation was building, but it was hidden behind the sounds of sizzling meat and random bursts of dishes clanging together. Hailey pushed the papers to the side and leaned over the table to see the kitchen down past the bar, but it was too far out of sight. Scooting up over the table more, Hailey caught just the edge of the grill, and Tom’s right shoe. She slid back down into her seat and huffed. But as the blond woman began to laugh again, Hailey looked ahead to see the bathroom down the hall from where she sat. She stood up and walked down that hall without a second to pass. Turning to see the kitchen in plain view, Hailey slid quickly passed the wall and out of Tom’s sight.

  Hailey stood there for a second and then peeked out from behind the wall to find the girl smiling at Tom’s side while tapping his arm. She was too close, too friendly. Watching the girl lean around to take a tray of appetizers in hand, and, in the process, come walking toward the bar, the dining room, and toward Hailey, Hailey quickly ducked into the bathroom and closed the door.

  “Alright,” she whispered to herself in the mirror. “You didn’t come here to land a date. You didn’t come here to get to know him. You came to understand the payroll.” Hailey ran the water and rinsed off her hands and then patted her face. With a paper towel in hand, she dried her skin and then faced the mirror again. “Who am I kidding? I came to see him,” she admitted to herself. Hailey grabbed the handle, let out a sigh, and then opened the door and went out to the table just as Tom brought two plates of food with a big smile.

  “You’re going to love this.”

  “You think so?”

  “I do.” Tom pulled the towel from his shoulder and wiped his hands.

  “You don’t know me that well, remember?”

  “We’ll see.”

  Tom turned to head back to the kitchen, but Ash got in his way and bumped right into him.

  “Tom, you almost spilled my tray,” she pushed at his shoulder.

  “If you’d just look,” he snapped back.

  “I got another salmon order.”

  “Tell Riley; I’ll be busy for a bit.”

  “Yeah,” she went to the kitchen and was quickly out of sight.

  Before Tom could sit down, Hailey asked him for a drink.

  “You know, maybe a drink would be good. This might take a while anyway.”

  “Now you’re talking.” Tom went to the bar and started to pull ingredients from the shelves. “I have the perfect drink in mind,” Tom unscrewed the top from a bottle of white rum. Hailey watched him blend the drinks for a moment before she noticed all the colorful, beachy items on the walls and hanging from the ceiling. The whole place was perfectly coastal, something she hadn’t seen in Lansing. Tables intimate set with seashell napkin holders and salt and pepper shakers that looked like sandcastles. Everything was in a lively, sunny color. Teals, oranges, bright white wood, the place was like a little spot on the beach. Hailey’s favorite stuff, though, were the overhead signs that said interesting things like, Drop a line, grab some wine. And, Floaters welcome. Hailey pointed to one that said, Apple Pickers Anonymous, with a coy smile. Tom glanced up as he added ice to the glasses and started to laugh.

  “That’s a real society, you know. We take this business serious,” he peered up at Hailey as he poured the liquors together. He had a stern look in his gaze, but it was obviously a joke. After plopping a straw into each glass, Tom went to the table and sat down across from Hailey.

  There was a noticeable shift in the scent around the table. It was that shore-drenched aroma that kept trailing around him every time he came close. And boy was he close. Leaning over to place her drink right before her, Tom had her full attention. She could now smell the rum and the fruit in the drink; she didn’t need to taste it to get intoxicated, Tom had that covered by looks alone.

  Chapter Twelve

  “Now, this is something I don’t have on the menu, so don’t go telling all your friends about it.”

  “I’m starting to wonder what’s actually on your menu.”

  “Fish, and more fish, and the occasional steak.”

  “And this is?”

  “None of the above,” he laughed. “It’s lemon glazed chicken with a lime and brown sugar rub; fresh, hand-cut fries with sea salt and cracked pepper; and homemade slaw. Which is on the menu, because it’s one of my favorites.”

  “It smells amazing,” Hailey had a full, open-mouthed smile as she laughed. “Thanks for this.”

  “Oh, I could do this every night,” his words came out quick. “I mean, cook. I enjoy it. Always have.” Hailey agreed with a nod. She cut into the chicken and the sweet citrus smell filled the air around them. Tom watched her as her eyes rolled back, as her mouth hummed in anticipation. “My grandma used to make this for me as a kid.”

  Tom cut into his chicken and then took a bite.

  “This is so good,” she gushed with a mouthful.

  Tom was hiding a smile as he took another bite. Grabbing the glass in front of him, he stirred the liquid and then drank down an inch.

  “What is it?” Hailey pointed to the drink before taking a sip.

  “A Port Downpour,” he told. “It’s coconut rum, blackberry schnapps, a splash of lime juice, and I finish it with Sprite and loads of ice. It has to be very cold.” Hailey pulled the straw to her lips and tasted the dark purplish liquid. Sitting back, she slouched into the booth as if she was going to melt right off the seat.

  “I love blackberries!”

  “I had a feeling you would.”

  “Well, I suppose you do know me a little.”

  “Just a little.” Tom cut another bite. “Besides, I guessed you were probably tired of apples by now.”

  “Not entirely,” she grinned. “But I can see myself getting there soon.”

  “So,” he took another sip and swallowed. “What is it that you need help with?”

  “Oh, I just don’t want to mess up the paychecks.” Hailey grabbed a fry and Tom moved the ketchup closer.

  “Yeah, angry workers are never fun,” he eyed Ash as she went by with a sly grin. He knew it wouldn’t be long before she stopped over to talk, to convince Hailey to go on a second date with him. Or, well, a first date. This wasn’t actually a date; they were going over business. With dinner and drinks, and Hailey’s feet kicking at his chins ever-so-slightly.

  “How many do you have?”

  “Ash and Riley, that’s it. When she’s not here, I take care of the tables and the bar. We’re closed on Mondays though, so it’s not like I live here.”

  “Sure, you don’t,” Ash smirked as she went by.

  “She thinks I need a life. But what? Am I supposed to go to some other bar on the weekend?”

  “That’d be funny.”

  “Right?” Tom laughed as he took another bite. “Let me
see the ledger.”

  “Yeah, this here, I guess this is the lawyer’s writing?”

  “Yep, this is mine. He didn’t do too bad though.”

  Hailey took another drink and then a bite of her chicken. “Seriously, Tom, this is like heaven on a plate.”

  Well, he’d heard a lot of things about his cooking, but that was the best compliment he’d had in a while. Aside from Iris pronouncing his salmon was like an orgasm drenched in syrup. She was, of course, three drinks in and the bar was almost empty.

  “Thanks.”

  “So, should I just follow this chart?”

  “Yeah, you can figure it out. You might make a mistake here and there, but even Deirdre had her moments.”

  “That’s hard to believe.”

  “It’s true. I watched Dierdre shout at Daniel because he pruned back one of the oldest trees on the property—one that she believed her father had planted. Except it wasn’t; it was one that she had brought in thirty years before.”

  “How’d you know?”

  “Jacob knew. The row in question wasn’t in pictures before the eighties. We couldn’t really tell her to her face that she was wrong, but Jacob and I are pretty sure she realized later on.”

  “Why not tell her?”

  “It was Dierdre.”

  “Good point.”

  Hailey was taking another sip of her drink, which was now almost gone. Her eyes were softer now than they had been when she first came into the bar an hour ago. She was relaxed in Tom’s sight. Her shoulders low, her head leaning. Hailey was simply beautiful, no one needed to convince him of that. In fact, she had a sweetheart quality, something that made Tom want to be her best friend and toss her into his bed at the same time.

  “Let me freshen these,” he snatched the glasses up and went to the bar.

  “Is that thunder?”

  “Sounds like it.”

  Hailey curled up on her knees and started to play around with her hair. Tom hadn’t seen this side of her yet, but he wanted more. Her guard was down, her caution out with the wind. She wasn’t judging or throwing opinions or correcting him at every turn.

  “And there’s the rain,” Ash came through and set her tray on the counter.