Danny's Main

“Peace,” the bar owner repeated. “I like that.”

Chester had become not just a mentor but a friend to Da

“How did you end up at Chester’s?” Da

The faraway look Julie sometimes wore when the past caught up with her flashed across her face, but instead of being paired with tear-filled eyes, it came with a smile.“Ahh, Chester. Apparently he came to the funeral.” She shrugged. “Honestly, I don’t remember most of that day. When we spoke after the fact, he explained that he didn’t approach me—something about too many people suffocating me with their need to feel good about themselves.” She and Da

“Wait.” Da

“Da

“People?”

“Yeah, people. I didn’t ask many questions, but according to him, during one of our first conversations, his people had been keeping an eye on me. When the ‘well-wishers’ and the ‘sympathy parade’ got back to their real lives, he knew I’d need him. So he waited. Said he was a little surprised that it took as long as it did, but then again, he knew how amazing my parents were.”

“Okay…” Da

“One night, after I got home from work—I’d been waitressing seven days a week at a joint where they let me bartend two shifts out of twelve for extra cash and experience—I had a message on the answering machine from one Chester Murray. He explained who he was, how he knew me, and that he expected me—expected me—at his bar the following day or he’d send his people to collect me. That was all left in a sixty second message.”

Da

“What do you mean? You’ve heard his voice. I asked some people I worked with about his place to make sure it wasn’t too seedy, and I went to his bar the next day. Sure as shit didn’t want a man that sounded like that sending anyone to my house.”

Da

Julie’s eyes had danced with the memory. “I was dead on my feet when I walked into Chester’s Bar. That was back when I was pulling as many double shifts as I could in order to keep my mind occupied and my body out of this house.”

Da

“Anyway, I shuffled up to the bar and had my very first encounter with infamous Bu

Julie explained how she’d turned down the job Chester offered her, but the old guy refused to give up on her. After a handful of offers over a handful of months, he wore her down and got her working under his roof. Respect for the guy who never gave up on a brother’s kid was something Da

Chester spoke, bringing Da

The cool liquid turned to ice as it hit the back of Da

Pressing open palms against the bar top, Chester leaned forward, towering over the scarred pine. “I recommend you think on it, Marcus.” Chester’s next words came out slowly, and Da

“You think that was hard?” he continued. “You think signing up for a war and leavin’ your family was difficult? Tryin’ to keep your mind focused in order to get your brothers to safety…you did that daily, no?” Chester placed two shot glasses on the bar, filled each with tequila, and slid one in Da

Nausea churned in Da

The older guy raised a hand. “I don’t need answers tonight. In fact, I don’t need answers ever. It’s just a question I’ve been thinkin’ about. Do what makes you happy, and take care of our girl.”

Chapter Seven

Took Tommy Jones

“SERIOUSLY, THAT WAS the best Christmas I’ve had in years,” Julie said through a yawn. She unfolded her cramped legs, stretching yet again in the passenger seat of Da

“You say that every year.” Da

“And I mean it every year.” She giggled.

They’d left North Carolina at the crack of dawn, and six hours later, they were almost home to a slush-covered Baltimore. After four years of marriage, the heat between them still snuffed out even the coldest temperatures.

“I love that you love spending time with my dad and Neal, honey.” Da

Julie gripped his hand. “Da