Danny's Main

Anita piped up, “Oh, and let us not forget that if there were men silly enough to have come up with such a ridiculous plan, they would have checked the forecast and known that a coastal storm was coming.”

A hiccup of giggles had the women nearly rolling from their chairs. Da

“All four of you idiots needed rescuing over the course of three days.” Julie’s stare bore into Da

It had been nearly three years since the Empty Contest, and still he remembered with precise clarity having to make that middle-of-the-night phone call to a less-than-happy wife.

“Already snug in bed when you called…” She shook her head. “Lucky I love you."

No matter how a

“See, at least I didn’t drag my wife outta work or outta bed.” Chester gri

“No, you dragged your poor bar manager out of her bed, you old jerk,” Julie partially teased. “Tara was pissed when she called me the next day.”

“Tara got real happy the next night.” Chester lifted his glass and winked.

“Nice.” Allan high-fived Chester, and Da

Julie’s body trembled with laughter while Anita rolled her eyes.

“What? I name my cars,” Allan explained, “and they treat me well.”

The table erupted into hysterics before Allan had finished his sentence.

“Speakin’ of being treated well…” Chester’s confident words were spoken slowly, grabbing Da

Da

“I’ve spent my life servin’…first with America’s finest, then for them. It’s been an honor and a pleasure, but…I’m done.”

“What are you saying, Ches?” There was no hiding the concern in Julie’s voice, nor the strength in the way her small hand gripped Da

Chester chuckled. “Julie girl, alls I’m sayin’ is I’m sellin’ the bar and moving to Key West. Time to stop servin’ drinks and start havin’ some sweet lil’ honeys servin’ me.”

With jaws collectively dropped around the table, Da

Julie beamed. “Oh, Ches, I’m so excited for you. The women have no idea what’s headed their way.”

With another squeeze to his hand, Da

***

“WHEN IS THE move happening?” Julie couldn’t have been happier for the man who had been like a father to her for the past fourteen years. But there was a piece, a small piece that felt selfish, that wished Chester would live a short drive away forever. Especially now.

Chester explained that he had people in Key West, and one of them had been looking to sell their house. Chester had purchased it a month prior but kept it on the down low until he’d found someone willing to buy Chester’s Bar for a fair price. He hadn’t expected the bar to sell so fast for such a profit, but it did. “I’ll be leaving in about four weeks.”

“Four weeks…” Allan frowned. “Anita and I’ll come up here before you leave to say good-bye.”

“Fuck no,” Chester grumbled. “I don’t do good-byes. Not ever. You two wa

Julie’s heart thrummed as Chester spoke. The end of an era was approaching; big changes were on the way. Da

Julie felt a smile break across her lips. “So, Ches, do you think you could find it in your heart to make your way up north in about six months?”

“What?” the entire group asked in unison.

Excitement lit up her insides. The news was still so fresh to her and Da

Da

“Oh… oh…a baby!” Anita jumped up from her chair, rushed around the table, and threw her arms around Julie.

“This calls for another round of champagne,” Chester ordered to the server. “And to answer your question, Julie girl, wild cowgirls couldn’t keep me away.”

“My question is, why the hell did it take you two so long to share this news?” Sheila’s motherly tone always tickled Julie. “Seriously, am I the only one thinking it? Or am I the only one ballsy enough to say it?”

“I’m with Sheila on this one,” Allan said as his fingers drummed a quick beat on the table top. “We’re having dessert already. Jeez, what were you waiting for?”

Julie turned her gaze from her father-in-law to her husband. Da

“And it doesn’t get sweeter or sexier than this,” Da

Allan cleared his throat, which cleared Julie’s erotic thoughts. “Please don’t forget you have house guests. Anita and I love you, but we don’t want a repeat of Independence Day 1996. Some pretty explosive fireworks that night.” Allan winked.

“Dad,” Da

“No, son, you promised we’d never talk about it again.”

Laughter filled the emptying restaurant.

“Aw man, I love that story,” Chris chimed in. “Nothing fu

Julie’s cheeks flamed. “No disrespect, but you guys aren’t so quiet yourselves.”

Instantly Allan and Anita fell silent and Da

“It’s true,” Da

Julie giggled and Da

“Oh… oh…” Anita gasped. “That’s horrifying. You’re right, we should never talk of those times again.”