Danny's Main

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“MY HEART ACHES for both of those boys.” Julie’s tired voice shook as she swept broken glass into small piles for Da

The scene that had gone down between Max and Kyle was one that would forever be imprinted in her mind. A confrontation that led to an explosion. Virtual strangers learning secrets about the other that even close friends wouldn’t share.

Watching Max come undone as what seemed like his already fragile life blew apart was devastating. Seeing the guilt, torment, and anguish slice across Kyle’s face was flat-out debilitating. Every bone in Julie’s body ached to help the two men she’d grown to care about, to mend a hole that needed to heal. But Da

“Jules, they’ll be okay,” Da

And it did, quicker than Julie could ever have imagined. Max’s wife died in a car accident the following morning, in the process of leaving her marriage behind. The minute Kyle heard the news, he got to Max’s side and stayed there.

In the months and years that followed, a brotherhood formed between the two that made no sense to some, but to Da

She looked around the bar, their dream packed into four walls, but she heard Chester’s voice and encouragement everywhere. He gave it to them, changed their lives, and she wanted to pay it forward. She went to her office and called her friend. His voice still made her smile.

Chapter Twenty-One

We Can’t Just Take Her On – We’ve Gotta Take Her In

DANNY’S ON MAIN was closed on Sundays, a decision made during their second month in business.

“The bar was our dream,” she’d reminded Da

When Da

“Woman…brilliant. Tomorrow, closed.” While lacking enthusiasm, Da

“We can’t close tomorrow, babe.” Julie rubbed her hand over her husband’s stubble-laden cheek. “We have staff that may or may not turn up and customers that are expecting us. But we can look at our reports, pick our day, and put up a sign with our new hours.”

Within a couple weeks’ time, she and Da

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JULIE SIGHED AS she fastened her seatbelt. “I love seeing Sheila and Chris. It doesn’t matter if it’s been a month or six months—we always pick up where we left off.”

She and Da

“Seeing that man holding a little girl…” Da

Julie giggled. “That’s sweet.”

“She’s a baby. What’s she go

Being with Sheila had been wonderful and seeing Sheila’s granddaughter was lovely. But a tiny part, not so deep down inside, of Julie still grieved the loss of their family. Julie didn’t begrudge her friend a family, not even a little bit, but watching Da

Julie forced a laugh. “She won’t repeat anything…yet. But Chris was being protective of his girl. Let him be.” Julie rolled down her window as the need for fresh air overwhelmed her.

Da

His words, more gentle than his caress, eased the ache in her chest that she hadn’t had the heart to voice. The way he knew her, saw through her, loved her was a blessing.

The way Da

***

“WHEN’S THE LAST time you had yourself a real meal, sweetheart?” Da

“Umm…” The blonde’s gaze darted around the open space, looking for what he had no idea, but when her shoulders slumped, she took a second step away from the door. And then a third.

“Seriously,” he coaxed, “have a seat, hun. We make a mean burger and a sweet cherry soda.” He didn’t leave his position behind the bar, fearing that his size may intimidate her, but he hoped the enticement of food would be enough to make her stay. Girl looked as if she’d been living off of hardly anything for weeks. She was clean and kempt but malnourished, which led Da

“I’m not all that hungry,” the girl said with conviction that didn’t quite reach her eyes. At that moment, Julie delivered a burger and fries to customers having lunch at a table by the window. “But I guess a cheeseburger couldn’t hurt…and fries too. Please.”

He wasn’t sure why getting her to accept food felt like such a win, but it did. “You got it.” He tapped the order into the computer system that he’d finally learned how to use, then pointed at the stools. “My name’s Da

The girl gave a tiny smile, and just like that, her face transformed from i