Riverbend Reunion(20)

Mary Nell nodded.

“I’ll drink to that and provide the matches and kindling.” Oscar raised his glass. “I’m going to view today’s event as a positive thing. Let’s talk about our new bar. I’d be glad to buy in as a silent partner.”

“Thank you,” Wade said, “but what we’re really interested in is buying your local moonshine and wine.”

“And maybe letting this old Vietnam vet man the bar some of the time?” Oscar asked. “I could swap stories with all these young whippersnappers from over at Fort Hood.”

“We’d be honored to have you behind the bar anytime you want to help out,” Jessica said.

“Thank you, darlin’.” Oscar’s face lit up. “I sure do like the idea of helping make this old building into a bar and then spending time with all you kids.”

Wade finished off his tea, refilled his glass, and turned to focus on Jessica. “Oscar and your Uncle Elijah were best friends. They served together on the worst day in that Vietnam War. They hardly ever talked about it, except with each other.”

“January 1968, but right now I want to know if these two young’uns here”—Oscar nodded toward Daisy and Lily—“think they’ll be happy living with Haley? If not, then they can bring their mama and come to our house. It’s pretty far out of town, but the school bus runs right past it. And speaking of that, any of you girls are welcome if you need a place, either for a few days or permanently.” He turned to nod at Jessica. “That goes for you, too, if you get tired of living all cramped up in that little bitty trailer.”

“Thank you, Oscar. I appreciate that offer a lot,” Jessica said.

“Oh. My. Gosh!” Lily fanned herself with the back of her hand. “We won’t ever get tired of living here. This is like living in a fairy tale. Daisy and I each have our own room for the first time in our lives. I don’t have to listen to Daisy whine about me taking more than half of the top of the dresser.”

“And I don’t have to put up with Lily missing the dirty-clothes basket with her socks, and never making her bed. We even have each got a queen-sized bed in our rooms. I’m sure I’m going to feel like I’m sleeping on clouds after having a little narrow, twin-sized one my whole life,” Daisy added. “And the best part is that”—she took a deep breath and shot a look toward her mother—“we left all the tension behind in Granny Stella’s house. We never knew when she was going to get mad at us, or start telling us how lucky we were that she took us in so that we didn’t have to live on the street.”

“That’s good,” Oscar said. “Now, you, Risa. Are you really all right with this move? It had to have stung for Stella to tell you to get out of her house. She is your mother, after all, and a mother should love her child unconditionally and support her.”

“I was feeling like I didn’t belong anywhere, but I’m grateful that Haley has taken us in, that Jessica is giving me a job, and that I’ve got good friends,” Risa answered, “and that y’all are all here to support me and the girls. It seems like maybe things might work out after all.”

“Anytime,” Haley said. “Going back to the bar conversation. What time should we be there in the morning?”

“Oscar and I usually start at eight, knock off an hour for lunch, and quit about four,” Wade answered, “but that’s not set in stone.”

“How about the girls and I get there a little earlier than that, have breakfast ready for y’all at eight, a light lunch at noon, and then we all have supper together at five?” Risa asked.

“Home cooking?” Oscar’s blue eyes lit right up. “I’d work for free for that kind of schedule.”

“We all have to eat, and that’s what I’ll be doing when the bar opens, so I can get acquainted with the kitchen this way,” Risa said.

Jessica pulled a credit card from her purse and handed it to Risa. “This is going to be our account card. Buy whatever you need at the grocery store with it and bring the receipts to Mary Nell. She’s going to be in charge of the office, payroll accounts, and all that stuff. Seems strange to call the place a bar after it being a church for so long.”

“Might as well get used to it.” Wade grinned, and this time it did reach his eyes. “That’s what it’s about to become.”

“What are y’all naming it?” Haley asked.

“That should be a joint effort,” Jessica answered.

“How about the Preacher’s Bar and Grill since it’s located on Preacher Road?” Lily asked.

“Or My Church since that’s what’s left on the sign right now? Seems like an omen to me,” Risa suggested.

“Can’t you just see a young trainee from the base saying that he’s going ‘to church’?” Wade air quoted the last two words. “His training officer would probably think the kid had gotten religion.”

“Name it whatever you want. Folks are going to call it the Old Church,” Oscar said. “Remember when those folks rented Sparky’s little store and had services there until they could build something better? The little paper sign taped to the window with the times for services called it the Cowboy Church, but everyone called it Sparky’s church. You probably would have a legal name for the business when you apply for your liquor license, though.”