Flawless(60)

*

The Finnegan family was good at allotting tasks to make sure everything was covered, especially in times of crisis, Kieran thought.

Declan, in his role as eldest, created a schedule.

Danny had to work that day, but when he was done being a tour guide he would head back to the hospital.

Finnegan’s opened at 11:00 a.m., but Rory, Pedro and Javier would have the kitchen going early, Debbie Buenger would open the bar and Mary Kathleen would join her to make sure opening would be covered. Declan himself would be there by eleven thirty.

Kieran would leave the hospital in time to make it to the pub by around twelve thirty, when the lunch crowd got going, and Kevin would stay at the hospital until Danny arrived. Once Kevin got to the pub, Kieran would return to the hospital and stay as long as they let her. Moving forward, Danny would be a floater and either stay at the hospital or come to the pub, depending on which seemed more important on the day.

At one point, as Kieran sat next to Bobby, nearly drowsing, she felt him squeeze her hand again.

Her eyes flew open, and she saw that Bobby was looking at her. He managed a weak smile and his lips were moving.

“Thank you,” he said, and he closed his eyes again.

She looked across the bed at Kevin, who was staring at her.

“Did I just hear that?” he asked.

“Yes!” she said excitedly. “He spoke.”

Kieran rose, easing her hand from Bobby’s, and headed into the hall, looking for a doctor. She found Nurse Emily, who told her that even momentary consciousness was a very good sign, but they had to be patient. With luck he would wake up again soon.

As the lunch hour drew near, Kieran rose to leave. Due to her recent experience in the subway, she opted to take a cab and made it to the pub without incident.

Saturday crowds could be a strange mix.

The pub was closer to downtown than not, so the business crowd that flooded the pub on weekdays wasn’t around.

Saturday nights tended to be very busy, with tourists and random locals on top of their regular patrons.

The regulars all knew Bobby O’Leary and would understand that the Finnegan siblings had taken on the duty of watching over him.

When Kieran came in, she saw that Declan or someone had asked Julie to help out; she was wearing an apron and carrying a tray filled with frosty ales.

Julie saw Kieran walk in and paused with her heavy tray. “How’s Bobby? Any change?” Her tone was worried.

“I think he’s a little better. He opened his eyes for a minute and spoke,” Kieran said.

One of the regulars overheard her, and in seconds her words were echoing through the entire place.

“Bobby is a fighter, that he is!” someone called out. “Three cheers for Bobby.”

Cheers and applause filled the air.

“This really is an amazing place,” Julie said, smiling. “In a city made up of neighborhoods, Finnegan’s just might make this area the best.”

“I’m not about to disagree, Now, where am I needed?” Kieran asked, smiling.

“You’re always a godsend behind the bar, you know that. But,” she said, lowering her voice, “if you and your brother don’t mind, I’d love some help here in the bar. Mr. Krakowsky is here.”

“Krakowsky?” Kieran said blankly.

“Gary’s boss, Simon Krakowsky.” She nodded in his direction. “I don’t think Gary would have arranged to meet him here after the last time he came in, but I’m still worried he’ll show up. And Mr. Krakowsky loves you. You saved his store, after all, running after those guys and jumping into that van.”

“I didn’t run after anyone, much less jump into that van. I was dragged at what I thought was gunpoint,” Kieran protested.

“Whatever, he adores you. He’s told the world about you saying ‘Any decent person would lend a hand.’ But he’s still Gary’s boss, you know? Please, I don’t mind helping at all, just please don’t make me wait on him.”

“Where are Mary Kathleen and Debbie?”

“Running their butts off over there,” Julie told her, nodding toward the dining room.

The bar area held five tables, while the dining room held twenty, along with the stage.

“Gotcha, not a problem,” Kieran said. “Just let me set my things down.”

Declan was behind the bar, moving at the speed of light. Kieran set her jacket and bag beneath the bar, explained Julie’s request to her brother and headed to Simon Krakowsky’s table, passing several tables on the way.

Austin and Libby Anderson were at the first—regulars. She flashed them a quick smile. She didn’t recognize the two men at the second table, both long-haired and bearded, one in classic John Lennon wire-rims, and both wearing T-shirts advertising a band called Resurgence. A guitar was propped up next to the one with the longer beard. She’d never heard of the group, but New York was overrun with up-and-coming bands—and, of course, plenty that would never make it at all.

She reached Simon Krakowsky’s table. He was eating alone, but she could easily understand Julie’s fear that he might be joined by one of his employees, specifically Gary.

“Mr. Krakowsky,” she said, smiling as she stood beside him. “How are you?”

“I’m just fine, Miss Finnegan,” he said, nodding gravely. “Largely thanks to you, of course.”