Page 22 of Baby, It's You
“Have you ever had one of these things?” Johnny asks me, pointing to the California rolls. He’s stuck a white feather on the outside of his top hat today; he looks like Steven Tyler.
“Yes.” I laugh. “Those are the most popular sushi rolls ever made, I think.” I pick one up with chopsticks and make him try it. His face contorts at first, but by the end of the bite, I can tell he is pleasantly surprised.
“Man, that’s good.” Johnny smiles. “I’ve got to go get myself one of those Californer rolls.”
“California,” I correct him playfully.
“That’s what I said.” His brows draw together.
I turn away from the bar at a noise and peek through the kitchen window to see Tripp walking in through the back door.
Rick mumbles from behind me, “PowerTripp incoming.”
He gave him that nickname after he found out that Tripp is planning to sell the bar. I didn’t know Rick had that kind of sass in him. The name couldn’t be more fitting.
I slide my sushi under the bar counter, not wanting to deal with his wrath since I'm eating on the clock. Tripp pushes through the kitchen door like a tornado. He’s wearing a salmon polo shirt and sweat is glistening on his head. He looks like a shiny pig.
I will never understand how Seymour and Jane, both extremely attractive and loving, gave birth to this evil naked mole rat. I think sometimes when two people are so gorgeous and perfect, it cancels out when they have a child.
Tripp walks up to the bar and slams his hand on the counter in front of me. “Good morning.”
I jump at the noise and mumble, “Hello.”
“Just letting you know the man from B&B will be stopping by again today, to talk shop.” His expression is almost taunting as he says this.
I narrow my eyes at him. “Do you not see how cruel it is to sell off the place your parents built and cherished, without a second thought?”
“Sorry for being a realist. This place is a money pit” he smarts back. “I have to make moves. Every day I sit in this dump, another dollar is down the drain.”
What he’s saying isn’t completely true. Yes, business has slowed down over the years since Jane has been sick, and improvements need to be made to market the business to a younger crowd. I’ve had to basically run everything alone and can’t do it all myself; I’m running on fumes. I’m also not the owner so I can’t sign off on any changes to improve the bar at this point. “Jane would be devastated if she knew what you were doing,” I tell him, crossing my arms. “She didn’t put you in charge so you could throw the bar away like it means nothing to you. Have you even talked to her about how you’re selling?”
He glares at me, sharply. “Not that it’s any of your business, but one of the doctors from the facility called me a few days ago and told me they will be transitioning her to hospice with my approval.” He snaps, “This ismydecision. She doesn’t need to know I’m selling the bar.”
“What are you talking about? I just saw her Wednesday, and she was doing fine.”
“Her cough has gotten much worse and she’s back on oxygen. Another lung infection,” he says, while having the audacity to seem bored by the conversation. Tripp acts like we are talking about the weather. “I’m going to visit her later, not like it matters. She won’t remember it anyway, and she’s heavily medicated. With her mental state, it’s pointless.”
What a vile human being. I have no words.
“I have to go sign the hospice paperwork, since I am her medical proxy.”
I look at him for a long time and then say one final thing. “I hope that no one ever treats you the way you treat your mother. Though I can’t say you wouldn’t deserve it.”
I turn my back to him, busying myself with restocking napkins.
With that, he scoffs. “You better watch what you say to me, or I’ll put you out of a job before I even sell this place.” Then he storms to the office.
I exhale a breath as Rick quietly says behind me, “I will never understand what has caused that boy to be filled with so much anger in life. He’s been like that for a long time now.”
I shrug. We have talked about this a lot over the years and there's nothing to justify Tripp's actions. He grew up with two parents who loved and supported him. Some people are just selfish and there's no excuses for their behavior. Reasoning with him is like trying to resolve conflict with a brick wall.
I hear the main door to the bardingas it opens, and I turn to greet the new customer. I’m shocked to see Hunter walking towards me with a huge smile planted on his face. He is in a blue- and black-striped shirt and a backwards hat. His curls peek out from underneath his hat, and he looks handsome as ever.Fantastic. Even though he mentioned visiting when I saw him at my apartment, he hasn’t stopped by all week. I thought I was in the clear, that he’d forgotten about me.
“Look, it’s bar stool boy!” Johnny exclaims.
I watch Hunter cringe at the nickname and lift his hand in recognition.
“Here I am. In all my glory,” he says, nodding to Johnny. “I almost didn’t recognize you without your mask. Thank god for the top hat.”
