Page 32 of Daddy's Naughty Bartender
"Joshua!"
"He had it coming." No remorse in his voice. "Nobody talks about my mom like that."
"This is what I mean!" Emily gestures wildly. "This relationship is affecting all of us. My brother's getting in fights, I'm getting pitying looks from friends who've heard the gossip, and you're just... what? Playing house with Mr. Christian Grey in real life? Do you let him tie you up? Spank you? Do you wear a ball gag?"
"Emily, you're out of line," Jason says firmly.
"I'm out of line?" She laughs bitterly. "My family is falling apart because my mom decided to have some kinky midlife crisis, and I'm out of line?"
"Go to your room." My voice comes out harder than intended. "Now."
"Mom. I’m an adult, you can’t send me to my room.”
"This is my house, Emily. You can go to your room or you can leave. We'll discuss this when you can be civil."
She storms out, slamming her door hard enough to rattle the windows. Josh lingers, looking torn.
"I'm sorry about the fight," he offers quietly. "But, Mom... it's getting bad. The stuff people are saying..."
"I know, baby." I pull him into a hug. "I'm sorry you're dealing with this."
He hugs me back, then pulls away. "I'm gonna check on Em."
Once alone, Jason and I stand in heavy silence. The weight of judgment, of small-town cruelty, of my children's pain, presses down on me like lead. Most of the town is made up of good, loving people. But, the mean voices can be louder than the nice, even if they are fewer. There are some who have put in offers on the bar and I’m constantly turning them down. They’d love to stir up the drama, maybe cause business to go down so they can swing in and snatch it out from under me.
"Maybe they're right," I whisper. "Maybe this is too much. Too fast. Too?—"
"Stop." Jason pulls me into his arms. "This is exactly what they want. For you to doubt yourself. Doubt us."
"My kids are suffering because of me. Because of us."
"Your kids are suffering because people are cruel and small-minded." He tilts my chin up. "You've done nothing wrong. Loving me isn't wrong. Letting me care for you isn't wrong. Finding happiness after loss isn't wrong."
"Then why does it feel like I'm destroying everything?"
"Because change is hard. Because people fear what they don't understand." He presses his forehead to mine. "But, baby, you can't live your life based on other people's comfort levels."
"What if I lose them? My kids?"
"You won't." Such certainty in his voice. "They love you. They're scared and confused, but they love you. We'll work through this."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Because I've seen you with them. The foundation you've built. It's strong enough to weather this storm."
A knock at the door interrupts us. Linda Morrison stands on my porch, looking sympathetic but determined.
"We need to talk," she says without preamble. "The town council meeting tonight... there's been a complaint."
"A complaint?" I step back to let her in. "About what?"
"About the bar. About... 'inappropriate behavior' on the premises." She glances at Jason. "Someone claimed they witnessed 'lewd acts' in the parking lot."
"That's ridiculous!"
"I know. Believe me, I know. I’ve got your back. But three council members are pushing for a review of your liquor license." Linda's face is grim. "Karen, they're trying to use your personal life to attack your business. And they might succeed if we don't handle this carefully."
The room spins. The bar is everything. Our livelihood, Mark's legacy, my children's inheritance.
