Page 41 of Daddy's Naughty Bartender
"Places, everyone!" I call out, then quieter, to him: "Thank you. For staying. For fighting. For everything."
"Thank you for being worth it." He kisses me softly. "Now, let's show them how it's done. Together."
The doors open at exactly five o'clock.
The first hour is a blur of greetings, congratulations, and surprised admiration. Even Betty Henderson makes an appearance, though she stays near the door, lips pursed like she's bitten a lemon.
"Beautiful renovation," Dale Morrison booms, pumping Jason's hand. "Glad you stuck around despite... difficulties."
"Best decision I ever made," Jason replies, eyes finding mine across the room.
The wine lounge fills with tastings and laughter while The Gathering Place side stays lively with regular customers and curious newcomers. Josh's cameras capture it all, his commentary entertaining his growing audience.
"This is my mom's place," I hear him say to his phone. "Well, hers and Jason's. Yeah, that Jason, the one who helped me get started. They're basically the coolest parents ever. Don't tell them I said that."
"We heard that," Emily calls out, making him blush.
I'm refilling wine glasses when Linda Morrison pulls me aside. "Betty's leaving," she murmurs. "But she asked me to give you this."
The envelope is thin, official-looking. Inside, a single paragraph:
Ms. Mitchell, I withdraw any and all complaints against your establishment. Your
dedication to this community is evident. I wish you and Mr. Schaeffer well.
- B. Henderson
"Is that?—"
"A white flag," Linda confirms. "You won. Not through fighting dirty or stooping to her level, but by being yourselves. Building something good. The town sees it now."
"Karen!" Elizabeth's voice cuts through the crowd. "Speech time! Both of you!"
Jason appears at my side as the crowd gathers. Someone has produced champagne, and not the kind I keep behind the bar, but the good stuff from the wine lounge.
"We should probably say something profound," I murmur to him.
"You're the one with words. I just pour wine and look good."
"Liar." But I'm smiling as I raise my glass. "Six months ago, many of you thought we were crazy. Opening a wine lounge in Prairie Harbor? Combining it with a sports bar? Probably still crazy."
Laughter ripples through the crowd.
"But that's what life is sometimes, taking crazy chances on things that shouldn't work but do." I find my children's faces in the crowd, both smiling. "On partnerships that balance instead of diminish. On love that comes when you least expect it but need it most. On communities that can grow and change and accept that there's more than one way to be happy."
"To The Gathering Place and Schaeffer's Lounge," Jason raises his glass. "To Prairie Harbor. To second chances and new beginnings. To family both blood and chosen. To all of you who've supported us."
"Cheers!"
The toast is loud, enthusiastic, sincere. As glasses clink and conversation resumes, Jason pulls me close.
"We did it," I whisper.
"We did." He kisses my temple. "Want to know a secret?"
"Always."
"I put an offer on the Murphy place today. The farmhouse on Oak Street."
