Page 52 of Stronger Than Blood
“Yeah, there’s a few new distilleries that serve food in St. Louis. She started as a cook, but she’s been learning the distillery trades.”
I waited a moment to see if maybe she was pulling my leg. When she stared at me, confused at my expression, I just laughed.
“So, your wife wants to become a master distiller, and you were just asked to take over here?” I asked, lowering my voice so the other customers around us wouldn’t hear.
She nodded. “Did Brenda tell you about my other project?” I asked.
She shook her head. “No, she didn’t tell me anything. She just asked me to meet her here this morning.”
“This is too much,” I said. I looked up just as Rory and Kalinda came in. When Essie stood up, I shook my head. “No, you’ll want to meet these people. Trust me,” I said.
Essie gave me a perplexed look, but when Kalinda and Rory walked over, I introduced her. “Essie, have you eaten yet?” I asked.
She shook her head, the perplexed look never leaving her face. “Well, please join us. Like I said, you’re going to want to meet these two.”
She nodded and rushed back to tell Brenda she was going to join us. When Brenda glanced my way, she smiled. “Oh, this is such a setup,” I said, and Kalinda looked at me, then over at Brenda and smiled. I had no doubt she knew exactly what was going on.
Chapter thirty-five
Rory
Both Kalinda and I sat mesmerized as Mick explained in a hushed voice that Brenda had offered to hand the restaurant over to Essie and him. “We just need to find her wife a job,” he said and looked at Kalinda, who was suddenly smiling like the cat who ate the canary.
“And do tell, what is it your wife does?” Kalinda asked.
When Essie explained her wife, Bev, was trying to become a master distiller, I almost choked on my soda, and Kalinda had to pat me on the back.
“For real? This isn’t a setup?” I asked. Essie looked confused, and Mick just smiled.
“Why don’t you explain what we were doing yesterday?” Mick said.
For a moment, I couldn’t put my thoughts together, but Kalinda didn’t seem to have the same problem. “We had a party yesterday at a new location in town. We want to start a new distillery here in Piston Creek.”
“Wait, no way,” Essie said, getting a chuckle from both Mick and Kalinda.
“Don’t you think this is all a little strange?” I asked.
Kalinda playfully slapped my hand, then laughed. “Rory, for over a year you have worked in my shop; you’ve seen people come in and leave with the right answer at the right time for them. Likely, we are sitting in front of the right person at the right time to ensure our business can get off the ground.”
“Um,” Essie said. “I-I don’t know why or what’s happening, but I’m with Rory. It feels like a lot to meet you, and then you provide the perfect answers. Doesn’t the saying, ‘if it’s too good to be true, it probably is’ apply here?”
Kalinda put her hands over Essie’s and smiled. “My dear, the universe operates in its own way and at its own time. Most of the time, things are slow and methodical. However, sometimes, it’s just the right people coming together at the right time. We are at the beginning of this venture, so why don’t you call your wife and see if she can come to Piston Creek to visit us?”
“We can take her on a tour of the building we want to convert,” Mick suggested.
“Um, yes,” Essie said. “Yeah, that’s a good idea. I’ve already agreed to return to the restaurant for the next few days to work. I promised Auntie Brenda I’d try it out.”
“Where are you staying?” I asked, and she immediately told me she was staying at Elias and Brenda’s place with Rebecca.
“I-I’m as overwhelmed as you, Essie, but why don’t we just play the game and see how it works out?” Mick said, and I put my hand over his.
“Yeah, that sounds like a good idea,” Essie said before getting up and going into the back.
We finished eating and were just about to get up to leave when Jonah came in, spotted us, and smiled.
“Hey, do you have a moment?” he asked.
“Sure,” Kalinda said, smiling like she had when Essie had first been introduced to her. “Why don’t you sit down, Jonah.”
