Page 4 of That Thing You Brew
“Our new owner. She and her husband, Marcus, are really cool. I was afraid when the Bevells retired that the new owners would let us all go and start fresh. It happened at the Long Island store. The new owner fired his whole staff on Christmas Eve!Christmas Eve!Can you imagine?” She shook her head. “But the Riveras seem to want to keep most things the way they are, except for what’s necessary and required for the franchise.”
“The Bevells retired?” I didn’t know why I was still talking. Jason could only keep Adri engaged for so long. Hopefully he was regaling her with stats. There was no interrupting him once he got going.
She nodded. “It was quite sudden. They only told us a few days before Christmas that they were selling the business and moving onto a cruise ship.”
“A cruise ship?” I shook my head, catching the reporter in my peripheral. “Tell me later. Adri’s on the move.”
In a flash, I was through the swinging stainless-steel-plated door and safe in the kitchen. I navigated around the counters and equipment and outside into the winter sunshine a mere seconds later.
The back lot was just wide enough for angled parking spaces and a narrow lane that traversed all the shops on this block. Behind a grass-laden median, an apartment complex rose up three stories. I started with the cars directly behind the Bevvie Bar—er, Coffee Loft, and spotted Penny in a little blue Mazda hatchback. Her face was tucked into her arms over the steering wheel, but I’d recognize her waist-length sandy-colored braid anywhere. Behind her, the seats were down to accommodate the harp’s hard case, which took up all the space in the back and under the hatch.
I didn’t want to startle her. Tentatively, I knocked lightly on the window. She jolted upright.
Smooth, Schwann.I gave her what I hoped was an apologetic smile. But it fell as she turned her head, revealing puffy eyes and a makeup-streaked face.
Her eyes widened in horror, and she immediately hid her face again. Had I scared her? I suddenly felt an ache in my chest, as if I’d been checked into the boards during a game. It was real pain, dull but definitely there. And my gut began to burn as I wondered who had made her cry. Didn’t they know how amazing she was? I wanted to checktheminto the boards and bang some sense into their stuck-up, snobbish?—
“Please … go.” The muffled words from within the car hung in the air.
Goingwas the last thing I wanted to do.
I pushed my sunglasses onto my head and leaned down to speak at the glass. “Can I help?”
She shook her head. “Tasha … coffee.”
“I don’t need coffee. Please, Penny, let me in? It’s freezing out here.” It wasn’t really, and I liked the cold. You sort of had to if you played hockey.
After what seemed like eternity but was probably less than a minute, she nodded her head. I walked around to the passenger side and waited for the lock to disengage.
Thunk!
I pulled the door open and folded my oversize frame into the cramped seat, doing my best to angle my body toward her.
“So … embarrassed,” she murmured into her coat sleeves.
Instinctively, I reached out and placed my hand on her shoulder. She didn’t recoil, but she didn’t lift her head, either. “Tasha let it slip that your audition didn’t go well. Whoever they are, they’re stupid and don’t deserve you.”
“Ssss … sym… phony. Sssaid I … dd-didn’t have wh-what it tt-akes.”
I leaned in. “That’s a load of garbage. Penny, I’ve attended some of the best symphonies in Europe, and you’re the most talented harpist I’ve ever heard play. That includes my Opa, who played his whole life. And—” Dare I tell her she was beautiful to watch? I nodded my head, even though she couldn’t see me. “And you’re beautiful to watch.”
“Th-th-anks.”
We sat there for a few moments, neither of us speaking. I wondered how long we’d have until Adri found us. Hopefully she’d give up looking.
I glanced at the clock on the dash. I’d have to leave soon if Jason and I were going to make it to the arena on time.
After what seemed like an eternity, Penny sat back, pinning my hand between her back and the headrest.
I didn’t mind.
“Sss-orry I ww-asn’t there t-to … make your coffee.” The last three words were rushed, and she looked like she was going to cry again. She wasn’t sobbing, but her words came out like she was.
“It’s okay. I’m more concerned about you. Want to talk about it?”
She shook her head. “Your … game? L-late?”
“Yeah, I need to get going,” I replied. “But I wanted to make sure you were okay.”
