Four Good

I come really close to ruining my carefully-applied makeup when I walk through the door at Rusty’s.

It’s Tuesday, which is never a busy night, especially outside of tourist season, so I’m not expecting to see many people when I arrive, but the place is packed. Like, midsummer, Saturday-night packed.

Over all of the heads, I notice a “Happy Birthday” banner on the back wall, and when people near the door see me, they shout out birthday greetings, which ripple through the crowd.

It’s overwhelming.

“Christine! How are you?” Caz appears and pulls me into a big hug. “You look amazing! I hope I look half as good as you when I’m forty.”

I’m wearing my favorite jeans, along with a clingy black shirt that has a bit of sparkly detail around the neckline. It’s nothing fancy, but I feel good. The coffee helped, and now I’m fueled by a burst of adrenaline from the surprise of encountering so many people here.

“Thank you, and that’s nice of you to say. I was not expecting this kind of crowd.” I pull back and look around us.

“Everyone loves you! C’mon in. What would you like to drink? Tonight, you get to be a customer — except you’re not allowed to pay for anything, of course.”

Caz is looking pretty great herself. She always does, ever since she made up with her stepbrothers, and by made up, I mean, realized she was in love with them, and decided to share her life with them.

Two of them, Barrett and Bronson, are behind the bar right now, helping Tom keep up with drink orders. As we head toward them, Lacy Wright squeezes between two clusters of people to reach us.

“Happy birthday, Christine!” she says, giving me a quick hug.

“Lacy! I never expected that you’d be here.” A while back, Lacy used to be a very regular customer, but I don’t see her very often now that she’s settled down.

She responds with a surprised expression and a frown. “Are you kidding? You know I’m not one to miss a party.”

“Silly me,” I say. “I thought a two-month-old might slow you down. I should have known better.”

Lacy laughs. “Oh, I’ll probably only stay for an hour. I like to be in bed by ten so I can get a few hours of sleep before Ollie wakes me up.”

“How is that sweet little boy doing?” I ask.

“He’s wonderful,” she says, a look of pure joy taking over her features. I’m so happy that she got what she wanted out of life.

“Ash and Derek are home with him tonight,” Lacy says. “They said to wish you a happy birthday.” She rises up on her toes and looks around the room. “Nathan and Landon are here somewhere. They were talking to one of their golf buddies when I ran over to see you.”

“Lacy, do you remember Caz?” I ask. “Caz, I think you worked here when Lacy used to come in.”

The two women exchange greetings before Caz says, “I was just about to get Christine a drink.”

“You gotta have a dirty screw,” Lacy says, taking my hand and tugging me toward the bar. “Everyone should have one on their birthday.” She waggles an eyebrow at me in a wildly exaggerated way. “Are you seeing anyone these days, by the way?”

If I were alone with Lacy, or with Caz, I might confide in them about my recent activities, but sharing that information here, with crowds all around us, doesn’t appeal to me. “No, I’m not seeing anyone,” I say.

“Hmmm, well, maybe we can find someone for you here tonight,” Lacy says with another lift of her brow and a devilish smile.

“Happy birthday, Birthday Girl!” Barrett’s deep voice cuts through the noise around us. “What can I get you to drink?”

After offering their own happy wishes, two regulars who’d been seated at the counter give up their seats so that I can sit. It feels completely strange to be on this side of the bar.

“She’d like a dirty screw,” Caz says, grinning at Barrett before turning to give me a wink.

Barrett, who owns the bar and is my boss, ignores any hint of innuendo. “Coming right up!”

“I’d better go find Nathan and Landon,” Lacy says. “They’ll be wondering where I went. I’ll keep my eye out for hot guys for you, Christine,” she says before she gives a little wave and disappears into the crowd.

Caz takes the seat next to me, and we chat while we watch Barrett multitask behind the bar. He’s surprisingly adept for someone without a bartending background. I thank him when he delivers my drink and immediately take a long sip.

As my eyes wander around the area, taking in all of the familiar faces, I catch sight of Sheila at the other end of the bar. She’s sitting in a stool, but turned away from the counter, deep in conversation with Brendan, Corbin, and Jonathan, who are standing next to her.