Second Chance Baby

“Neither,” I said. “That’s the fun of it. They are just going to be two mystery drinks. Customers who want to be a part of the challenge have to try both drinks, then vote on the one they like the most. We are going to have smaller-sized versions of the drinks to purchase for the challenge itself, and full-sized ones for people who want to order more of one or the other once they’ve tried it.”

“That sounds good,” Miranda said. “Have you settled on your recipe, yet?”

“Well, I haven’t. I can’t exactly sit around and taste a bunch of cocktails right at this point in my life. But I’ve been using Mason, Matt, and Tyler as my guinea pigs. They’ve helped me narrow it down to the recipe they like the most,” I said.

“Not Jesse?” Miranda asked.

He had just come out of the kitchen with a platter of samples of the food he was making for that night. He set the platter down on the bar and lifted his hands up to show his innocence.

“I respectfully abstain,” he said. “I’m not picking sides.”

“Are you going to participate in the challenge?” Miranda asked.

“Yes. But I want it to be legit. I can’t hear anything about either one of the drinks or see either one of them near either one of you. It would taint my objectivity,” he said. “I want to taste them just like everybody else and make my final determination.”

He went back into the kitchen, and I couldn’t help but wonder which one of us he would be voting for if his objectivity really was compromised.

“Okay, so this is how it’s going to work. Each of us is going to take the ingredients to our drinks and transfer them into separate, unmarked bottles. That way people can’t be unduly influenced by seeing the specific type of liquor we’re choosing. We are also going to be pouring the drinks into black cups. That way nobody can be influenced by the color of the drink.”

“You really thought this all the way out, didn’t you?” Tyler asked.

“Well, as you have so delicately and eloquently pointed out several times, this night is a little bit different than the other ones. But I want to make sure that it is just as successful. Which means we have to go all in on it. Self-awareness and total dedication to the atmosphere all the way.”

All of us scurried to do the last-minute preparations for the event, and just like always, by the time we opened up the doors, there was already a line going across the patio and out onto the sidewalk. We had hired a guy to be a bouncer for the night, thinking it would be fun to add another element to the whole idea of us being in a different bar. As I watched him work, I wondered if adding security like that on a permanent basis might not be a terrible idea.

I didn’t have much time to dwell on that. Before I knew it, the entire bar was surrounded, and Mason was shouting out to everybody, explaining the bartender showdown to them. Miranda and I looked at each other and giggled. We were both pumped. Even though we were supposed to be competing with each other, there was no animosity. We were both just excited to have fun together.

I could still see how nervous she was, and after what she told me the day she apologized for spilling the baby news, I knew she was feeling worried about fitting in and being accepted. I wished she could see herself the way we saw her. When we watched her work, all we saw was confidence and skill.

She had a bright smile and fast, efficient hands. She worked so seamlessly, it was hard to imagine she actually didn’t feel settled and secure. It struck me that she had probably spent most of her adult life trying to fit in and feel like a part of whatever group she found herself in. That touched my heart, and I found myself liking her even more. I wanted her to be one of us just like she did.

Even if she was still nervous when the showdown began, Miranda quickly blossomed. She relaxed and started really enjoying herself. Soon we were mixing drinks, chatting up the customers, and exchanging silly, teasing trash talk. It didn’t take long for all of the allotted number of samples to be handed out.

Mason took that as an opportunity to come behind the bar and call the attention of everyone who would listen.

“We are going to take a few minutes to tally up the votes, then we’ll be right back here to announce the winner.”

He jumped down from where he was standing and took my hand.

“Where are we going?” I asked as he pulled me along behind him.