She pulled her shoulders back, suddenly self-aware. Earlier, he’d told her she looked lovely. She felt his continued scrutiny and wished she’d gone to the restroom to touch up her makeup before sitting down.
The thought had her gaze breaking from his. What was she doing, flirting? The man’s nickname was Sully, for goodness sake.
“Sully!” Bear’s bellowing voice rose stopped the chatter. “What the hell are you doing? I don’t pay you to pour drinks. Is that something burning? Get on those burgers, man. Beef ain’t cheap. ”
“On it. ” Sully was back in the kitchen in a flash, but not before Marlene heard him whisper, “I never burned a damned burger in my life. ”
He returned a few minutes later with a handful of red plastic baskets, carrying orders of burgers and fries, a couple of chicken clubs, and one grilled cheese.
Marlene couldn’t resist one more exchange. When she caught his eye, she said, “Look at you, Tom. Serving the women. What will Bear say?”
“I don’t give a good God damn what the man says. ” His delivery was deadpan, but the wicked look he gave her made her giggle.
She covered her mouth. When had she last giggled? Trying for a little poise, she said, “Cooking, tending bar, and now this? Seems to me you need a day off. ”
Her mother looked up at Sully as he served her a club sandwich. The powder on her face had separated, settling into her deep wrinkles, but Mama’s smile was just as bright. “Aren’t you a gentleman?”
He tipped his chin. “A table of gentle ladies requires no less. ”
“Tom Sullivan,” Marlene exclaimed. “You surprise me. ”
Apparently, she was flirting with the man. She was out of practice, but it felt good.
He put her grilled cheese before her.
“More tea for you, Marlene?”
“Any more and I’ll float away. ” She made her smile broad and confident, eager to show Sully and the world that her ex-husband was a fool.
Sully put Laura’s lunch in front of her. “Eat up,” he told her, giving the girl’s shoulder a squeeze. “I’m watching you, kid. You need to live on more than just Diet Coke and carrot sticks. You’re wasting away to nothing. ”
The man was considerate. He noticed things.
He gave Marlene one last look, and she gave him her most pleasant smile. Maybe she could have a man in her life and her interests, too.
When he went back into the kitchen, Marlene got down to business. “Sorrow, did you bring the letters?”
“I did,” she said proudly, and began to hand a small stack to each woman.
“Those letters belong to the family,” Bear said from his perch at the bar.
Sorrow deflated like a balloon.
Sully poked his head from out of the pass-through. “Bear Bailey. Give the girl a break. ”
Marlene couldn’t agree more. Even when Sorrow was just a kid, she’d had those wise eyes that betrayed her as the type who felt responsibilities down to her core. Marlene had known then that someday the girl would suffer for it, taking on chores she didn’t have time for, running errands for folks who, given an inch, would take a mile. Sorrow’s was a dependable nature, and such a thing sometimes led a woman to betray her own heart.
Laura rolled her eyes. “Why does Sorrow need a break? Just because she has the same name doesn’t mean those letters belong only to her. ” She turned her attention back to the table. “It’s time to plan, and you ladies need to forget about your past festivals. The Buck Larsen Fair is going to be big. ”
“Yes,” Sorrow said with exaggerated patience, “a Buck Larsen festival is exactly what we’ve been talking about. Before you came. ”
“I think we should get the lodge involved,” Laura said. “Run a special weekend rate. Include discount festival tickets or something. ”
Sorrow glared at her. “You let me worry about the lodge. ”
“I thought you hated the lodge. ”
“You are totally twisting my words. ”