***
"Aren't you beautiful, lass, but so melancholy." A middle-aged bartender with a thick Scottish accent leaned toward me as I slid onto a barstool at the pub down the street.
"Life has kicked me in the gut." I shrugged and pointed to the bottle of Jack he had behind him. "I'll take a Jack and Coke."
"Single or double?" He gave me a warm smile.
"Double, please." I glanced around to find the little place homely, and quite busy for late in the afternoon. Maybe people got off work early on Thursdays?
"Here you go, love." He set the liquor down in front of me. "You look a little piqued. Care for something to eat? We have the best Fish and Chips you'll ever put in your mouth."
I nodded. "Yeah. That sounds nice, actually."
"Excellent!" He bellowed and rubbed his belly as he walked away.
The sight of him caused me to smile. Matt would have loved to mimic him later in the night. I pulled out my phone and checked for missed calls and messages. I had a few texts from Lanie and one from Damon, but they were just worried about me.
I hated to leave them that way, but I wasn't ready to talk. Not to anyone.
"So, lass. What has you up here in Canada?" The bartender returned, and I found myself happy to see him back. Something about him settled my spirit.
"What makes you think I'm not from here?" I twisted my accent a little.
He gave me a funny look. "That has to be the worst Canadian accent I have ever heard. For that, your first drink is on me."
I laughed, feeling a little bit alive. "Well, thank you. I'll try to make it more and more horrid as the night goes on. Nothing like drinking for free when you need to drown your sorrows."
"And what sorrows does a beautiful, young woman like yourself have?" He leaned a little closer, but nothing inappropriate. The warmth in his eyes made me want to talk. My only problem was that I had no clue how to explain what I'd done, and what happened because of it. It was too long and complicated.
"My boyfriend and I parted ways on Sunday over a misunderstanding." I glanced down at my liquor.
"And he's too prideful to explain himself, and you're too stubborn to listen?"
I smiled and glanced up. "It's the other way around, but you hit it on the head, for sure."
"And you love him?"
"So much." I picked up the glass and kicked back a little.
"Mind if I ask what you do for a living?" He leaned over and pulled out a beer, popping the top and handing it to another old guy who moved up and took the stool on my left.
"I'm an Advertising Director for a large accounting firm based out of Texas. They have a branch in Seattle, and I live down there."
"And you're into that corporate American big-building bull shit, are you?" He lifted his eyebrow.
"Not at all." I finished my drink and enjoyed the painful burn as it slid down my throat. "Can I have another please?"
"That one is on me." The guy to my left smiled and nodded. "Nice to meet you, Miss. I'm Sid. The local artist that painted all this stuff you see in here. Jander is my brother." He nodded to the bartender.
"Nice to meet you both." I let my eyes move along the walls, not realizing until then that there was artwork lining every square inch of the place. "Wow. How beautiful."
"Thanks. It was a hobby when I was younger, but my ma and pa talked me into following my dreams, so I did."
"As did I." Jander finished pouring my drink and smiled at me. "What are your dreams, lass?"
"To marry Matthew and build a huge art studio together." I shrugged and reached for my drink. "To have a few kids together and grow old beside each other."
"Matthew your beau?" Sid asked.
"He was." I turned my attention back to Jander. "But I fucked it up."
"Then fix it." He winked at me and moved down the bar.
"Is he always so detailed with his helpfulness?" I glanced over at Sid.
The old man snorted and chuckled, the sound warm and inviting. "He's right on this one, ma'am. Just fix it. No matter what it takes. When you find someone you love, you work around everything and anything to make it right. Whether you're at fault or not."
"And if they won't listen to you?"
"You make them."
"How?" I asked.
"Plague them to death if you have to, but you force yourself in front of them and tell the truth."
"And if they won't accept the truth?"
"You don't move from that spot until they do. If your dreams are wrapped around this young man, then it would seem you don't have much of a choice, now do you?"
"I guess you're right. I don't have a choice." I picked up my drink and took a long sip. My phone buzzed in my pocket. Damon.
He'd been such a good friend to me over the years. I owed him the peace of knowing that I appreciated him and that I was okay.
"I need to take this. Don't let anyone get my seat?" I asked Sid as I slid off the seat.
"Never. She's yours all night, love." He patted it and smiled, causing me to laugh.
I pulled the phone to my ear and walked outside to get away from the lively crowd that had shown up. "Hey."
"Erica. Thank God. Fuck, woman. We were all getting sick with worry. I was about to send out the National Guard."
I smiled. It was good to hear his voice. "They won't do you much good. I'm up in Canada for a little while. I just need some time to myself."
"I'm just glad you're okay." He let out a shaky sigh. "We got your letter of resignation today. I wanted you to know that I'm proud of you."
Emotion built up in the back of my throat. I squeaked out my response. "Oh yeah? For quitting?"
"For following your heart. It's hard to try and be someone you're not, and you've done a damn good job of it. You're always welcomed at my firm, and in my family."
"Thank you," I whispered as another round of tears rolled down my face. "How is Matt?"
"He's been better."
"Okay. Well, I'm fine. Thanks for calling."
"Erica. One more thing."
"Sure." I turned and wiped at my tears, embarrassed as hell to be crying in the middle of the street on a Thursday night. My mother would have had a meltdown all over me because of it if she'd been there.
"Do you love my brother?"
I glanced up at the darkening sky as my heart broke in my chest once more. "More than you or anyone else will ever know." I dropped the call and went back to the bar. Two drinks weren't going to do it.
But three might.