Chapter 4

Rein

My apron was a sticky, oil paint covered, blue and purple disaster. I untied it and carefully pulled it away from my hips, making sure it didn’t graze my jeans in the process. I hung it on one of the hooks on the wall of my kitchenette to dry beside the other four I owned that were equally as stained.

After cleaning my brushes and palettes, my phone rang, and I answered it to hear Gracie on the other end. It sounded like she was somewhere where there were a lot of people, and music was playing in the background.

“Hey,” my best friend said. “You almost done for the day or what?”

“Yeah, actually. I’m just tidying up. Probably leaving the loft in five minutes.”

“Want to come meet me for a drink at the Tavern?”

I bit my bottom lip. Money was a bit tight with none of my paintings selling. I had budgeted well and knew I could afford all my meals and rent and bills without a problem. But going for drinks at the bar with Gracie might cut into some of my other luxuries, like being able to buy the coffee I liked and the soy milk to put in it. Those things weren’t cheap in Valdez. Still, a night out sounded good.

“Yeah, I’ll be there in fifteen.”

“Have you eaten already?”

“Not yet,” I said.

“I’ll order us a pitcher of sangria and some potato wedges. They’re on special. My treat.”

Gracie knew that I was a starving artist. Her job at the yoga studio and the online classes she taught were filling her pockets well enough for her to be saving up to move away.

“It’s okay, Gracie. You need that money for Cali.”

“Stop. I’d rather spend it on you.”

I smiled as I grabbed my jacket and flicked off the lights. “You’re the best, Gracie.”

“I know.”

She hung up, and I locked up the loft behind me. I bundled myself in my jacket and scarf and braced against the chilly night wind as I crossed town square. Nobody was out and about. It was ten past eight. By now, everyone was back at home, curled up next to their fire, and spending time with their loved ones. I didn’t have any of those, except for Gracie, of course. I still hadn’t quite processed how alone I was going to feel when she moved away. Somehow, I would have to find someone else in this tiny place whose company I enjoyed as much as hers.

Seeing as how I knew practically every soul in Valdez already, that was going to be a tricky task.

The Tavern was only three blocks down from the town square. It had the look of an old Bavarian lodge, with a sharp roof and planters in front of the windows that only bloomed in the short summer. For now, they were just covered in three inches of snow.

I walked in through the front doors and unbundled. There were hooks to the right where all the patrons left their winter gear. I hung my coat next to someone else’s and stepped into the warmth of the place.

It smelled like chicken wings, garlic, and beer. I took a deep breath and basked in it. I loved this place. It was cozy and filled with the sounds of laughter. As I passed other tables and made my way to where I could see Gracie at the bar, people called my name and waved hello. I gave them a quick curtsey in response, smiling shyly in the direction of those who called for me. Most were men. I wasn’t oblivious to the fact that I garnered a lot of male attention in Valdez.

Gracie slipped off her barstool and met me in the middle of the restaurant. She put her hand on the small of my back like a protective sister and guided me back to the bar while shooting overprotective looks at any man who said hello to me.

“Keep it in your pants,” Gracie said venomously. All she got in reply was more male laughter.

“Relax, Gracie,” I said as we both sat down on our barstools. Gracie poured some sangria into the empty wine glass that had been awaiting my arrival. “They’re just being nice.”

“They are not. They’re trying to hook up with you.”

“Well, they’ll have to put in a lot more effort than that.”

“Good. I worry about what will happen when I’m not here to fight them off.”

I rolled my eyes and sipped the berry and citrus flavored wine. Delicious. “Nothing will happen. I’ll keep being polite, and they’ll keep saying hello. I just have to wait for someone else’s pretty daughter to grow up and take my place.”

“Good luck with that. You’re the prettiest girl here by a long shot, Rein. I don’t think anyone will replace you until you’re in your seventies.”

“Damn straight.” I giggled, and we tapped our wine glasses together to toast our youth.

Our potato wedges arrived with a side of sour cream, and we both dug in. I hadn’t realized until I walked into the Tavern how hungry I was. The last thing I had eaten was a scone and a cup of coffee from Mr. Gallant’s coffee shop, and that had been over ten hours ago. The day had been a good painting day, and that usually resulted in a bad “eating or any form of self-care” day.

“So,” I said, wiping my greasy fingers on my napkin. “How has the online yoga stuff been going?”

“It’s good actually. Just this week, I gained six more members. They’ve been consistent, too, which is great. They’re all part of the same family. Sisters and mothers and cousins and what not. They joined together because they live all over the states and this lets them take a class together. Sort of.”

“That’s really cool, Gracie.”

“And good money.” She giggled.

“You should try using that as an advertising idea.”

“I’m so bad at marketing myself.”

“No, you’re not. You market yourself around here all the time. You just need to figure out how to put that online, and I promise your business will take off.”

Gracie gave me a weak smile and sipped her sangria. “You’re probably right. You’re always right.”

“So take my advice.”

“I will,” Gracie said. “I just… I want to be in California. But I don’t think I’m ready to leave you. What will I do out there without you?”

I put my hand over hers. “We’ll talk every day. I’ll come visit as often as I can. This is your dream. You can’t let me be the reason you don’t go for it. I won’t let you. You’re going to kill it out there in the big world.”

Gracie reached for the pitcher and topped off both of our wine glasses. “And you’re going to kill it with your art.”

“To our futures,” I said, and we toasted again.

“And our past,” Gracie said. “Speaking of which, do you remember Brayden?”

I had to force myself to swallow my wine instead of spitting it out in surprise at hearing his name. It had been a long, long time. “Brayden Hennie?”

“Yeah.”

“Of course, I remember him.” Even though I’ve been trying to forget him for a whole decade.

“Well, Nikki Peterson was at my yoga class this morning. She says he’s back in town.”

“She saw him?”

Gracie nodded.

“What the hell is he doing back here?”

Gracie shrugged. “I asked Nikki the same thing. She said she couldn’t discuss it with me and that if I wanted to know, I’d have to ask him. She’s always keeping everything under lock and key, that girl.”

“She respects people’s privacy,” I said.

“Yeah, and one more thing,” Gracie said tentatively. “Apparently, he has a daughter now.”

I arched an eyebrow. “Brayden Hennie has a daughter?”

“Apparently,” Gracie said, returning her attention to the half-eaten plate of potato wedges. She dipped one in the sour cream and then dragged it around the plate to collect stray pieces of cheese and bacon before popping it into her mouth.

“Who would have thought?” I asked.

“Do you think we should go see him?”

I looked up at my friend sharply. That was a good question. I didn’t know if I wanted to see him again. It had been so long, and didn’t know if I wanted to reopen that particular can of worms.

“I wonder how much money he has,” Gracie mused, now using the tip of her finger to collect chives and bacon. “He opened his own business, right? An oil company or something?”

“Last I heard, yeah.”

“He was always meant for more than this place could give him. I bet he drives a fancy car and wears a fancy suit. Bet he fills it out nicely too.” Gracie winked.

I stared down into my wine glass.

Gracie leaned over and rested her hand on my knee. “Hey. I’m sorry. That was insensitive. I just meant he always wanted to get out of here and make something of himself somewhere else.”

“I know. It’s okay. It was a long time ago.” I finished my drink and slapped on a smile. “It might be nice to see him again. I bet a lot has happened in ten years.”

At least, a lot had probably happened for him in ten years. I was pretty much in the same spot, doing the same thing, talking with the same people. I was doing everything he wanted to run away from.

“Then you should go see him.”

I shrugged. “He won’t stay long, I’m sure. I’m surprised he’s back at all. He took off as soon as he had the chance and never looked back. Even if I wanted to see him, he’d probably be back on a plane before I got around to it.”

Gracie sighed and fished a strawberry out of her drink with her fork. “Forget about Brayden Hennie. Let’s pretend I didn’t bring him up and just have a good night, okay? I don’t have class in the morning, and I haven’t danced in over a month. That’s far too long, girl. You know me.”

I laughed. “So that’s why you wanted me to come out? You wanted a dancing buddy?”

“Duh,” Gracie said before spinning in her stool and gesturing at all the tables in the bar filled with couples or clusters of single men who kept shooting looks our way. “It’s slim pickings here, Rein. You know you’re my only dance partner.”

“In that case, we’re going to need another pitcher of this stuff,” I said, waving down a waitress.

Nights like this were going to be a thing of the past when Gracie moved to LA. It didn’t matter that I couldn’t buy my fancy coffee for the next week. Spending time with my friend and having a good night of dancing was worth way more to me than that.

I also wasn’t too keen on the idea of staying sober. If I did, I knew I would spend the rest of my night thinking about Brayden Hennie and the last time I saw him. It had taken me a long time to put that behind me.