Chapter 2: The Question

Grayson watches Amelia wrestle with the soda sprayer, adjusting the pressure and dipping back under the counter to tighten a nut. She frowns and gives the machine a swift kick, which seems to produce the results she was looking for.

"You know, you don't seem like a little sister to me."

"What does that mean?" she says as she aims the sprayer in his direction.

"It means you act like a fifty-year-old woman, worn out by the world's ways," he laughs, as he attempts to use a platter to cover his torso.

She pulls a face, and lowers it. "Yeah, you got a point there. Side effect of older parents, maybe?"

"How old are you, anyway?"

She kisses her teeth, pretending to fiddle with the mats. "I turn twenty-seven in a few months. Jude's thirty-one."

"Wow, you’re younger than me and have your whole life together. Have you always wanted to do," Grayson gestures around them. "This?"

"Nope. Until I was thirteen I wanted to be a ballerina, then Sadie Atkins told me I was too big to ever go professional," she smirks. "I broke her nose. Now she runs a gem shop up main, we still have coffee sometimes. Life has a way of ruining your plans, you know?"

"I do." Grayson rests his head in his hands. "Did you ever try to get out, or are you like your brother?"

Amelia chuckles. "Jude give you the Harsen speech? He loves this town too much… But yeah, I got out. I got my bachelor’s in business at a fancy big city college and then I came back home. It’s not glamorous, but it’s real and I don’t regret anything."

"Hey, a twenty-seven year old owning and operating a bar all on her own… That’s pretty glamorous to me," Grayson teases, moving to the other side of the bar as they tidy up.

She brushes her chestnut colored hair out of her face. "I'm a real business tycoon. We're thinking of franchising the place next year."

"Really?"

"No, dipsh*t. We'll be lucky if the doors are still open this time next year," she laughs grimly.

"I'm sure it's not that bad, Amelia."

She shrugs. "I'll figure it out. We always do." She gestures around the space. "Jude found me this place, you know? He's got a good eye for that kind of thing. Then, when I told him it was way out of my budget, he took out a loan from the bank and wouldn't stop pestering me until I agreed to use the money." She shakes her head and laughs. "On the one condition that he let me pay the loan back right away. He either has the best bank in the world, or he's only telling me half of what the payment actually is. I'm pretty sure we both know which one it is."

For a moment Amelia looks small, like a grateful kid who sees her brother as a hero. "Jude likes to pretend this isn't just as much my bar as it is his; he wants me to think I'm independent or whatever. But he's never let me walk into anything alone, he's just good like that."

Grayson hears the kitchen lights turn off and instinctively turns to see who walks out. A short man in his late fifties gives a two finger salute and walks out the door without a word. Paul, the actual cook, had been there every day this week. Which tracks, considering it was his real job and showing up five days in a row isn't exactly medal rewarding. Grayson still found himself a little disappointed to not see Jude appear on a barstool, pleased to hear his little sister singing his praises.

Grayson turns back to Amelia as they start towards the doors. "I'm surprised he hasn't stopped in at all this week, you make it sound like he's always here."

She frowns. "Normally, he stops by almost every day, at least for a minute. He seems a little… off."

"He's probably working himself too hard, and now that you've got a dedicated, strapping bartender such as myself, he knows he has nothing to worry about."

She gives Grayson a look.

"Speaking of that bartender, he’s been here almost two weeks without quitting or burning the place down. That seems like a pretty solid accomplishment coming from an employee of yours…"

She shivers, eyes glazing for a moment. "You got a point. Now where is it leading?"

"It's leading to a very good idea where we kill two birds with one stone! You take me out for a celebratory dinner, and you have an excellent excuse for dragging your brother out of the house for a non-work reason."

She squints. "We're open through most places dinner hours."

"Breakfast then, or drinks after we close." He gives her his best puppy dog eyes, clasping his hands together in reverence.

"Alright, alright! I'll figure something out." She pauses. "I can guarantee you Jude hasn't been out for a drink in… at least five years. He could use the break."

"And I could use a celebration?"

She snorts, and gives him an honest smile. "You're ridiculous, Carter. I'll text you the details?"

Grayson snaps and points a finger gun in Amelia's direction. "Sure thing, boss. I'll see you tomorrow then."

He watches her get into her car and give a hesitant peace sign back before driving off. He smiles to himself as he steps towards his car, looking up at the waxing moon. Adjusting to the job hadn't been a problem, but he would be lying if he didn't admit that something about this town seemed different. Working in the bigger cities was easy; with so many people around, you hardly even exist. Small towns, however, are a horse of a different color. Calm, maybe, but there’s something about that sense of community that makes Grayson's chest tighten. It feels like high school again—people know each other and expect you to fit in somewhere. He scratches his head and forces the thought down.

The sound of tires makes him look up to see a car pulling in the lot. The passenger side window rolls down and Jude Williams himself pops his head out.

"Oh. Is Amelia already gone?"

"Just missed her. We were just talking about you, actually." Grayson sidles up to the car, resting his arm on the roof and leaning down to meet Jude’s eyes.

Jude stares him down for a moment. "Yeah?"

"All terrible things, I can assure you. She’s got this plan to cut you out of the family will. Brutal, but I have to admit, I admire her efficiency." He smirks.

"Funny," Jude says mirthlessly. "Do you two do a lot of talking?"

"I suppose. She actually laughs at my jokes, so that helps." Grayson laughs awkwardly, moving his arm down.

"Right. Well, I’m going now. I’ll see you when I see you." Jude nods and shifts into drive.

"Hey Jude? Amelia is going to ask you something soon, and I want you to do me a favor."

Jude looks back at him, but says nothing.

"Say yes, okay? I promise it’ll be fun."

Jude exhales out his nose in surprise. "I’ll see what I can do. Goodnight, Grayson."

Grayson steps away from the car and waves. "Night."

‘Two birds with one stone, huh?’ Grayson muses to himself as Jude drives away.

Grayson has to admit, he's fascinated with Jude. Obviously, his looks are enough to turn anybody's head. But there's something about him that feels…closed off, secretive. Grayson knows the feeling all too well. He can't help but wonder what Jude would look like without his meticulously crafted walls.

That was an interesting thought…one Grayson fully intended on chasing.