Taking Charge (19 page)

They finished their meal and Anne and
Tanya did the dishes. Tanya dished up the left overs and put them
in the fridge. The family headed out.
“See you all at nine.” They all grinned.
“See you then.” Jordan stood in the middle of the lounge and looked
at the table and chairs.
“He is right you know. Hot pink. I like that color. How would that
look?” Joy smiled and walked over to Jordan. He opened his arm and
pulled her in for a hug.
“We could put it in that corner. The whole lounge looks so much
bigger. We have the space for another. I think we should.” Joy
smiled and looked at Jordan. He looked down and smiled and pulled
her in to his arms and kissed Joy.
“What a lovely day.” Joy smiled.
“How is the Inn?” Jordan grinned.
“Pub. Doing fine. They are getting used to me not being there the
whole time. Now for my shower and get dressed. I have this singer
who comes in at about nine. Rather good.” Joy chuckled and
smiled.
“Remember. Just carry on as normal. But I will be wired for sound.”
Jordan nodded and smiled.

Jordan walked over to the stage and
everyone followed. They all t
ook their seats. Jordan smiled as they all looked at him
with questions in their eyes.
“We are going to open up with Drive By. By Train. Okay?” They all
nodded and looked at each other. Jordan stood on the stage and
started playing his guitar and singing. They sang right up to the
chorus. Joy walked in and suddenly joined in with the singing.
Jordan grinned and winked. She sang as she walked up to the stage
and picked up her guitar. The crowds suddenly got louder and
louder. Everyone in the pub stood up and looked. Everyone started
to clap. Joy smiled. She wore a pair of tight leggings with boots
and a black T-shirt with no sleeves. She had her make up on but she
didn’t wear the wig. Jordan stood and danced as he sang. It was so
loud in the pub. He smiled and looked at Joy. She smiled and looked
at the band. They had huge smiles as they played and
sang.

It was a fun evening. They took a few more
breaks than normal. Jordan held Joy in his arms every time they had
their break. Tanya and Shane ended up standing behind the bar
counter with Frank. The pub seemed to fill up faster and faster.
Jordan looked around and smiled. They got back to the stage and
started singing again.

Jill slowly put her hand on the door and
pushed it open. Frank smiled.
“Jill! Come on in!” Jill smiled. She whispered.
“I had to come and see for myself. Because I didn’t really believe.
You know. Maybeth just phoned me. I was already in bed and fast
asleep.” Frank smiled and nodded.
“And I have something that you would love.” Jill smiled.
“Gosh it is noisy in here.” Frank smiled as he poured her a little
glass of liqueur. She smiled and walked through to take a look.
Frank walked up to her and stood next to her.
“My goodness isn’t she beautiful! Look at that figure!” Everyone
waved.
“Jill! Come on in. Join us!” Jordan grinned and looked at Joy. Jill
walked through with her little glass in her hand. She started
dancing with her glass in her hand and her handbag hooked over her
arm. She smiled as she looked at Joy.
“You naughty girl!” Everyone roared with laughter. Jill
smiled.
“But I like it!” Jill turned as Maybeth walked through the
door.
“Maybeth. Get one of these and come!” Frank grinned. He poured
Maybeth a liqueur. She slowly walked over to Jill. She fiddled with
her ear and turned the volume down on her hearing aid.
“See Jill! I told you!” Maybeth smiled and looked at
everyone.
“I have never been in here you know!” They all grinned.
“And I have lived in this town for sixty years!” Jill smiled and
nodded.
“From now on Maybeth. Saturday evenings!” Maybeth nodded.
“Where is George?”

George stood at the bar counter.
“I will have some of that funny stuff that Maybeth is having.”
Frank smiled as he poured the little glass. George nodded. He held
up his glass.
“And she still thinks a pub is for men only.” Frank chuckled and
nodded.
“Oh now she knows!” Tanya roared with laughter. George slowly got
on the bar stool.
“Now I believe we can buy a bottle. Is that right?” Frank nodded.
George nodded.
“Now I will have a bottle of this. You can put Maybeth’s name on
the bottle and put it up there. It might be there for a long time.
But my Maybeth also needs her own bottle.” Frank smiled as George
paid for the bottle and the drinks that Maybeth and Jill were
sipping. Frank put the label on the bottle and put it on the shelf
alongside all the others.

Maybeth slowly made her way to George. He
helped her up on to the bar stool. She turned her hearing aid
up.
“George. Now why didn’t you tell me I could come in here?” Shane
grinned as he listened. George smiled.
“How far is your drink?” Maybeth shook her empty glass. George
smiled.
“I bought you your own bottle.” Maybeth beamed. Frank reached for
the bottle and filled their glasses up. She smiled and looked at
her name.
“Oh George. That is the most romantic thing you have ever done!”
Frank smiled as he put the bottle back. George pulled Maybeth into
his arm and smiled.
“Did you see our Joy? Naughty girl. She let the children write on
her arm.” George shook his head.
“I didn’t see the kids. I didn’t go all that way.” Maybeth
smiled.
“I was dancing with Jill. She mustn’t over do it.” Shane smiled and
looked at Tanya.

They all looked at Jill. She plonked her
handbag on the counter and took out her purse. She handed Frank a
note.
“Fill me up. And Frank. If you can take care of this.” Frank put
her bag behind the counter and poured another little drink. She
looked up.
“Maybeth you have your own bottle!” Maybeth smiled and
nodded.
“See you all later. They are playing my song!” Jill walked off
sipping.

Jordan looked at Joy.
“Last one.” She smiled and nodded. They played their last song. Joy
stomped her foot once. Everyone suddenly stomped their feet and
clapped their hands. Jordan grinned and looked at Joy.
“Hit it!” Roger roared with laughter and shook his head. The pub
was so loud. Bruce walked through the door. He looked at his watch.
Frank smiled.
“I think I need an Irish! The entire town is in here. The boys are
patrolling the street making sure everyone gets home safe.” Frank
grinned. Craig got the Irish coffee ready. Frank whispered.
“George and Maybeth. Can you get them home?” Bruce nodded.
“I will drop them off.” Frank nodded and smiled.

Bruce stood and drank his Irish. He
smiled.
“George. Maybeth. Are you ready?” They both nodded and smiled and
hopped off of their barstools. Bruce helped them to hop in to the
patrol car. He smiled as he drove them home and saw them inside
their home. He smiled and headed back to the pub. He walked
through. The band was still playing what was supposed to be their
last song. Frank smiled.
“Thanks Bruce.” Bruce nodded.
“Another Irish?” Bruce nodded.

Joy took a bow. The band took their bow.
They walked off the stage. Jordan smiled and held Joy in his arms.
The pub slowly started
quieting down. Shane grinned.
“Tanya it is getting busier! Hell! I thought it was going to
quieten down.” Tanya nodded.
“I know. This is strange.” Frank looked at them both. He took three
little glasses and put them beneath the counter and poured a little
liqueur for each of them. They took a quick swig. Tanya closed her
eyes and grinned.
“Ouch!” Shaun grinned.
“Tell me about it!” Frank roared with laughter. After an hour
things seemed to quieten down. Everyone stopped to chat to Joy and
Jordan. Quartz and Zeba got up.
“Home time for us. You boys can catch the bus.” The parents grinned
and headed out.

It was four in the morning when the pub’s
last patron walked out. They all sat down and had an Irish coffee.
Shane shook his head. Frank grinned.
“Hell! We used almost all those liqueurs again.” Jordan
chuckled.
“I am glad you just pour. Imagine if you had to mix.” Frank
nodded.
“And we are not going to get energy drink in!” They all roared with
laughter and nodded. The family soon got up. Tanya smiled.
“And we leave here at this time of the morning and we are sober.”
Shane grinned and nodded.
“Hey guys. See you at six. Breakfast run?” Joy groaned. Jordan
grinned.
“Breeze by!” Shane nodded.

Everyone headed home. Jordan locked up and
they walked upstairs. They both bounced on the bed fully
clothed.
“Jordan.”
“Sweetheart.” He looked at Joy. She was fast asleep. Jordan smiled
and his eyes closed in an instant.

They both woke up early. Joy
giggled.
“I am still fully dressed!” Jordan grinned.
“So am I. Why are we awake so early?” Joy shook her head.
“I feel revived.” Jordan chuckled and nodded. They stepped in to
the shower and Jordan took Joy into his arms and made love to
her.
“Breakfast run?”
“Why not!” They got dressed and walked down the stairs. Jordan
hopped on the bike and Joy hopped on behind him. They pulled up to
the road as the entire family came down the road. Even Anne, Dalton
and the parents were on the bikes. Michael smiled.
“Give me two minutes.” They sat and waited. Michael soon headed
back with Penny sitting behind him. She waved as they rode up. They
all rode out.

Jordan smiled as Joy started to
speak.
“I remembered to take the roast out thank heavens.” Jordan
grinned.
“What an awesome evening. When you walked in. My heart almost
stopped. Now that is one outfit I really like.” Joy giggled.
“I was not too sure.”
“Well. I think they are so proud of you. I overheard a lot of
chatting. And it is all good.” Joy smiled.
“Maybeth. What a honey. She thought the pub is only for men.”
Jordan chuckled.
“Bruce took them home.”
“That was nice of him.” Jordan smiled.
“Where are we headed?”
“Breakfast would be nice.” Jordan chuckled as he followed. Shane
was in front with Tanya. She was directing Shane. They all pulled
up to the restaurant. There were loads of bikes parked out the
front.

They all walked inside. Everyone greeted.
They were all strangers but they were all friendly. They all sat
down to their breakfast. Penny smiled.
“I am starved!” Michael nodded. Their coffee arrived and Jordan
smiled as he sipped. A couple walked in.
“Hey the Sheridan’s!” Jordan grinned. Graham pointed.
“Head out on the highway!” Walter grinned.
“Looking for adventure!” They all joined in.
“And whatever comes my way!” Walter roared with laughter. He shook
everyone’s hand. Jordan smiled. Walter and his wife Emily joined
their table. Walter grinned.
“Now this is just dandy! You never know who you bump in to.” Quartz
nodded.
“Came down to visit Joy.” Emily nodded.
“And how is the schooling going Professor?” Joy nodded.
“Swell!” Emily nodded.
“Nice to hear that. My daughter is going to be having her baby any
day now. So we are waiting.” Joy smiled.
“And how many grandchildren is that then?” Walter groaned.
“This will be number six!” They all roared with laughter. Emily
giggled.
“We like that we can hold and hand back.” They all chuckled and
shook their heads. The chatting carried on right through their
meal. They finished up and Roland paid for their bill. Michael
grinned.
“Thanks Pops. Did that hurt?” They all grinned as they
listened.
“Yes that hurt! But not as sore as that bottom of yours is going to
be when I am finished with you!” Penny giggled and shook her
head.

They all
climbed on their bikes and headed for Zeba and
Lloyd’s home. Joy and Jordan waved as they made their way to the
pub. Jordan parked the bike and they walked inside. Jordan unlocked
and opened up. It wasn’t even nine in the morning. Joy started
preparing their roast and got everything ready for lunch time.
Jordan carried another two tables upstairs with chairs.
“I hate carting things up and down.”
“Well then don’t.”
“There are going to be so many people for lunch. We need to sit
somewhere!”
“Stop yelling at me!”
“I am not yelling!”
“What is your problem!”
“I have no problems! This place is too small for so many
people!”
“Well then this is the last. I will make lunch and then I am out of
here!” Jordan snorted.
“What? To the motel?”
“Yes to the motel!” Jordan walked down the stairs.
“Yes! We would hate anyone to think that you live here!” Joy banged
about in the kitchen. It was soon lunch time. Everyone bounded in
for their roast. Joy smiled as they all walked in. They all sat at
the little tables and some in the lounge and ate. It was a constant
chatter. They all finished up and had their coffee.

Roland smiled.
“And we are going to be rude and head out. That was lovely. Thank
you.” Joy smiled. They all walked out and the family hopped on
their bikes. Joy hugged and kissed them all. She stood and waved as
they rode off. Joy walked inside and packed an overnight bag and
took what she needed for Monday. She climbed in her van and drove
over to the motel. She lay on her bed and slept.

Jordan worked in the pub. He didn’t say a
word to anyone. He felt so bad. He felt rotten. He was so cross
with himself. He hadn’t meant to shout. And he needed to apologize.
The pub got busy and he had to help serving meals. The night ticked
away. Jordan walked up the stairs after locking up. He looked
around. His home was so neat and tidy. Joy had made sure that
everything had been cleared and cleaned before she left. Even the
left overs were in the fridge. Jordan sat down on his couch and
held his head in his hands. He felt the buildup of tears. He wiped
them away and whispered.
“What have I done?” Jordan headed to bed and lay in bed tossing and
turning for hours.

Joy smiled as she walked into the staff
room.
“When I walk in get them on their feet with the hymn.” Thomas
nodded. The teachers all walked through to the assembly hall. They
all smiled as they took their seats. Thomas walked on the stage and
stood.
“Everyone up.” The pupils all stood up and looked at each other.
Tanya got up and walked to the door. She saw Joy walking over. She
nodded and walked back to her chair. Thomas put the music on and
the hall erupted with their hymn. Joy walked in and smiled. She
chuckled to herself as she walked down the middle of the hall. She
winked at Thomas and he grinned. She quietly greeted all the
parents.