The Night Is Alive by Heather Graham Read Free Book Online Page A

pointed out.
    “Macy has it down pat,” Abby said. “We have great bartenders, cooks and waitstaff. I’m sure it’s all going to work out. That’s been the least of...” Her voice trailed off. She didn’t want to say worries. “That’s...well, not what I’ve worried about,” she said.
    “Yeah, sorry, kid. So sorry,” Roger murmured. “I know how much you loved Gus.”
    “We really loved him, too, you know?” Paul said.
    She nodded. “Of course. I know.”
    Abby went back inside. One of their newest waitresses—a girl named Julie whom Abby had just met—was cleaning up in the dining rooms. The staff who’d been there the longest hadn’t really worked that day, other than stepping in to help get a few things loaded into the bus carts. They’d come as mourners.
    She looked around; there was no sign of Malachi Gordon.
    “Everyone’s left?” she asked Julie.
    “There are a few of us still tidying up in the kitchen. It’s back to full service tomorrow, or so I was told,” Julie said. She hesitated. She was young and sweet, a student at the design school. “I mean, I’m sorry—that’s your call now. But, um, that’s what I was told.”
    “Yes, we’re back to regular hours, Julie. Thanks.” Abby smiled. “And thanks for getting everything picked up.”
    “Yeah, a real sad thing about Gus. He was so good to all of us.”
    “That’s great to hear, even though it’s something I know—that Gus was great to work for,” Abby said.
    She turned and went back to the front. Sullivan was behind the bar. Macy was collecting glasses that had been left at the tall bar tables.
    Aldous, Dirk and Bootsie remained on their bar stools.
    “What happened to your new friend?” she asked him. “The man from the bureau?”
    Dirk frowned. “I don’t know. Maybe he took off. He wasn’t actually a friend of yours, right? Just a rep from the government?”
    “I’d thought he’d speak with me again before he left,” Abby said. “But...I guess not.”
    Bootsie stood, his peg leg wobbling. “Listen, Abby, we know today’s been hard on you. Now, the boys and I, we can hang around here as long as you like. Or, better still, we can take you off somewhere else and give you a break from this place.”
    She shook her head. “No, thanks. It’s okay. To be honest, I’m looking forward to some time alone.”
    “Alone?” Bootsie said, surprised.
    “Do you want us to walk you to your parents’ house?” Dirk asked her. “I mean, do you really want to stay here right now? You have that beautiful house on the square....”
    “She should come with us,” Aldous said. “The house is where...and this is where...” He broke off. The house was where her parents had died; this was where Gus had just died.
    “I love my house—it’s beautiful. I really should rent it out again.” The previous tenants had been a writer and his family, and they’d gone back to New York a few months ago. She’d rented the place furnished. Not sure what she wanted to do with it yet, she’d brought over some extra clothes and retrieved boxes of her old belongings from the basement, returning them to her childhood bedroom. “I’m not unhappy in either the house or the Dragonslayer, guys. I have good memories here—and there. I’m fine. Just need a little time to take a deep breath now that the funeral’s over, and then get everything in order. So...out with the three of you! Go wander along the riverfront and give another innkeeper your business tonight. Come back tomorrow. With or without Gus, this remains your place. I don’t know what I’d do if I came home and didn’t find the three of you here. But for now, scat!”
    They looked like a group of fathers forced to leave their children for a first day at school.
    “Hey, come on now. Out, out,” Abby told them.
    They finally left her with a bit more grumbling and a lot of hugs.
    Sullivan cleared his throat. “I’ll just get these last glasses....”
    “No, no, Sullivan,