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“Uh, no.”
“What about Mitchell Lumber?”
“You mean, that huge lumber yard across the river?”
“You got it. It’s owned by her father,” Sam whispered, leaning forward. “She’s an only child. Her mother took off to sail the seas a few years back and now there’s a woman in his house half his age. Need I say more?”
“Ah, I get it,” Noah muttered as Sam fished out his wallet and withdrew several twenty-dollar bills. “Tell the chef that cheesecake was the best one yet.”
“Sure will.’
“And, Noah, I think she’s a good girl in a bad situation,” Sam whispered. “Don’t judge her too harshly.” Then with a nod and a wink, he walked away.
Picking up the cash, Noah counted it as he moved back to the register. The man always tipped well, and there was even more than usual. Noah didn’t need the money. He was there to help Alan and enjoy the company of others. His social life was virtually non-existent.
“Two more.”
With Sam’s parting words ringing through his head, Noah stepped back to the troubled young woman.
“Sorry, bar’s closed,” he said, pointing at the large clock behind him.
“If you hadn’t spent so much time—“
“Don’t go anywhere,” he declared, interrupting her. “I’ll be right back.”
“How can I go anywhere? You’ve got my key!”
He grinned, then moved quickly from the bar, poked his head into the kitchen and caught the eye of a waitress.
“Hey, Casey, can you bring me a slice of cheesecake real quick?”
“Sure, Noah. I’ll get it now. Wait one-second.”
“Okay, thanks,” he replied, looking back to make sure Eleanor wasn’t on her way behind the bar to grab her key and bolt.
To his relief, she was sitting on the stool, strumming her fingers and watching the last few customers leave the restaurant.
“Noah, thanks again for coming in tonight.”
Turning around, he found Alan marching towards him.
“No problem. I needed the break. I can’t seem to pull myself over here unless you call.”
“Standing behind a bar and talking to pretty girls is a whole lot more fun than sitting at a table by yourself,” Alan remarked, nodding towards Eleanor.
“Well, there is that,” Noah said with a grin as the waitress stepped up with the cheesecake.
“I’ve brought two forks,” she said with a wink, handing him the small tray. “I thought you might like to share.”
“You, Casey, are very thoughtful,” he said gratefully, pulling a ten dollar bill from his wallet. “This is for you. I’ll run the cheesecake on the bar register.”
“Thanks, Noah.“
Carrying the rich dessert, Noah hurried back to the bar. Eleanor was sitting with her elbows on the counter, her chin in her hands, looking bored and impatient.
“How do you take your coffee?” he asked, placing the cheesecake in front of her.
“I don’t want any unless it’s with whisky.”
