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The bell above the door rang once again and this time we all turned to see a very handsome, extremely well-dressed man standing there. He had on a dress coat that he took off and hung on one of the pegs before he made his way over to the bar.
“Nice to see ya again,” Benny said as he greeted the guy. “What’ll it be?”
The man pulled out a card, placed it on the table, and slid it over to Benny. Kelley sat up and leaned forward, causing me to do the same. Lou wasn’t as discreet and made her way over to the back of the bar to look down at the card. Then she gasped.
“What?” I whispered as I turned to look at Kelley. “Who is he?”
“No clue,” she replied in a hushed tone. “But by the look on me brother’s face, he knows him.”
Kelley and I got up and made our way around the bar, both of us attempting to look as if we were doing something else—though it was clear we were trying to listen.
“Mr. O’Rourke, it’s an honor to meet ya, sir. Forgive me, I wasn’t aware that was who ya were a few weeks back,” Benny said as he reached across the bar and shook the guy’s hand.
“That’s okay. I don’t expect everyone to know who I am.”
Turning to Kelley, I asked, “Who is he?”
She blinked a few times then shook her head and focused on me. “He owns a brewery here in Ireland.”
“He owns Guinness?”
Kelley rolled her eyes. “That’s not the only beer! As a matter of fact, Mr. O’Rourke’s pale ale was voted the best beer in Ireland last year.”
“Really?” I said, turning back to the men. “What’s he doing here?”
“I don’t know,” Kelley said softly.
“I’ll cut right to the case, Mr. O’Brien,” Mr. O’Rourke said. “I’ve been touring Ireland looking for a certain pub. I remember as a young lad, me da brought me to me very first pub to drink me very first pint. It was then I realized beer would become me passion. I couldn’t remember the name of the pub, but I knew I would remember the moment I stepped into it. Old pubs like this tend to stay the same over the years. When I stepped into O’Brien’s a few weeks back, I knew this was the place.”
“I’m happy that our place was able to bring back good memories for ya,” Benny said.
Mr. O’Rourke grinned. “I’m here for something more than memories, Mr. O’Brien. I’m launching a new beer, a stout. It’ll be more on the sweeter end of the spectrum. Think of an iced mocha beer.”
“That sounds delicious,” Lou said with a wide smile.
“It is delicious,” Mr. O’Rourke replied with a wink in Lou’s direction. “I’m in the process of designing the label and coming up with the name. When I first tasted it, me mind was instantly transported back to this very pub. Your grandfather, I believe it was, brewed his own beer.”
Benny nodded. “He did indeed. Once he died, me da stopped brewing. He said running the pub kept him busy enough.”
Mr. O’Rourke nodded as if he understood. “It reminds me of that very first beer I ever had. Me da insisted I drink your grandfather’s brew, when all I wanted was a Guinness.”
Benny laughed. “It was me first taste as well, and it was that moment I knew I’d be running the pub after me da passed.”
“I’d like to name the beer O’Brien’s Stout, in honor of your pub and where I had my first drink. And to honor your grandfather as well. I’d also like to put a picture of the pub on the label. You’d be compensated, of course. If ya agree to it, I’d like to have the launch party here at your pub.”
My heart pounded in my chest. I could only imagine how Benny felt. Sarah grabbed hold of my arm, and I was pretty sure she was holding her breath.
Mr. O’Rourke slid another piece of paper across the bar. “I believe the price is fair.”
Benny’s knees buckled as he read it and whispered, “I need to sit down.”
Lou grabbed the piece of paper and then looked back at Mr. O’Rourke. “Is this for real?”
He nodded. “May we sit at a table and speak?” he asked Benny.
“Go to your office,” Kelley stated. “Hollie and I can take care of things out here.”
I nodded and smiled as I watched the two men walk toward Benny’s office in the back. Once the door shut, Kelley rushed over and grabbed the piece of paper out of a stunned Lou’s hands. She gasped and covered her mouth with her hand. Then she looked over at me, and I could see tears building in her eyes.
