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They both turned and looked at me.
“What are ya doing?” Kelley asked.
“I’m helping you. There’s no way you can serve all those tables. I don’t think I even saw one empty chair out there.”
Leaning against the counter, Kelley wiped her brow. “There isn’t any. The place has been packed since we opened! Once word got out that a director filmed a few movie scenes here, everyone has been trying to get in.”
“I’ve never cooked so much in me life! It’s a glorious day indeed!” Sarah called out as she handed food to Kelley who quickly put it on a tray.
“Are ya sure, Hollie?” Kelley said. “I could really use the help. I put a call in for me Cousin Lou, but she isn’t here yet.”
With a slight squeeze of her arm, I replied, “I’m sure. I waitressed in college. I’ve got this.”
As Kelley walked out of the kitchen with her tray of food, I turned back to Sarah. She pointed her finger at me and said, “No lifting anything heavy, ya hear? A woman in your condition needs to be careful, no matter how well protected the wee one is.”
I stared at her in stunned silence. Had I told her I was pregnant? Maybe Benny had. At any rate, I shrugged and smiled. “I promise to be careful.”
“Here’s the potato soup.”
Apparently, I was moving too slowly because she yelled out, “Get a move on, girl! It’s going to get cold.”
Jumping into action, I put the bowl on the tray along with some sourdough bread. I’d eaten here enough to know what came with every dish.
The afternoon flew by, and I swore the steady stream of people didn’t stop until around four. Once the pub was nearly empty, I sat down and put my feet up. Kelley did the same while Benny walked over and put a pint in front of her and a water in front of me.
“How do you do this every day?” I asked Kelley.
After taking a drink of her beer, she closed her eyes and let out a contented sigh. Focusing on me, she said, “I have never seen the pub that full. Not since I was a wee girl.”
My eyes widened. “Seriously?”
At that moment, the door to the pub flew open, causing the little bell to protest, and a young girl around 20 years old came rushing in.
“I’m here!”
Everyone stared at her.
“You’re a bit late, Lou,” Kelley stated as she gave the poor girl the middle finger.
Lou looked around and only saw a few men sitting at the bar. I knew they were regulars since I saw them in the pub nearly every time I came in around this time. “There’s no one here!”
“We were crowded at lunch time,” Benny said. “Not an open chair to be found.”
A wide smile spread over Lou’s face. “That’s good! Isn’t it?”
“It’s very good!” Benny replied.
“Wait.” I sat up and turned to look fully at Benny. “What happened? How did everyone find out about the movie?”
Benny answered, “There was a write up in the paper about the pub being featured in a film. Guess folks were interested enough to come and check it out.”
“Not just any paper,” Kelley added. “But one that’s available in all of Ireland. The author of the article mentioned how good me ma’s cooking is and added in some history of the pub. They stated that it was in danger of closing if business didn’t pick up.”
I blinked a few times and asked, “Who was the author?”
Kelley and Benny both shrugged. “No idea,” Benny replied. “But whoever it is, I owe them me thanks.”
I felt myself smile.
