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“You look like shit. You’ve got to sort stuff out with her.”
“Said I don’t wanna talk about it. What gives with the new clubhouse? Where are we up to?”
“Well, way I see it, we’ve got next week to get everything sorted so we can move back in the following weekend. Get the girls and the prospects onto ordering and picking up everything we need and spread the word that move in day for those who need a room is Saturday. We’ll party Saturday night. Get Louisa onto sorting out the bar and tell her to let me or Dublin know if she needs anything or needs any help moving stuff.”
“She’ll call Dublin before she calls you. She’s got it bad for him.”
“He’s no better. The sooner they both realise it, the easier it will be on everyone around them” I say with a grin. Dublin is so clueless. He just can’t seem to read the signs. Everyone can see it but them.
“We still riding tomorrow? You still bringing Jack?”
“Yes and yes – is that a problem?”
“No problem Prez. Not a problem at all – for me. You’re the one all hung up on a tiny little woman. Anyway, got shit to sort out. See ya.”
Smoke laughs all the way out of the workshop. I can still hear him laughing as he gets on his bike.
Fuck. They’re both right. I am totally hung up on Jade.
Jade
So tomorrow, I’m supposed to be going on a club run with the Hell’s Keepers to visit Reign on the back of the President’s bike. It’s all I’ve thought about for two days and it’s driving me crazy. Not that anyone else knows. I’ve not seen any of them except Dublin for the last few days and I’ve purposely not talked about it. I’ve cooked, paddled, called home, tried out some new recipes, meditated, ran, cooked some more and had a few drinks at the bar. This afternoon, I’ve got nothing left but my thoughts. And I can’t help but wonder if I’m supposed to call and confirm or just wait for him to turn up. It’s all a little awkward. After an hour or two of contemplation, I decide to take the easy way out and ask Dublin. Problem solved.
Sighing to myself, I get changed and walk down to the bar taking with me a large tray of today’s cooking. There’s a few people in here this arvo so I take my usual seat at the bar and wait for Dublin. Once he’s finished serving people, he walks my way with a Jack & coke in his hand and pushes it across the bar to me with a smile. “Beautiful day out there. Did you get out for a paddle in the sunshine?”
“Hey Jameson. Yep, sure did. And I cooked…so, here you are. Bar snacks! How’s the day been?”
“Busy. The nice weather brings them out. And hopefully your snacks will keep them here for just one more drink. Normally they all head home around this time.”
“You need to make use of that kitchen you’ve got out the back. Get a cook in and start offering meals. The punters will stay longer and drink more. It could make a big difference to your bottom line.”
Jameson looked thoughtful for a moment before he took my tray of chicken pies and satay chicken skewers and walked them to the customers at each table. Most took an item or two, which kept them there a bit longer and several bought another round of drinks which put some more cash in the till. Jameson looked thoughtful as we continued to chat, watching them all eat and drink and linger into the early evening. I could see him turning ideas over in his head as a few of the regulars came back to the bar for some more snacks and another round. A smile spread across his face as he looked at me. “You are a genius! You’ve done it!”
“Done what? Give me a clue mate.”
Jameson circled around the bar and grabbed me in a bear hug. “Fuckin’ genius you are!” and he wandered off into the kitchen leaving me sitting on my stool completely bewildered.
Okay then. Jameson was completely lost to whatever had taken possession of him. No point asking him about tomorrow now. Guess I’ll just head home. I called out ‘see ya’ to Jameson and wandered outside.
It’s dark out but only a short walk home. I take a good look around me and walk quickly into the darkness. I’ve never felt unsafe here but tonight something feels a little off. There were only the regulars in the bar – no one to be concerned about and no one around outside. I dunno, the air just feels disturbed. I fish my keys out of my pocket and turn my brisk walk into a run. Thankfully, I’m home in just a minute. I let myself in, turn on the lights and lock the door behind me. With my phone in my hand I do a quick check of the bedroom, bathroom and laundry and make sure the back door is locked. The upside of living in a tiny four room cabin is that there’s not too many places to hide.
My phone rings, vibrating in my hand causing me to scream and throw it into the air at the same time. It lands on the couch and I scramble to pick it up. “Jade, Jack….you there? What’s going on?”
Jameson’s voice is almost yelling down the phone “Jack!!! Jack…”
“Yeah, I’m here. It’s all good.”
“You sound all out of breath. What’s going on? You okay?”
“Yeah mate. The phone doesn’t ring very often. It was in my hand when it did. You caught me by surprise and it scared me. Ended up throwing the silly thing. I was just checking the house.”
“Checking the house? Why? Never mind, I’m on my way” and he hung up. Less than two minutes later, Jameson was banging on my door demanding to be let in. I unlocked the door and unhooked the chain and before I could even pull it open, Jameson had pushed it in and stood there in front of me brandishing a hunting knife. “What are you checking for? Wait here while I check the place out” and he stalked into the bedroom without waiting for an answer. I watched in stunned silence as he prowled from room to room, looking through the cupboards, under the bed, in the shower, even in the washing machine. I heard him open the back door and walk the length of the back porch, pausing probably to look over my tiny back yard and come back inside, locking the door and checking the locks behind him. “All clear. What were you looking for? Is everything okay?”
“I know. I already did what you just did! I’m not stupid. Something just felt a little off when I left the bar, just a bit out of kilter. Not sure why. So I thought I’d be careful. The phone ringing just scared me I guess. Like I said – it doesn’t ring often. You must need to get back to the bar. You can’t leave it unattended with customers in it!”
He waved his arm around “Kicked ‘em out when you screamed. Was only a couple left anyway. Not a problem. Why didn’t you come back inside the bar? I would have walked you home. You should know better than to ignore a feeling like that. You sure you’re okay?” he asked, pulling me into a hug.
“I’ll be fine. I yelled out goodbye but you were off in your own little world back there tonight so I decided to leave you to it. Besides, I can’t expect you to lock up and walk me home every time I leave. It’s only a short walk.”