Taking Charge (34 page)

“What are your prospects? Can you provide for her?
I’m not talking playing for a two bit hockey team here, I’m talking
long term career plans,” Max said, turning around and looking
seriously at him.

“I’ll ask the questions, Max,” Eddie ordered.

“Have you got her a ring? And I don’t mean something
from the pawn shop, I mean a proper ring—diamonds and lots of ‘em,”
Max carried on.

“Will this do?” Robyn asked, holding her hand out to
show Max.

“Jeez! Will you look at that, Eddie! She could have
someone’s eye out with that. Are they real diamonds?” Max inquired,
screwing his eyes up to focus.

“D’you know, I don’t know and I don’t care,” Robyn
replied, smiling at Cole.

“So, what are your career prospects?” Eddie muttered,
looking at Cole out of the corner of his eye.

“Dad! He works for Gen-All, you know that,” Robyn
exclaimed.

“I know, but we don’t know what he does, how much he
earns…he could be the janitor for all we know,” Eddie
responded.

“I’m not the janitor,” Cole replied with a smile.

“No? So what do you do, son?”

“I develop and formulate preventative vaccines,” Cole
answered.

“What does that mean?” Max asked, waiting for someone
to translate.

“It means he’s clever,” Robyn helped out.

“And I earned three hundred thousand dollars last
year,” Cole added.

Max let out a high pitched whistle.

“Sir, I love your daughter. I know we didn’t meet
that long ago, but we’re sure of how we feel, and even if I didn’t
have a good, secure job, I would give her everything I
had—everything,” Cole said sincerely.

“Right, well, you need to know that she loves the
Panthers, nearly more than life itself. She never eats vegetables
unless they’re in soup or deep fried, and when she lived at home,
the only way I could get her out from under the hood of a car was
to tell her there were monster trucks on the TV,” Eddie informed
him, looking at his daughter.

“Obviously years have gone by and I’m totally
changed,” Robyn insisted.

“So, when’s this wedding then? Have you set a date?”
Eddie asked.

“Yes. Next week,” Robyn said bluntly.

“Next week? Are you kidding me! What happened to long
engagements? You cannot be serious!”

She’d been feeling completely sick with nerves all
day. The clowns were late, Bob had to make an emergency repair to
his tractor, and it had taken hours to fill the helium balloons.
But Cole had managed to book Special Guest and, an hour after the
doors reopened on Eddie’s Roadhouse, the place was buzzing. There
were local families, the local football team, teachers and students
from Portage High School, plus most of the neighborhood. All the
tables were full and Robyn, Nancy, and the agency waitresses had
their work cut out. The children were enjoying the clowns and Bob’s
tractor rides and the adults were being entertained well by the
band.

“Rare rib eye, mixed grill, two children’s chicken
platters, extra fries, rings, and a green salad,” Robyn announced
as she balanced a tray on her arm and put the food down on the
table.

“This looks delicious,” the woman in the party
remarked.

“I hope you enjoy it, if you need anything else just
holler,” Robyn replied with a smile.

She turned around to go back to the kitchen when she
spotted Sarah and Mickey entering, their hands clasped tightly
together.

“Hey guys, do you want a table? I probably have one
for two right now,” Robyn said, scanning the restaurant.

“Actually we’ll be wanting a table for three,” Mickey
announced and a proud grin spread all over his face.

“Stop saying that, we shouldn’t tempt fate,” Sarah
replied with a giggle.

“Is there something I should know?” Robyn asked
diplomatically.

“We’re having a baby!” Mickey exclaimed, and he let
out a loud wolf howl that made some of the other diners look around
in surprise.

“Mickey stop it! People are trying to eat!” Sarah
exclaimed in horror.

“Having a baby, holding hands…does this mean you two
are back together the way nature intended?” Robyn asked.

“Yes. And we’re getting married,” Sarah announced
with a blush and she extended her hand to Robyn.

“Oh, Sarah, it’s beautiful. Hey mister, about time,
too, huh? And who knew you had such excellent taste? It’s
gorgeous,” Robyn said, admiring the delicate emerald and diamond
ring.

“I know I said I didn’t think I wanted to, but he
turned up with the ring, got down on one knee, and cried and
everything, and that was before I told him about the baby,” Sarah
explained.

“I’m really pleased for you,” Robyn said, smiling at
her friend.

“So, look at this place! It’s amazing, Robyn. It
looks fantastic and it’s packed,” Sarah exclaimed, looking around
at the buzzing roadhouse.

“I know, we don’t have any mustard, but apart from
that, everything came together. I just hope we don’t run out of
food, or beer…beer would be worse,” Robyn admitted.

“Where’s Cole?” Mickey asked.

“Behind the bar—where a good employee should be.
Although he seems to have got himself a female fan club. There are
three women who haven’t moved from the end bar stools since we
opened. I’m not going to say anything just yet, though, because
he’s got them drinking double Jack and Cokes every round,” Robyn
replied.

“Robyn! We got orders backing up out there!” Nancy
called as she came out onto the floor with two trays in her
hands.

“Okay, I’m on it. Guys, table twelve over there. Give
me two seconds and I’ll come and take your drink orders,” Robyn
told them as she skipped off, one hand to her injured ribs.

He watched Robyn as she collected some more empty
plates and glasses on a tray. She was struggling with her injury
but she was never going to stop for a break when they were so
busy.

“So Cole, when do you get off?” a woman with thick,
dark hair and heavy make-up asked him.

She was toying with the straw in her drink and
staring at him appreciatively. He’d seen plenty of women like her
in the bar he worked in Chicago.

“Yeah, when do you finish so we can go and have some
real fun?” her blonde-haired friend wanted to know.

“Oh, I’m here ‘til late,” Cole answered, serving a
group of guys next to the women.

“You have to go to bed, though, right?” the
dark-haired woman said in an attempt at seduction.

“Sure. With my girlfriend,” Cole said with a smile.
It felt nice to say that.

“Well, I don’t see her and what you can’t see isn’t
important in my book,” she continued.

“Well, I’m afraid it is in mine. And she’s over
there,” Cole replied, pointing out Robyn who was adjusting her
Eddie’s Roadhouse cap and taking orders from another table.

“Man! Really! She’s not even wearing lipstick,” the
blonde replied in horror.

It was all he could do not to laugh at her comment.
Robyn didn’t even own a lipstick. She used gloss that smelt like
mint and vanilla and tasted like an ice cream sundae. He glanced
over at her as she came back out onto the floor with another tray
of food.

“I’ll have a Bud,” Brad growled, squeezing himself
between the women and putting his hands on the bar.

“Hey there, sexy. Do you come here often?” the
dark-haired woman asked, turning her attentions toward Brad.

“It could be arranged,” Brad replied, smiling at her
and taking his cap from his head.

“That’s two dollars and fifty cents,” Cole said,
putting the bottle down in front of him.

“And drinks for the ladies,” Brad said, getting out
his wallet.

“Why thank you!” the blonde said, giggling like a
teenager.

“And while you’re at it we’ll have a pitcher of Bud…”
Eddie’s voice spoke.

“That’s Bud Light and just the one. You’ve got an
hour,” Pam spoke seriously.

She stood behind his wheelchair and Sierra and Sienna
were behind her.

“Hey, Eddie, it’s great to see you,” Cole called.

“Boss, I can’t believe they let you out. How you
doing?” Brad asked, turning around and looking down at his
manager.

“A lot better than you. Look at the state of you. You
haven’t shaved. Have you even showered?” Eddie questioned.

“Is this your father?” the dark-haired girl asked,
looking at Brad.

“One bottle of Bud Light. Robyn’s over there,” Cole
directed.

“Pam! Bring the drink; I want to see my daughter,”
Eddie said, trying to move the wheelchair himself.

“Here, let me take you,” Brad offered, putting his
bottle down and taking hold of the arms of the wheelchair.

“Need something to help you keep balance?” Eddie
snapped at him.

“No,” Brad replied hastily.

“We went through this before, Brad, when Michelle
left you. I don’t want to go through it again. Whatever’s wrong
with you, snap out of it. The Panthers captain needs to be someone
I can trust and rely on. If you don’t want the job, I’ll give it to
Mickey,” Eddie told him firmly.

“Holy crap! What are you doing here?” Wes exclaimed
as Brad wheeled Eddie over toward the table of Panthers.

“Checking up on you boys. How are you?” Eddie asked,
smiling broadly at all of them.

“We’re good. Climbing the table, Boss!” Wade told
him.

“We winning big Boss, but Robyn, she is, how you say?
Hard pleasing,” Henrik informed him.

“Oh, yeah, she’s always been that. So I guess you’ll
be happy to see me back ice side,” Eddie said with a grin.

“Are you back tomorrow game?” Henrik asked.

“No, he’s not. He’s not meant to be here tonight. It
will be a few weeks yet,” Pam insisted quickly.

“Where’s Grant?” Eddie asked, noticing his assistant
coach wasn’t at the table.

“He…er…well…” Wes started.

“He didn’t think it was appropriate to come. He has
Jason at home at the moment and…” Wade filled in.

“Oh my God! Dad? What are you doing here? Why aren’t
you at home resting?” Robyn exclaimed, her mouth wide open.

“He’s got an hour,” Pam said.

“And we have a defibrillator in the car,” Sienna
added with a grin.

“Hello, Buttercup. Look at this place! You’ve taken
over,” Eddie said, looking around at the decor, the scores of happy
customers, the great band, and the clowns.

“Dad, what are you doing here? I can’t believe you’re
here to see this. I must get Nancy,” Robyn said, looking around for
her soon-to-be stepmother.

“No you won’t. She knows I’m coming, she and Pam
arranged it for you. You’ve worked so hard building this place back
up in such a short time. Your dad couldn’t miss opening night,”
Eddie told her, his eyes welling up with tears.

“Jeez, don’t you weep on me, Dad, you’ll kill my
ribs,” Robyn answered quickly, sucking in the urge to cry.

“I ain’t gonna cry yet Buttercup but I might if I
don’t get any fries or rings,” Eddie told her.

“Griddled with no oil and no salt,” Pam ordered.

“I’ll get you a table,” Robyn said with a smile.

“Hey, Robyn. Listen, I just wanted to say…” Brad
started, taking hold of Robyn’s arm before she moved away.

“Not tonight, Brad. Tonight’s about Robyn, not you.
Look at the place…it’s never been this busy, not even back in the
day. Now come and sit with us and talk me through the last game. I
know it was a draw, but we want a win on Saturday against
Cincinnati,” Eddie said.

“Are you okay? You must have served close to a
hundred tables,” Cole said as he passed Robyn on the way to the
stock room.

“I’m fine. In fact, I’m great. Look at the roadhouse,
look how the town turned out for me. When I got here, when I took
on this challenge, I never believed it would be like this. I always
hoped it would, but well, you know, I wasn’t sure,” Robyn
admitted.

“You’ve done so well,” Cole agreed, smiling at
her.

“And you’re a part of that. A big part,” Robyn told
him and she slipped her hand into the pocket of her jeans.

She took out her engagement ring and she slipped it
back onto her left hand.

“It’s time it stayed on—for good,” Robyn said,
looking up at him.

Cole took hold of her hand and smiled at her.

“In fact, it’s time everyone knew,” Robyn announced
suddenly.

“What? Well, I thought you wanted to wait. You said
the day before,” Cole reminded her.

“I know and I’ve changed my mind. Come on,” Robyn
said, pulling him toward the stage as Special Guest belted out a
number by Bryan Adams.

The song came to an end and Robyn took charge of the
microphone.

“Hi everyone, I’m Robyn. Don’t worry, I’m not going
to sing,” she began tentatively.

The diners all whooped their appreciation, but the
loudest was the hockey team who started banging on the table.
Mickey let out a wolf howl before Sarah slapped his arm and made
him stop.

“I just want to thank you all for coming tonight and
supporting Eddie’s Roadhouse. My dad’s here, just over there,
eating as many of the free nuts as he can get his hands on,
thinking I can’t see! I see you, Dad! Anyway, I just want to take
this opportunity to say thank you to the people who helped me get
the roadhouse ready for tonight. Nancy, my almost step-mom…you’ve
worked so hard, you’re still carrying plates and stuff now…and I
know besides all the hard work you’ve put into this place, you’ve
also had to put up with my bad attitude, so thank you. I know we
got off on the wrong foot, but well, it’s forgotten. And then
there’s Milo, he’s my head bartender over there—the cute one with
the curly hair and the dimples. Milo, you’ve been fantastic, you’ve
been here constantly when I couldn’t, and you even found ice cream
when I demanded it was produced immediately. And the lack of
mustard was an oversight on my part and you did remind me, and I
said I would handle it and I didn’t. So, sorry folks about the
whole lack of mustard thing, tomorrow we will have mustard!” Robyn
announced.