More shots followed before silence reigned over the farm. She let the tears fall unheeded down her cheeks. The pain wasn’t just for the animals no longer suffering, it was for herself as well. After the phone call last night, the raw edges of her pain had surfaced to taunt her and mix with a restless sleep that had her out of sorts today.
Finally Lena deemed it time to get up. She wiped a hand across her eyes and slowly stood. In the distance she could hear the sound of a tractor starting up. The sound got quieter as it drove down toward the back paddock. She resisted the urge to go and look. Her father had told her last night what was going to happen and she could imagine it without watching it happen with her own eyes, but still she was tempted to see if there was anything she could do to help.
Instead she concentrated on the reason she was here. With the piece of chalk she’d found in the second drawer of the kitchen, Lena started to map out on the floor where she wanted things to go. She started in the kitchen, drawing in the stove and added another counter with deep sinks and an industrial dishwasher beside it. She drew lines for the free standing shelves that would hold all of the pantry staples including those Mama was busy making since she’d arrived back home to live. This restaurant/café had to evoke the same ambience of her first restaurant tucked down a side street away from the hustle and bustle of the busy city.
Her aim was to create a quiet peaceful escape from the busy day where her customers could sample food to delight the senses and relax while they were doing it. There would be no rush of traffic outside her Hidden Café.
After an hour bent over creating her perfect kitchen, Lena stood back and stretched her sore muscles and looked at it with a critical eye. It was smaller and much more compact than her last kitchen, but that had been built to Cole’s design. It had been ostentatious and big enough for four chefs. This was going to be her kitchen and had everything she needed within reach, but still open to the diners so they could get a sense of being involved with their meals.
* * *
Lena knocked on the door and waited. Spencer came running and jumped between and around her legs excitedly as she bent down to pat him. Heavy footsteps followed. She stood up and put her game face on. Adam came to the door, his expression dark and troubled, and a wineglass clasped in his hand. “Lena.” His voice slurred and a blast of alcohol fanned her face.
“Uh, hi. I thought you might need a bit of company after today. I made you dinner.”
He glanced at the pot in her hand and couldn’t take his eyes off the bottle of wine tucked under her arm.
“It’s not much, just a pasta dish, but I figured you wouldn’t be in the mood for cooking tonight.” He continued to stare at her, his slightly glazed eyes flitting between her face and the bottle. “You know, after, uh this morning.” What do you say to a man who’s had to shoot his whole herd of deer? He had such high hopes for them.
“Thanks. I’m not hungry. Feel free to bring in the wine though. I’m shitty company, but I’m sure you were expecting it anyway. Your call.” He turned and walked back inside leaving her at the door. I’m only forgiving him because he’s had a shit of a day.
She might as well be some nosy neighbor. “Bugger this.” She walked in, put the pot on the stove, the bottle on the counter behind the bread bin, and followed him into the lounge room. Seems he’s had a head start on the wine, might have been a mistake bringing him more.
Adam lay slumped on the couch with his feet on the coffee table dangerously close to an almost empty wine bottle. She ignored it and the surly look he gave her. “I thought you might need someone to talk to.” Make it quick Adam, and try to be nice or you’re on your own.
“I don’t, thanks. What’s done is done. Talking won’t bring them back.” He lifted the glass and polished off the rest of his wine. “Grab a glass and join me. Nothing a good bottle of red won’t fix.” His mouth turned down in a sneer.
“I doubt it. Drinking never fixed anything.” She stood looking down at him wondering whether to leave him alone or stay and try to make things better for him.
“Hell, I’m aiming to give it a go.”
Idiot. She considered leaving him to wallow on his own, but decided that wasn’t a charitable thought. Even though he didn’t seem to want the company, he probably needed it. Lena walked back to the kitchen and opened cupboards looking for a glass for herself. One drink and that’s it. Just enough so he can get the hurt out. When she found one, she made her way back to the lounge room. Adam smiled, sat up, and reached for the bottle, pouring wine into her glass when she held it out and splashing the last of it into his own glass. Like you need that, pal.
“So, Lena my dear Lena, to what do I owe the pleasure of your company tonight?” The drunken slur to his voice made her stomach clench. Don’t go all nasty on me or my sympathy will fly out the door with me right behind it. If he started to get aggressive she was leaving. There had been a few drunk patrons they’d had to
