‘Max!’
‘Uh-oh.’ Kirk’s head rolled on his neck, he narrowed his eyes and looked up at Max, and then at me, his face a picture of confusion. ‘Is this your boyfriend then, Heidi?’
‘What? No.’ I turned to Max, hoping he was about to explain exactly what he thought he was doing, because I had no idea whatsoever. Why was he wading into something that had absolutely nothing to do with him? ‘What’s the problem, Max?’ I said sharply.
‘This guy. He’s the problem. He’s been hounding you all night.’ He towered over Kirk and I had the impression if he even so much as blew on Kirk then my drunken friend would probably topple over in front of me. Instead, Max said, ‘Just leave the girl alone. Can’t you tell she’s not interested?’
Kirk’s brow furrowed and his bottom lip jutted out. ‘Sorry, Heidi, have I been a pain. I’m sorry.’ He scratched his head. ‘I… well, I’m sorry if I’ve been out of order.’
‘No, it’s fine,’ I said, glaring at Max.
Buoyed by my support, Kirk rallied and addressed Max directly. ‘If you’re not her boyfriend then, who are you? Do you own the place or something?’
‘No.’ I jumped in, realizing this situation could quickly get out of hand if I didn’t put a stop to it fast. ‘Max is a customer. He was probably just looking out for me, but there was no need. You haven’t been a pain at all. It’s been lovely meeting you.’
Crikey, compared to some of the customers we had through the doors, Kirk was a sweetheart. Definitely the worse for wear, yes, a bit cheeky too, but harmless enough. He’d just been enjoying himself. Where was the harm in that? There’d been no need for Max to be so heavy-handed with him.
‘You’re all right, you are, Heidi,’ said Kirk, marginally appeased. ‘You,’ he said, stabbing a finger at Max’s chest, ‘need to learn some manners. And you’d better watch out because she’s got a boyfriend. A big geezer by all accounts. He won’t be best pleased to hear you’ve been ordering her about.’
I bit on my lip to stop a smile from spreading across my face. I liked the way my imaginary boyfriend was growing in stature by the minute. I half expected him to waltz through the door and come to my rescue any moment now.
Max’s eyebrows lifted, his pupils growing large, as he looked at me as though asking for an explanation.
‘And another thing…’ Kirk had found his voice and was intent on giving Max the benefit of his advice. ‘If she ever breaks up with the big geezer boyfriend, she’s going out with me for a drink, so you, matey boy, can do a hike.’
‘Right, come on Kirk, the minibus is about to leave,’ I said, bundling him out through the front door, anxious to avoid any further confrontation. The cool night air was a welcome distraction from the intense and heady atmosphere inside the pub and I took a moment to gather myself. ‘Don’t worry about that guy back there,’ I told Kirk. ‘He can be a bit of an idiot at times.’
‘Yeah, a proper knobhead, if you ask me.’
As I waved Kirk, his friends and the minibus into the night, I couldn’t help agreeing with Kirk’s concise assessment of Max’s character; a proper knobhead indeed.
*
With the minibus crew gone, the pub had cleared out to a level that was much more manageable. I had hoped to go to the kitchen in search of a bit of reflective drying up time, but as soon as I’d walked back through the front door, Max was there, lying in wait for me.
‘Ellie?’
I felt my skin bristle. I didn’t want to deal with this right now. Didn’t even know what ‘this’ was, only knowing that Max had been way out of order. I was still working and the way I felt at the moment I couldn’t trust myself not to give Max a piece of mind. ‘Yes?’ I span round, a core of anger deep down inside, pulling me up tall, my head raised defiantly.
‘Oh please, don’t look at me like that. I’m sorry. Look he was hassling you. Every time I looked up he had his grubby hands over you. I thought I was helping out.’
‘Well you weren’t.’ I pulled him to one side, away from the prying eyes of the remaining customers. ‘And what makes you think I need your help? This is my job. A job I’ve been doing on and off for years now. I’ve dealt with more lairy customers in my time than you’ll ever know. If I can’t handle the likes of Kirk then I shouldn’t be doing this job.’
‘He was a drunken fool.’
‘Yes, well he spoke very highly of you too.’
Max grimaced, looking suitably contrite. He raked a hand through his hair, and I wished he hadn’t. Wished my body didn’t respond to his every movement in a way my head had no part in. ‘Sorry, Ellie.’ He reached for my arm with his hand, his touch causing our eyes to lock together. I took a step backwards, away from his overwhelming presence. ‘I got it wrong,’ he admitted. ‘I shouldn’t have interfered. It was just seeing him, all over you like that, I…’
‘Look forget it,’ I said, not wanting to drag this out any more than necessary. ‘Apology accepted.’ Easier that way or else I might say something I’d end up regretting.
Eric came up beside us, the large set of keys jangling in his hand, to lock the front door. ‘Hope you two will be staying for a late one. First chance I’ve had all night to have a proper drink.’
‘Yeah, sure.’ Max glanced at his watch, and then briefly towards me, as if asking my permission.
I shrugged and gave a smile. Whatever my personal feelings towards Max, and they seemed to veer from one extreme to the other – he fascinated me, annoyed me, intrigued and dismayed me in equal measure – I certainly didn’t want there to be any bad feeling between us or to drag Eric and the pub into our petty disagreements.
‘I’ll just go and finish up in the kitchen.’
‘No you won’t, young lady,’ said Eric, putting a firm arm around my shoulder. ‘It’s all done. And you have worked your butt off all evening. Go and sit down. I’ll bring you a beer over.’
I didn’t need telling twice. The lock-ins weren’t a regular occurrence at the pub, but on nights like tonight, special occasions, when no one wanted the party atmosphere to end, Eric would invite a select few customers and the bar staff to stay behind to enjoy a few extra bevies.
All the bar staff were there, Dan, Andy and Rich, and lots of our lovely locals including Johnny and Polly, Bill, Tony and Dave, and Max now too, sitting on a stool up against the bar. I didn’t want to talk or even look at him, best for both our sakes to keep some distance between us.
I slumped down in Noel’s rocking chair, my favourite spot in the entire pub, and pulled off my apron and kicked off my shoes, weariness immediately enveloping my body. It was always the same. All the time I was busy working I ran on adrenaline, not noticing the hours rushing by, feeding off the animated atmosphere within the pub, but as soon as I sat down and relaxed for a moment, that’s when tiredness hit me. I sighed, stretching my legs out in front of me. Every part of my body ached.
‘Here you go, darling. Not sure how we would have managed without you tonight.’ Eric handed me a beer and my hands clasped around the ice-cold glass as though it was a lifeline.
‘Aw, it was such fun. Weren’t the band brilliant? They went down really well with the customers. There was an awful lot of thigh-slapping going on.’
‘That probably had something to do with the number of pints we sold tonight.’ Eric chuckled. ‘There was an awful moment when I thought we might actually run out of beer. Can you imagine what a disaster that would have been? Thankfully it didn’t come to that, but it was a close run thing. There’s going to be plenty of sore heads in the village tomorrow, that’s for sure.’
‘You’d have had a riot on your hands if the beer had run out,’ said Tony, who’d had more than his fair share over the course of the evening. ‘A one-man riot, at least.’ He laughed.
Eric settled himself on a stool behind the bar and downed half of his pint of beer. He licked his lips and smiled. Satisfaction was evident on his face as he sat back and relaxed, content in the knowledge he’d put on another great evening for the locals, one that would be talked about for years to come, I didn’t doubt.
‘I’m going to miss all this,’ he said reflectively, his gaze travelling around the pub. We all looked at him, our light-hearted mood suddenly sombre. ‘You know,’ he said, trying to recover the situation, ‘when I do eventually leave here.’
‘Nah, it’s not really going to happen, is it?’ said Dave, shaking his head.
It was common knowledge now that the pub was up for sale, but I think everyone was in denial that such an integral part of our community would move into the hands of someone new, someone we didn’t know.
‘’Fraid so. I’ve only got two months left on my contract, so I’ll be out of here before Christmas. What happens after that is anyone’s guess. The pub’s been sold by all accounts, but what the new owners have in mind for the place I don’t know.’
‘They might want to keep you on though?’ asked Dave.
‘Well if they do, they’re keeping shtum about it.’
‘Don’t worry Eric,’ said Tony. ‘We’ll boycott the pub if they put someone else in charge.’
‘Hear, hear!’
Eric gave a wry smile. ‘I appreciate the support, but, you know, every pub has its day and maybe it’s the right time for the Dog and Duck to have a change at the helm.’
‘No!’ came the collective cry.
‘Well at least we know it’s not going to be a chain-restaurant which is a relief,’ I said, looking at Max. He’d been as interested as anyone in the future of the pub, but tonight he was lost in his own thoughts, nursing his beer. Probably thinking about his earlier behaviour and what a fool he’d made of himself.
‘Not a restaurant, but it could still be any number of things. They might change it into a shop or a tearoom or a private house even,’ said Johnny, looking directly at Max.
Max looked up and shrugged.
‘Come on folks,’ said Eric, ‘there’s no point in all this surmising. What will be will be? And all the time we’ve got this place then we must celebrate that fact. Who’s having another pint?’
*
I’d had a couple of drinks and now I was ready for my bed, before I fell asleep, right there, in Noel’s old chair. I stood up and collected my jacket from the hook behind the door. The others were just hitting their stride and were clearly in for a heavy session, but my stamina wasn’t up to that. I said my goodbyes and headed for the front door. Max quickly followed me.
‘Let me walk you home?’
‘No, there’s no need,’ I said, turning to look at him. ‘Stay and enjoy the party. I would, but I’m completely knackered.’
‘I was going to head home too. Besides, you shouldn’t be walking alone at this time of night. You don’t know what kind of weirdos are lurking outside.’
‘Oh for goodness sake.’ I pulled my jacket over my shoulders and stepped outside. ‘You clearly have a very low opinion of me if you think I’m so helpless that I can’t handle a lively customer or walk home on my own. Really, Max, I grew up in this village. I’ve walked home late at night more times than I care to remember and managed to survive so far. I’m really not the helpless creature you think I am.’
‘Ellie! Don’t be like that. I didn’t mean anything by it. And I certainly don’t think you’re helpless. Quite the opposite in fact.’ He paused, frustration evident in his tone. ‘It was just one friend looking out for another. Is that such a bad thing?’
I gave Max a sideways glance. He’d shrugged on a big brown moleskin coat, the curl of his hair reaching his upturned collar. He towered over me and I half wished to grab his arm and snuggle up into the warmth of his lovely coat. Instead I shivered beneath my thin pink fleece, attempting not to show Max that I was in the least bit cold.
‘No, but really you have no need to worry on my account. I’m perfectly capable of looking after myself.’
‘I don’t doubt it. Come on, Ellie, give me a break. I wanted to talk to you actually.’
‘Oh yes?’ I said, unable to hide the sarcasm from my voice.
Well why should I make this easy for him? He’d seriously annoyed me tonight. What gave him the right to think he could interfere in my life?
Still, whether I wanted him to or not, Max was walking alongside me. That was up to him. It wasn’t hugely out of his way, and besides, I’d be home within a matter of minutes. Whatever Max had to say to me he’d better make it quick.
‘Look sorry about earlier.’ He dug his hands deep into his pockets. ‘That incident with that other guy. Clearly I’m not cut out for a career in the hospitality business.’
With my arms folded, I was determined not to look at Max, although I was aware of his gaze on my face as we walked along the High Street. When he failed to get my attention, he turned around, making backwards running movements beside me so that I had no choice but to look into his face.
‘Come on, Ellie, won’t you forgive me?’ he pleaded.
It was hard to stay cross with Max for long. He had an unerring knack of inveigling his way beneath my skin, making me feel warm, protected, safe.
‘Hmm, I suppose,’ I said reluctantly.
He laughed and turned round again, grabbing hold of my hand. ‘Crikey, you’re freezing. Do you want my coat?’
‘No, I’m fine…’
Before I could finish my sentence he’d whipped off his coat and wrapped it around my shoulders, the immediate warmth it provided sending a shiver down my spine.
‘You’ll get cold now,’ I protested.
‘Don’t worry. I don’t really feel the cold.’ He grabbed my arm and linked it through his, as though it was the most natural thing in the world. ‘So, what’s this I hear about a new boyfriend?’
‘Sorry?’ I said, being deliberately evasive.
‘That guy in the pub had great delight in telling me you had a big burly boyfriend. He sounds delightful.’ There was no mistaking the humour in his voice. ‘When do we get to meet him?’
I shrugged and walked on with more purpose now, still determined not to look Max in the eye. ‘I’m not sure that is any of your business. Actually.’
‘Come on, Ellie. Don’t give me a hard time. I like you. Care about you. I’m interested, that’s all.’
God, he had a cheek. Interested to know all the details about my personal life, but reluctant to tell me anything about his. ‘Well to be honest with you, there isn’t a lot to tell.’
‘But this boyfriend…? Go on. What’s his name? Where d’you meet him?’
I stopped, unlinked my arm from his and turned to look at him, open-mouthed at his arrogance. ‘Well if you must know, there isn’t a boyfriend. I made him up. Comes in handy when dealing with persistent customers who won’t take no for an answer. Works every time, especially when I explain he’s a 6 foot 4 rugby player who’s the possessive, controlling type.’
‘Ah, I see.’ Max pursed his lips together as if pondering on that. ‘Is that the type you’d go for then? Someone sporty, beefy?’
Max, clearly amused, couldn’t help a smile from spreading across his face.
‘That’s really none of your business either, is it?’ I said, riled. ‘You stand here wanting to know all about my personal life, but what about you Max? You’re a closed book. I’d go so far as to say secretive even. You never told me about your girlfriend.’ The silence that fell between us crackled with tension. ‘I only found out about her when I turned up at your house with Amber. It was embarrassing! She clearly knew all about me and yet I didn’t even know she existed. You might have thought to tell me.’
I stalked off, not caring if he chose to follow me or not, only relieved that I’d finally got what I wanted to say off my chest. It had been eating me up for ages.
I hoped he would just go home now and leave me alone with my moral superiority intact. Only it dawned on me as I waltzed away that I was still wearing his coat. He might be glad to see the back of me, but I suspected he wouldn’t feel the same way about his expensive jacket.
In a moment, Max was at my side again, holding up his hands to me in a gesture of defeat. ‘Okay, I’m sorry. I should have told you. That’s what I wanted to talk to you about actually. Can I come in? We should discuss this.’
We were standing at the gate to my house and I shrugged off the coat, returning it into Max’s arms. The cold night air whipped around me, making my skin bristle with goosebumps. It wasn’t the time to be loitering outside.
‘There’s absolutely no need to explain. Your personal life is exactly that. As is mine. Perhaps it’s best if we keep it that way. Goodnight Max.’
‘Please Ellie.’ He touched my arm. ‘Let’s be friends. Give me fifteen minutes of your time. Let me explain. And then if you still think I’m an arsehole – it’s okay I can see it in your eyes – then I promise you I’ll leave you alone and we can pretend we never even had this conversation.’