Moonlight Series One: The Apprentice

Night Owl

I slam the metaphysical shop doors open. "Josephine? Where is he?" My aunt looks over at me, away from the papers she was writing. "What are you talking about?" I smack the letter onto the counter, Riftan was behind me. Avoiding any altercation between my aunt and myself. He shrugs his shoulders at my aunt, "We saw the letter in his car. You were the last known contact." My aunt blinks and takes off the glasses she had over her nose. "Honey, I am even trying to figure that out myself. I thought he had left a couple of years ago when he spoke to me about it. But when I went to the garage to pick up my car, I saw his car still there. Everything was in shambles. I knew something was off when I only saw how everything looked. I locked the doors and contacted his employees about what happened and to leave the shop alone. I have been trying to find him. But now that you are here, we can find him together." I look over at Riftan. He throws his hands up in the air, "You two sort this out. If you ladies need me, please let me know. I will see you tonight, Sybil." I nod and smile at him, "Ok. See you later." Once he left, I looked over at my aunt. She sighs in relief, "After you get out of work from the bar, do you want to do something that might lead us to your father?" Without hesitation, "Yes. Tonight. Back at the house." She smiles, "Ok, I am sorry. I wish I told you sooner. I was afraid you were to leave and find him yourself." I shook my head, "No, you are the only other person that might know where he is at and I trust you and your judgments. I'm scared...What if he is dead too?" She grabs my hands quickly and pulls me to her, "No. He isn't dead. Don't think like that. We will find him. Come help me a little bit, then I will take you home to rest before work tonight." I nod, beginning to help around the store. A few customers come in and spoke with Aunt Josie. She spoke to them about the bake sale and the festival. I organized the books on the shelves while hearing the two older ladies continue to speak, "Josie, your niece is quite beautiful. I can't wait to see all the men see her at the festival. How exciting that will be." She shakes her head, "She just got here yesterday, I am not entirely sure if she is ready for anything like that. Isn't that right, Sybil?" I look over and smile, "Yeah. I'm not ready for anything." They giggle, "Well don't wait too long! See you later Josie!" They go to leave and I look at my aunt and she looks at me. "I am sorry you had to hear that from them. They are so old school. They did it to me back when I was your age." I shrug, "It's ok. I hear you are hosting the bake sale. That sounds exciting." She smiles wide, "Yes, I won last year's and now it is my turn to host it. I get to judge all the baked goods. It is different types of good but the main one is cakes this time. So whoever wins the cake party is the contest gets to host the next one. By the way how was your little date?" The heat rises to my face, "It was nice. It wasn't a date though. He was just showing me around the place. The ocean is very nice. I love it. Beats what we had in New York." She laughs, "I believe it. I'm glad you enjoyed yourself. Let loose. Be young while you still can," she stops what she is doing and continues,"Let's go ahead and close up shop for the rest of the day." I nod and clean up what I was doing and follow Aunt Josie to the front door. She locks up and we head to the car to leave. 

Back at home, I eat some leftovers and run upstairs to clean up. I put on a black top and jeans. Placing my boots on and running out the door, waving to my aunt. "See you later Aunt Josie!" I close the door and run into the van and drive off to the bar.  I pull up to the back and lock my truck. I go to the door and open it. I smell the familiar aroma of beer and cigarettes. I look over and see Riftan's sister cooking. "Hey, Riley!" She looks over at me and smiles, "Sup townie! Riftan is up front, he will give you everything you need." I nod, "Thanks!" I swing open the door and see Riftan. He hasn't noticed me yet but he is talking to a couple of females. They are giggling with him. He throws the towel over his shoulder and hands them their drinks. He looks over at me and smiles, "Hey you! Over here." I walk over to him and smile, "Hey." He goes over everything I need to do and leaves me alone. A couple of hours go by and we start to get a bit busier. A guy comes over to me, "Hey there pretty lady, how about a shot of fireball for me and yourself?" I shrug, "Sure why not." I pour two shots and hand him one. I shoot back the other. I continue pouring drinks. Riftan comes walking toward me, "Hey the two guys over there need a refill on their beers. Can you pour a couple of draft beers and hand them over?" I nod, "Sure thing." I fill up the beers and walk over to the table. "Here you go, boys! Two beers." They both look at me, smiling "Thank you, sweetheart. Well now. Aren't you a pretty thing..." I turn around to go back to the bar. I feel someone slap my ass. I look at the bar and Riftan wasn't there. I look back around and look at the guys and glare at them, "Piss off." They stop smiling and look back at each other while drinking their drafts. I go to the bar door to let Riftan know to make him aware, but I overhear talking. I open the door a little bit to listen in. "Rift, you need to be careful. You will get hurt again. I don't need that. Neither will dad. You may have already found the one, but you have to be extra careful. Especially with what is going on." I hear him sigh, "I know, Ry. I can't help it. I will try my best..." They stop talking and I open the door quickly, "Hey I am going to let you know. Those two guys slapped my ass. I am not going over there again. I might punch them in the face next time." Riley laughs, "Good they deserved it if you punched them. Thanks for letting us know." I nod, turning back around and out the door to continue behind the bar. The same two guys ended up leaving. I give out more drinks and serving foods. Riftan looks at me here and there without my notice, but I noticed. "You are doing good for your first night. I'm glad we hired you." I look at him and nudge him, "Well, thank you for hiring me." A woman comes walking in, wobbling and giving Riftan a glare. I look back at him and he shakes his, "Oh no...not this again." I look at her walking up closer, "Riftan! Take me back please. I miss you." You can smell the alcohol on her. "You need to leave Valerie. I'm done with cheaters like you. I'm over it." She mopes, "But you are mine!" He slams a glass pitcher down, "No we are not! I already have one. Permanently." A low growl comes out, she takes a step back and looks at me. "Fine! Whatever. Have fun with your whore!" She walks off and slams the bar door shut. I blink and look at him. He looks at me and shakes his head, "I'm sorry. That was my ex. She never stops. She cheated on me with some random hookup. I wasn't about to have that in my life." I pay him on the back, "Don't worry about it. I had that happen to me too." A guy and girl come up, "Hi there. What can I get you?" The guy smiles and his woman order, "I want some curly cheese fries and a tequila sunrise." The guys looks at me, "I just want a jack and coke please." I nod, "Alrighty. I'll get your food order out. And I'll come back to get your drinks started." I turn around and walk to the kitchen door, as I enter, I see a woman all over Riley. She had her hands on her waist and had Riley was sitting on the counter. "Oh my God! Riley I'm so sorry!" I cover my eyes before I saw anything else. Riley gets up quickly, "I'm sorry, Sybil! My girlfriend came by to surprise me and it was sudden. I'm sorry you had to see that. This is Evelyn. Evelyn, this is our new hire, Sybil." Evelyn smiles and waves at me, "Hello. Um...Riley I'm going to leave. I'll see you back at the house." She kisses Riley and leaves, "Nice to meet you, Sybil." I wave, "Nice to meet you too." She leaves and I look at a beet red Riley. "Uh...so we have an order." I hand her the paper and she smiles, "Ok. I'll bring it out to you." I touch her shoulder and go to leave out the bar door. I go behind the counter and start making the drinks. I hadlnd them to the couple, "Sorry if it took a minute. I had to help out back." The girl waves her hand at me, "It's ok sweetheart." A few minutes later, the cheese fries come out. I hand it to the couple. After a while, they finish up and tip me. I thank them and watch them leave.