A Summer of Discovery

Chapter Six

I walked slowly down Main Street swinging my purse as I went, taking in the familiar smells of the south and the warm evening air. Those I encounter give me a warm welcome home and wish me well in New York and I am shocked each time that people know anything about me. It's easy to forget after eight years in New York where among millions of people nobody knows anyone, that in Fairview among a couple thousand everyone knows everyone.

I approach Charlie's bar and grill with curiosity watching the blue lettering flash above my head and wondering when it was that the old bar got a do-over. It was a busy Saturday night, the bar was crawling with couples and groups of men slugging back on the beer and watching the football on the big screen. As I enter the double doors there's a collective swivel of stools as people take in the strange new face at the door.

"Emery... over here" Sam shouts above the crowd.

I head over to the bar and slip in next to Sam on a bar stool. He's dressed smart in a pale green shirt and grey slacks. As usual he smells like a dream. He kisses me on the cheek and calls the bar tender over.

"Can I get a margarita please Charlie and chuck in a cherry for the little lady instead of an olive?"

I kicked him under the table gently.

"Hey" He said grimacing.

"If I was your little lady you would be getting more than a little nudge of my heel under the table"

"Okay Miss's Randolph that's enough foreplay" he said playfully.

Charlie handed me my drink and I took a sip. "Well dang it Miss Emery Randolph look at you" Charlie said drinking me in.

"Hey Charles" I replied taking a sip of my drink and watching him over the rim.

"Nobody's called me that in years." He said smiling and wiping down the bar.

"Well when you run track together for four years and you give me my first French kiss the full name kind of sticks. Have you stopped forcing your tongue down innocent girl's throats without asking?" I ask with a smile. I pause watching his grin widen "how are you?" I add.

"Touché Emery touché. I'm good. My dad bought me the bar last year. I rebranded and no I do not stick my tongue anywhere it aint wanted. But believe me its wanted...by my wife." He says with a laugh heading up the bar to serve two guys watching the game.

TMI Charles. He was about two stone heavier but Charles Hammond hadn't changed. He had slick backed dark brown hair and wore the same thick, black framed glasses. It didn't surprise me he owned a bar. Charles always was one for partying, socialising and an innocent fondness for the liquor so why not own something where you were always part of the party and had drink on tap.

"Who in their right mind married Charles" I ask turning to Sam who's been watching our back and forth with a slight smile on his lips.

"Remember Kath from math" Sam whispered.

"Kath from math" I cry hiding my laughter with my hands. Kath from Math was usually found smoking mysterious substances in the girl's toilets, known for running for class president on a dare and winning despite her hidden vices and ruling the school with a hypocritical iron fist... when not chasing after Sam. She was head over heels from the day she transferred in from Florida. Poor Kath from Math didn't stand a chance.

"Why Samuel Edwards are you not married to Kath from math that is the question my friend?"

"She got away from me" he grinned.

"Ah I've missed the cocktails back home" I said sarcastically taking another sip.

"So you think you would ever come back to Fairview?" He asked