SHIFT EXCHANGE

Chapter 31

It was an hour past dark before Kara had finally completed her shopping. O'Malley's looked warm and inviting in the cold winter's night as she pulled into the parking lot. Mr. O'Malley was a first generation Irish immigrant. He'd purchased the building in the 60's and quickly refurbished it to look exactly like his favorite Irish pub back home.

He'd spared no expense, paneling the interior with mahogany wainscoting and dark, Kelly green wallpaper. The bar was a work of wooden art framed in polished brass. Kara's favorite part was the large mirror behind the bar that was framed by customer made stained glass art.  She'd always loved the way the frosted lanterns shone on the cherished wood accents creating a warm honey color throughout.

Old man O'Malley himself greeted her from behind the polished mahogany bar as she entered.

"They're that way," He pointed her around the corner to the end of the building where a large flat screen television had been mounted to the wall. She could hear the cheering coming from around the corner. "Can I get ya anyting lass?"

"Just coffee with cream and honey please." She unwound the scarf from around her neck and unbuttoned her coat. Her stomach growled loudly. "Do you happen to have any of those delicious garlic knots your wife makes available tonight?"

"I do." He smiled at the compliment to his wife. Few things seemed to please the little Irishman more than his tiny, elderly wife and her amazing cooking. "I'll bring em' both round to ya in a few."

She hung her wool coat on the brass hook by the door. Strands of bright Christmas lights were draped along the bar front and crisscrossed across the low, beveled ceiling. Several small, six inch Christmas trees decorated the bar.

Kara nodded and walked around the corner to the room filled with men. She spotted at least 2 more females settled in at tables beside their cheering male counterparts.

Perched at a tall pub table Kara spotted Jake and his patrol team seated on stools staring at the screen. Several empty beer steins and a basket of buffalo wings littered the table.

She smiled. Apparently he'd taken her quite seriously in her wish that he'd have fun.

Carefully, Kara waded through the crowded room to Jake's table. At just the instant she reached his side someone on the screen did something exciting. All four men raised their arms and let loose war whoops of joy.

Kara dodged Jake's descending arm and quite handily ended up between his firm chest and his muscled bicep. "Babe!" Jake shouted groggily. He leaned in to kiss her on the head and pulled her in for a tight hug. "Guys, my girls here!"

The other men nodded in greeting. They looked equally flushed and bleary eyed. Kara counted the steins and shot glasses on the table. No wonder they were all in high spirits.

O'Malley appeared at her side. He cleared several of the empties off the table before placing her mug of coffee, a little pitcher of creamer, a crock of honey, and a basket of steaming golden dough knots.

"Thank you so much." She told him over the din of another exciting moment in sports. He winked at her and shuffled away.

Jake stood and offered her is stool. "Here sit. I'll go steal one from another table." In a flash he'd walked away. She was pleased to see he only had a slight limp and looked pretty limber with all the alcoholic lubrication. He returned in a moment with another bar stool and placed it next to her.

"How was shopping babe? Did you get all your presents?" He was really truly trying to appear much more sober than he was.

Kara smiled and pulled a garlic butter coated knot of dough in half. She popped a piece into her mouth and nodded enthusiastically to answer. The delicious piece of flakey bread began to melt in her mouth. They were perfect every time. "Hmmmm...." She savored the warm, buttery delicious morsel.