Episode 4: Cafe Hell

Episode 4: Cafe Hell
by Toni Walker

Zan O'Neill wasn't sure how long she was out, and considering the looks on everyone's faces, it couldn't have been too long.


"Thank the Lord Almighty!" Thom Masters raised his hands to heaven in praise. He didn't quite scream the words, but he wasn't exactly quiet either. Zan began to get curious when he stared at her as if he was trying to piece together the meaning of life. "In another minute, honey, I would have been lying there beside you. Because *I* would have fainted."


Thom shooed everyone away and invited them to return to their good time listening to the wonderful music provided by Park Ridge's vast treasure trove of local talent.


"Floor show's over, folks."


Zan came up on one elbow, still feeling a bit woozy. It was then she realized food might have been a good option before working tonight. This collapse had everything to do with low blood sugar, she was sure of it.


Thom appeared beside her again. He was nothing if not animated about her collapse.
"Girlfriend, are you *trying* to scare me to death?"


"That goes double for me." Hannah Kincaide sat her guitar down out of the way and knelt by Zan's side. "Why don't we get you up off the floor and clear the way for foot traffic? No offence, but people came here to see me, not you and your fainting act." Hannah didn't have a mean bone in her body, so the statement came from a place of concern not contempt.


"None taken." Zan took a sip of a glass of water Thom appeared with. Mr. Efficient was on duty 24/7.


"Hey, hon. Don't look now, but a blond dreamboat is checking your sails. Two o'clock." Thom smiled and slyly indicated the direction of the man without really pointing.


Zan tried to discretely squint in the proper direction. Maybe it was the cute guy she had spied earlier that she had so tragically fainted over. As the man approached, Zan knew why Thom was drooling all over himself.


"What are you doing here, MacLeod?"


He was wearing a sports jacket over a white buttoned down shirt let open at the neck. Well worn jeans and loafers rounded out the casual look Tucker MacLeod was famous for.


"I could say I'm enjoying the view, and that wouldn't be a lie. But seeing you again is the first bit of good luck I've had."


Tucker embraced Zan and caressed her hair while Thom and Hannah exchanged curious glances.

***

Parker Barnett glanced around the bar checking for possible threats. He was too old for this damn bodyguard business, but no one said no to the attorney general. At least, that's what his boss had told him when he was forced to take this assignment.


The joint was jumping tonight. He figured getting lost in a crowd might take this mind off a few things. But he only had a few minutes to himself. While he assessed the club, his eyes focused in on one particular woman. From a distance, she looked like the woman he'd seen on the train not so long ago. The one he had foolishly not gotten the phone number of. It was a one in a million chance it was her. What were the odds she'd be in Park Ridge at the same time as he?


Parker wandered closer to get a better look. Surprisingly, it was the same woman. She was holding an ice pack awkwardly on her head while a blond man hugged her. Judging from the way they were holding each other, they were more than friends. He didn't know why the thought made him jealous. The woman was a stranger to him.


Parker turned away and headed back for the door. Maybe Avery would want to go somewhere else tonight.

***

Avery Ashton glided over to the car where she spied Rena St. Claire. This was one woman she didn't want anywhere near Park Ridge. She thought she had left her safely in Boston.


She leaned through the window offering a little chit chat, but Rena didn't want to talk. They hadn't exactly parted friends.


The man in the car leaned back and took in the show. Shadows covered his identity, but from where she stood he looked to be on the edgy side of lethal. What soft-hearted Rena was doing with the likes of him, Avery would never know.


"You have a lot of nerve walking over here." Rena exited the car and slammed the door. Her mood had jumped from suicidal to angry. That was what happened when you were bi-polar and forgot to take your medication.


"I came bearing a white flag... well, maybe just a slik one." Avery shined her largest beauty pageant smile. "Really, I had no idea that man was dating you. And it was six years ago. Why can't we put this past us and remain friends?" Her promise came from left field, but having Rena as an enemy would only make things harder.


Rena tried to talk, but no words came. Her animated gestures stilled suddenly and she headed for the bar. "I think I need a drink."


Avery watched the woman walk away. Typical. Rena was an expert at that.


The mystery man in the car leaned out the window and winked at her. "Quite a performance. Quite a performance. I should know. I'm a particularly good thespian myself."


She was shocked to see the man was someone she knew. Someone from her past. Someone who knew the secret she had been hiding for so long.


"Long time, no see, Avery." The man exited the car and approached her with his arms extended. "What? No hug? You'd think I'd at least get a hug for keeping your secret."


"What do you want, Trey?" Avery thrust out her hip and let the fur circling her shoulders fall off to one side.


"What do I always want, baby?"

***

Twice already she'd felt that familiar separation of brain and body. First when the mystery man walked into the room, and now with Tucker MacLeod. She tried to remember all the reasons they had broken up in the past, but nothing was coming to her. Zan was beginning to think the downfall of their previous relationship had been bad timing.


The cell phone in Tucker's shirt pocket chirped.


"If you'll excuse me, I won't be a minute." Tucker walked away to a more quiet room to take his important call.


"Girl, you have to tell me the dish after I finish my next set." Hannah grabbed her guitar and headed back to the stage when her name was called.


Dakota was still there and she had been silent and observant the entire time.


Zan placed a hand on her head. "I can't believe I fainted at the sight of him," she whispered to Dakota.


"Yeah, that was pretty lame."


Zan laughed in spite of herself. "Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence, kiddo."


"Anytime."


"Come on, fainting girl," Thom said. "Let's get you back to the bar. A martini will fix whatever ails you."


Zan rolled her eyes at Dakota but let Thom help her to the bar.


Dakota watched them go but didn't follow. She was more curious about this man who made Zan fall over and pass out. She wove her way between people large and small and finally came up beside *him*.


When she tapped his elbow, he turned around and Dakota gasped. "Parker?"


"Hey, kiddo. What are you doing here? I thought Hannah was supposed to be watching you."
Dakota's eyes grew wide. This couldn't be the man who made Zan faint. And if it was, they were in serious trouble.


"Hannah's playing her guitar for the fashion show." Dakota motioned to the stage. "What are you doing here? I thought you and mom were going on a long honeymoon."


Parker stared stoically at the blonde headed girl. She knew they weren't really married, that Parker was only protecting her mom. But she had a feeling her mom wanted more than protection from Parker.


"Let's go and find your mother before my colleague brings her in here. I'd prefer she not have a meltdown tonight and here of all places."


Dakota glanced back in the direction of Zan. Her mom wouldn't be happy at all to know that Zan had a thing for Parker Barnett. But she smiled in spite of herself. What her mother didn't know wouldn't kill her.


"Maybe you can call your friend and have him keep mom from coming inside."


Parker nodded. That was probably a good idea considering he didn't want Hannah to get in trouble for bringing Dakota to a bar, even if it was for a worthy cause.

***

Thom led Zan to the bar and handed her a ginger ale. "Do you make a habit of passing out?"
"What? No. I just saw someone that surprised me."


"Frightened is more like it. When I saw you take that nose dive, the bottom literally dropped out of my stomach."


Zan took a gulp of her ginger ale fashioned in a martini glass for show. "I know the feeling. Believe me, Thom." She glanced around and scanned the room. "Where's Dakota?"


Before Thom could respond, Dakota appeared parting the crowd and dragging along Zan's mystery man.


"Dakota, what have I told you about picking up strays?" Thom said, cheerfully. "But what a handsome stray he is."


"He's not a stray," Dakota admitted. "He married my mom."


Zan choked on her drink and visibly paled. No, it couldn't be.


"You're Parker Barnett?" Zan hoped he didn't see her hands shaking and she hoped to God this woozy feeling wouldn't lead to another collapse.


"In the flesh. And you are?"


"That's Zan," Dakota supplied. "She's my friend, and mom's friend too. That guy over there is Thom."


"I own the club," he said. "Which reminds me. I must mingle" Thom passed Dakota and then whispered in her ear. "Why didn't Avery tell me her new man was such a hunk and a half? Afraid of the competition, I'm sure."


Dakota giggled as Thom waltzed away.


"What did he say?" Parker asked.


Zan could only imagine the colorful comments that came spewing forth from that man's mouth.
"He thinks you're cute."


Parker shifted uncontrollably in his shoes.


"Don't worry," Zan said. "Thom hits on everyone You get used to it."


Parker refocused his attention on the beautiful brunette beside him. He'd talked to her many times on the phone during the last month never realizing *she* was the mystery woman from the California.


"So you're Zan?" His smile was genuine and wide.


"Yeah," Zan nervously glanced around the club. "Where's Avery?"


"My man has her in the car. I wanted to check out the club before we allowed her inside."
This was the worst news she'd heard all day.


"Mom's here?" Dakota gulped. "Does that mean Hannah's going to get in trouble for bringing me here?" Her eyes looked guiltily at Parker. "Hannah's the best. And we tried to call mom to tell her about tonight, but she wouldn't answer her phone."


"She's right," Zan said. "Avery will go ballistic if she finds Dakota here."
"Maybe I can stall her," Parker said as Thom appeared from the parting crowd.


"The Queen Mother is here," he said. "Take the little hustler and Hannah and get them back home. I would prefer not to have one of Avery's scenes here at the charity fashion show." Thom gulped mass quantities of air. "Go on. Scoot!"


Parker had only known Avery a short time, but when she was in a bad mood, she was as unreasonable as they came.


Dakota and Zan headed for the stage door and Parker was not far behind when a familiar voice stopped him in his tracks.


"Come to sweep me off my feet big boy?" Wade Bolton zeroed in on Parker Barnett as if she had radar to seek out only him. Her knowing smile didn't give away the fact that she hoped one day he would see her as more than her brother's little sister.


"I'm sorry, I can't really stay and chat..." Parker looked for Dakota and Zan but they were both gone.


"Why is the answer to that question always a resounding no?" Wade asked.


"Maybe because you're a slut, and if you hadn't noticed, this man's already taken." Rena appeared and showed Wade his ring finger. "Always check the left hand, sweetie."


"Rena?" She was obviously drunk, but she still looked the same. She was stunning.
She raised her glass to Parker. "What broad finally snagged you, Barnett? Obviously, someone better than me."


Parker had the distinct impression he had just walked into Club Hell.