Jillian Chantal

The word of the week is key. I was going to use it in the traditional sense of an object used to unlock a door, safe deposit box or bicycle chain but none of that fit where I was in my snowstorm story that I am thinking of naming    as my friend Iris suggested. Anyway, here’s this week’s offering and don’t forget the other fab authors and their tales here.

After a couple more hours of steady work filling orders, Lanett glanced up at the clock. Two a.m. She took another glance at the number of people still there. There were only a few people left but sadly, Nancy was among them. Lanett found herself wondering why the woman wouldn’t leave. Ian had made it perfectly clear that he had no interest in even chatting with the lady. If a man spoke to her like he had, Lanett would’ve gotten herself as far away as she could. No way would she throw herself at a man who put on every appearance of abhorring her.

Simon stepped over to Lanett’s side. “Do you know the key to clearing out this place, love?”

“Having never had to do so, I can’t say that I do.”

“Watch and learn, ducks, watch and learn.” Simon looked out over the people who obviously had nowhere else they needed to be and shouted, “Last call.”

Before Lanett could tell him how easy that seemed, a few men yelled back at him. “It’s too soon. You can’t close yet.”

“That didn’t work out as you planned, did it, brother?” Ian arrived at Simon’s other side.

“It will.” Simon picked up a bat from behind the counter and brandished it. “I own this place last I looked and I say it’s last call. Anyone who disagrees can take it up with me girl, Nellie, here.” He held the bat up in the air.

Some guy called out, “What do you know about baseball, you lousy Brit?”

“More than you’ll ever learn about cricket, Charlie. Now go home. That wife of yours probably wouldn’t like you so much with a dent in yer head from old Nell.”

“What about a beer before you maim me?” Charlie asked as the rest of his friends laughed.

“That was what last call meant, you stooge.  One last beer before you go home. But not one that takes two hours to drink.” Simon grinned at the man who was clearly a regular since everything had been said in good humor.

“You ever known me to take even thirty minutes with one?”

Simon had put down Nellie and was loading beers onto a tray. He turned to Lanett. “Could you deliver these so we can at least get rid of that bunch? They live nearby and can walk home.”

This week’s word is not a word at all but a picture prompt. Since I’m writing about a snow storm, I had to finagle this a bit to make it work. The picture prompts are limited to 300 words. I’ve picked up the story still in the bar with the snow coming down.  Be sure to check out the other Tales here!  

“You want all the men for yourself, don’t you?” Nancy snarled at Lanett.

“No. I have no idea what you mean. Why don’t you take the chance to go home now while people are still able to travel?”

“You can’t tell me what to do.”

“I can tell you that you’re not welcome here.” Ian joined the conversation.

“There’s a whole table of men over there that disagree with you.” Nancy smirked.

“Well, there you go then. Obviously Lanett doesn’t want all the men to herself. She very kindly left an entire table of them for you.”

“Like she has the power to do that.”

“You’ve obviously given her that power if you think all the men want her over you.” Ian took hold of Lanett’s elbow. “Come on. We have orders to fill.”

Lanett shook her head over Nancy’s instability again. She was concerned about what might happen if they did get snowbound together. The woman was a loose cannon and Lanett didn’t relish being around her when there was nowhere safe to go. Her mind involuntarily summoned up that dark, tree-lined road she and Ian had driven down to the restaurant on Long Island. Lanett was suddenly glad at least they were in a lighted pub now. Lanett guessed she’d rather be able to see the attack coming if Nancy tried something and not be blindsided like she would be in the woods.

She shook her head, put the annoying woman out of her mind and returned to the bar.

The rest of the night went by quickly but around midnight, it became clear that the snow would definitely stop anyone else from leaving.

This week’s word is nail. I’m still in the story with no name. I wish I could think of one but so far, nada.  We are still in the bar and it’s still snowing.

Check out the other stories here. 

“Excuse me a moment,” Lanett said. She walked over to the plate glass window and peered out. Snow was falling. It was beautiful at the moment but the wind seemed to be picking up. For the first time, she realized she may actually be forced to spend the night here. Maybe that wasn’t such a good idea after all. It had sounded romantic when she was flirting with Ian but now that the reality was setting in, she wasn’t sure at all that she’d made the right call.

“Regrets?” Ian asked at her shoulder.

“I’m not sure that’s the right word.”

“You still have time to catch a cab if you want to try. It looks like the road is still passable.”

“I hate to leave you and Simon alone with so many people still here.” She looked around. “I see Nancy is still over at that table full of men.”

“Like I told you earlier, I can handle her.”

“She’s pretty nasty.”

“I’ve dealt with some pretty horrible people in my time. You have no idea how cruel and snobbish people in certain social circles can be.” A shadow passed over Ian’s face causing Lanett to wonder just what had happened in his past to cause such an expression.

“That sounds ominous.”

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to make you think I’d had this horrible life of being mistreated.”

“I didn’t think that.” Lanett ran the nail of her index finger down the condensation on the window.

“You should smile when you say that. I’d be more convinced.”