Chapter Twenty Four the final Chapter

Chapter Twenty four

Kate and Gavin walked hand in hand down the close. The freedom to bend her leg, after being encased in a cast for the past five weeks, was pure heaven. Her leg still felt a little wobbly but with Gavin's hand in hers, she was confident that she would not fall again. Her rehab would continue for some time before she regained full strength, but for now, this freedom was enough.

At the end of the alley they entered a dark doorway. Kate fumbled with some keys and opened the door. She searched along the dark wall for the switch and flipped on the light.

“Ta da,” she sang.

The pub was finished and tonight was to be the grand opening. Kate had made sure all of her friends and teachers had received invitations. She had observed, over the last few weeks, many people pressing their noses to the window to get a peek inside. Interest was growing and she hoped for a good turnout.

Gavin let out a low whistle. “This is fantastic.” He walked over to the stout dark wood bar that greeted them. He ran his hand down the length of it, admiring the carvings on the front and the general sturdiness of it.

"Aye, this will do. Many a bar fight this will endure." He grinned at her.

Kate loved the way the stemware glistened from where it hung over the bar. And how the different bottles behind the bar made a patchwork of colors that teased the eye and boggled the mind. She and her grandmother had worked ceaselessly to make sure the bottles were in the right place to give it that effect, while her father had stood to the side shaking his head, informing them that after the first few days, the new bartender would be arranging them in a more efficient way. Her grandmother had threatened to put up labels and dock pay if she came in and one bottle was out of place. In the end a compromise was reached, for the first night at least, the effect would be worth the trouble.

Her dad had decided live music would be a necessity in the bar. A sort of open mic format and those with instruments were encouraged to bring them. Of course he envisioned there would be guest musicians from time to time, but mostly they hoped it would be informal and spontaneous. A space was set aside with that in mind, any and all instruments would be accommodated. Her father hoped for the more traditional Celtic music streaming from his establishment, to better draw in tourists, but encouraged all forms of music. Even though he had not one musical bone in his body, Kate knew he loved listening.

Gavin’s mother, a former hotel manager, turned out to be a wealth of information and indispensable in acquiring the kitchen stoves, refrigerators, preparation tables and all the essentials that came with it. She had been a real life saver when it came to procuring the correct licenses and permits. Gavin’s father had designed the front window and printed the menus. Kate's father had found a kindred spirits in Gavin's parents. It was like they had known each other for years, agreeing on just about everything. While Bruce was lost in preparations, Kate had taken it upon herself to create invitations and fliers which filled the time.

For the past few weeks she had seen little of her friends outside of school or defense class. It wasn't that she was too busy helping her dad, or that she didn't want to hang out, but they all had been on some sort of secret mission. Kate had only seen Gavin once or twice, and when she did, he was very vague about what they had been up to. Even today when she had talked to Kenzie on the phone, she asked her outright where everyone had been. Kenzie had told her they had some things to take care of. She pressed her for more specific information, but Kenzie had coughed into the receiver and deftly changed the subject.

With no friends to distract her, Kate had immersed herself in putting the finishing touches on the pub and, although she was miffed at the disappearance of her friends, she was glad that she didn’t feel guilty about spending so much time here. It had been a while since Gavin had last been inside the pub and she was interested to see his reaction to the transformation. Even she was surprised at what changes had taken place in the last twenty four hours. The ratty floors had been sanded and varnished and allowed to dry during the overnight hours. The effect was remarkable. She could almost see herself.

“It’s just about perfect,” Gavin said.

“Just about? I think it is.”

“Oh don’t get me wrong. It is brilliant, but it’s missing something. I can’t quite put me finger on it.”

He pulled out a shiny brass bell from his back pack.

“What is that?” she asked.

“This is a tip bell,” he answered. “It’s to be hung over the bar and whenever someone tips the barkeep, he rings it,” he smiled. “I hear it is a tradition. Not that I frequent many pubs,” he finished lamely.

He handed it to her. “It is really for yer dad, since it is his place.”

She took it and examined it, ‘Off the Beaten Path Established' and the day’s date had been engraved on it.

“It’s wonderful. I’m sure he will love it.”

She set it behind the bar so her dad could hang it when he came in.

“So that is what you have been up to. You could have told me.”

He shrugged his shoulders. “Maybe it is, and maybe it isn't,” he teased.

"Oh come on," she slumped into a booth, massaging her leg. "Tell me." He shook his head. "I work and slave here, at school and therapy. No friend in sight, mind you, and you won't tell me what you have been up to?" He smiled. Hmmm, guilt didn't work either.

“So, have you heard from immigration yet?” he said changing the subject.

“Actually, yes. We have a green light and soon we will be filling out all the forms to stay indefinitely,” she said.

“So, you're abandoning the states to become Scottish citizens?”

“No, we are not abandoning the states. I mean honestly," she chided him. "We are applying for dual citizenship. We will have to travel to the U.S. occasionally to keep our American citizenship in good standing, but we will reside here.”

“Will you be going to visit your grandparents when you go?” he asked.

"Wow, we really haven't seen each other much lately have we? Actually, they have put their house up for sale at home and bought one here. Some of their stuff arrived just this week. They have also applied for citizenship, but I think they’re skipping the dual part. So chalk two more up on the Scottish scoreboard.” She licked her finger and drew two imaginary lines in the air. “It just amazes me, I can’t believe at their age, starting a new life in a new country. I really can’t believe that my dad never told me they were loaded.”

“Loaded, as in?” He made a drinking motion with his hand.

“No!" she laughed. "Loaded, as in rich. The way they live, don’t get me wrong, they had a nice small house and nice little cars. I just never knew. They never did anything outrageous like flying first class for a weekend to Monte Carlo or taking month long exotic trips. They just lived a nice quiet little life.”

Kate started wondering if they scrimped and saved because her grandmother knew this day was coming. Come to think of it her grandmother had known exactly where to find the house they bought. 'She knew!' Kate said quietly to herself. She would have to corner her grandmother and question her about that sometime soon. She pushed that thought to the side for now.

She stood and took his arm. “Would you like to see what your mother has been up to?”

Seven-thirty saw Off the Beaten Path pub filled to overflowing. Tourists and townsfolk alike crowded around the bar and waited for seats. Kate helped the hostess with seating and the busboy with clearing the tables. She was not there in any official capacity, but she wanted to be available to help out in any way she could. Her grandparents had come right in the middle of a rush, but she had put a table aside for them since they were part owners of the establishment, and that afforded them special perks. She had not had the time to ask her grandmother about her suspicions, but she intended not to let them leave until she had an answer.

All of the O’Callaghan’s and the Stewart’s walked in the door together. Kate was happy to see them. She could have done without Tavey’s wolf whistles, but it was nice to see the brothers together again. She had not visited with Catherine and Boyd since that day in the flat and she was glad for the chance to catch up. She found them a nice large booth and sent over some pints of Dark Island Reserve Ale, on the house. She spied Catherine leaving the booth and managed to snag her on the way to the loo.

“It’s nice to see Boyd and Andrew together again,” she said.

“Again? Those two have been inseparable since they found each other. Every single day!  Boyd is at his house or Andrew is at ours.” She sounded exasperated but she had a smile on her face. “Actually, it has invigorated both of them. They act like schoolboys, always out for a walk, I swear I think I will look out one day to see them playing ball. And Billy, don't get me started on Billy! Not sure if I trust that boy.”

They both laughed.

“I have found a friend too. Mary is such a nice lady we have many things in common.”

“Like marrying an O’Callaghan?” Kate asked.

“Have you heard? Andrew is having their name changed officially to O’Callaghan. Mary is not so keen on it but she understands why. Boyd Jr. on the other hand is a bit of a case. I think he will come around in the end, but he does not like it one bit. His words, not mine.” Catherine and Kate shared another laugh and Catherine left her wondering if Boyd Jr. would be angry with her for the name change. She wondered what it would be like to be a Kirkpatrick one day and then an O’Callaghan the next.

A motion outside the window diverted her attention. She peered out the window and saw Monkey looking in. He caught her eye and smiled. She excused herself from Catherine and walked outside to greet him.

“Mr. Monkey. How are you this fine evening?”

“I have come to see how fate was treating you sweet Kate. I heard about the opening tonight and wanted to take a look.”

“Why don’t you come in and have something?” she asked.

“Oh no, I don't think that would be a good idea.”

“And why not?”

“I would’nae want to run into that woman. I’m sorry, yer mum. She sets me skin to tingling and I would hate to cause a scene,” he said.

“She won't be here tonight." She studied this strange, passionate man. He really did seem to care about her. "Actually she is no longer a part of our lives.” Kate shared softly.

“Kate, I am sorry you are sad." He removed his hat and circled the brim through his fingers. "It really is for the best. Besides yer dad needs someone who will give back to him. Ol' Monkey knows that your dad would’nae be able to find her whilst he was with yer Mum.”

“Come in, please. It will be on the house, whatever you order.” He paused for a moment and then nodded. She took him by the hand and led him to the bar. "Anything he orders is on me," she instructed the bartender.

He sat down with a smile and said, “I would like a Coke please.”

Kate was surprised. “You can order anything you’d like,” she said again.

“Darlin', do you have any idea how long I have wanted a Coke? It has been quite a while.”

Kate smiled and left Monkey to his Coke.

Looking around she saw some of her friends sitting in a corner. They must have slipped in without her knowing. Mairi, Lanie and Kenzie were camped out at a table and as she was walking toward them, Tavey appeared out of nowhere to join them. He stuffed a bag under his chair when he saw her.

“Hi guys, I didn’t see you come in.”

“Wow, Kate, this is fantastic. I can’t believe the turnaround in this place. It used to be such a pit,” Kenzie said.

“Completely,” Lanie agreed. “Me and me brother used to come down here and snoop around. Learned how to sneak in through the back door,” She laughed. “Used to think we saw ghosts in here.”

“Ghosts?” Kate laughed. “Really?”

“Ya, a woman. She would walk through here and sometimes she looked right at us.”

“Awe, she’s pulling yer leg, that one,” Tavey guffawed. “No such things as ghosts and you know it.”

“What’s in the bag?” Kate asked Tavey, heading off the coming argument.

“What bag?” He moved the bag with his foot under the table towards Kenzie. “I don’t have a bag.”

“Fine, don’t tell me." She scanned the crowd. "Is Gavin coming? I thought he’d be here by now.” she asked the group.

“He is here,” Kenzie said. “Saw him in the kitchen just a few minutes ago. Think his mum was talking to him. I’m sure he will be out in a moment. Well, he should be any minute now.” She checked her watch as Lanie kicked her under the table.

Just as Kate was beginning to suspect her friends were up to something, an ear piercing sound rang through the pub, startling everyone and causing shouts of pain. Shocked as everyone else, Kate looked to the musicians’ area, where the sound was emanating. She saw Gavin with a microphone and a small amp. He had not turned down the house music before plugging in the microphone, causing the sound to feedback on itself.

“Sorry about that,” he said sheepishly. “Just bear with us for a moment and I promise, the next sounds you hear will not be as painful.” There was laughter throughout the pub.

Kate turned to the rest of the table but they were getting up and walking toward Gavin. She noticed that each of them had some sort of carryall or another. They grabbed a couple of chairs from the wall and pulled them into a semicircle facing the rest of the pub. Tavey produced a violin from the bag he had so cunningly hidden from her. Lanie had a piccolo and Kenzie had a small drum and tambourine. Gavin had disappeared into the kitchen again only to reemerge with a guitar case. Kate was shocked. She had no idea what was going on. She looked around for her father. He was standing behind the bar, smiling from ear to ear. He caught her eye and nodded at her. Her father, the conspirator, must have known all along. She made her way over to the bar.

“You knew about this?” she accused.

“Yep,” he said.

“And you were going to tell me when, exactly?”

“Couldn’t tell, I was sworn to secrecy. Had to prick my finger, sign in blood and everything,” he said with his right hand raised.

Kate shook her head. This is why her friends had been MIA the last few weeks. She had been busy helping out here at the pub and she had called to see if they wanted to help. It never occurred to her, when they said no, that they were up to something other than avoiding work. She turned to listen as they tuned up. She hoped, for her father’s sake, they were good.

Kate looked around the pub, every eye was on the musicians waiting expectantly. Her attention returned to her friends and their instruments.

“Hello!” Gavin said into the microphone. “Welcome to opening night at “Off the Beaten Path.” He waited as the applause died down. “I just wanted to say thank you to the owner, Mr. Thorn, for allowing us the privilege of being the first musicians to play here.” He waited for another round of applause, then looked around at the group and, in a soft voice, counted.

“One, two, three, four.”

The sweetest sound she had ever heard floated through the pub. She was dumbstruck. She had no idea that her friends played, and that they played so well. Gavin carried the tune on the guitar, and Tavey on the violin weaved a soft haunting melody around him. Lanie picked up her piccolo and began a sad counter melody that brought tears to her eyes. Kenzie very subtly carried a beat. Kate stole a look around the pub. Not a soul was talking. Every eye was on the quartet. She noticed others, like herself, dabbing tears from their eyes. There was a moment of silence as the song ended, then deafening applause. The four looked at each other and smiled. Gavin took up the microphone.

“Thank you. That was our version of Happy Birthday.” Laughter washed over them. “I hope you forgive us our next one. It was written to explain to our new friend what it is like to live here in the greatest city in the world. So please don't kill the messenger.” Once again, the count. “One, two, three, four.”

Quick paced, upbeat music filled the room. Gavin pulled the microphone closer and began to sing.

  It rains all the time, you don’t know who you are.

  Hiding inside, deep in the bar.

  Edinburgh and her people are one in the same.

  Reserved by the rain, there is noooo one to blame.

  No perfect day,

  No perfect day. Nooo whoa a whoa

  No perfect day

  I say, there’s no such thing as a perfect day.

  The wind in the wynds, the rain in the close.

  The cold and the mist bite when it blows.

  Think you can change, you don’t understand

  Edinburgh belongs to no mortal man.

  No perfect day,

  No perfect day no whoa a whoa

  No perfect day

  I say, there’s no such thing as a perfect day.

It controls you and you don’t even know

Haunted on high and down from below.”

Kate was stunned. The last note of Gavin’s voice echoed through the pub, suspended in time. Kate felt as if everything was happening in slow motion. People rose from their chairs clapping and whistling. Gavin, Lanie, Tavey and Kenzie stood from their chairs and took a bow. Kate clapped with everyone else as Gavin’s eyes locked with hers, he mouthed, “For you!”

“Thank you!” she mouthed back.

The shouts died down and someone yelled out for more. The group returned to their seats and started playing once again. Kate felt someone at her side and turned to find her grandmother there.

“Want a bit of fresh air?” she asked.

Kate saw everyone enjoying the music and things had quieted down so she nodded and took her grandmother's arm. They passed out into the dark close and found a quiet bench a few feet from the door.

“I think your dad has a hit on his hands. Not only do they like the music, I have heard several people say the food was superb. No surprise there.”

“No surprise to us, maybe. Well, the food was a no brainier, nobody cooks better than Dad, but that music was amazing. Tell me something.”

“Sure.”

“You knew this was all going to happen didn’t you? I mean moving to Scotland with us, opening the pub, Mom leaving. You saw it all from the very beginning didn’t you?” She searched her grandmother’s face.

“Yes, I did. It was a terrible burden to carry. Once the sequence was set in motion I was powerless to stop it. So we planned and saved so we could be here for you two.”

Kate had her answer.

“So what is up next?” Kate asked her.

“I have no idea. I see small things, but nothing as big as this, looming in the future. Likely, your dad will burn some toast tomorrow and you are going to a dance but really nothing big.”

Kate was worried.

“Would you tell me if it was something bad? I understand why you couldn’t tell Dad.”
            “Oh, don’t get me wrong Kate. I tried to tell your dad. He wouldn’t listen. He can be very stubborn. Just like someone else I know.” She poked Kate in the arm.

“I know. I guess it would be hard to hear. I also am glad they stayed together this long. I’m here, if you had tried anything, I might not have been.”

“Now that’s the thing. How could I live with myself if I had convinced your dad not to go through with the wedding, knowing I would never get to know you. It’s a slippery slope. I figured the best thing is to let it run its course and prepare for the fallout. Your grandpa agreed with me. Some things are just too big to tamper with.” She sighed and reached into her pocket and withdrew a note. “I was told to give this to you sometime today. It’s from your mom. I didn’t read it cause I know what it says. No, let me be clear, I can guess what it says. You can read it now or later.”

Kate took the note. And opened it.

Dear Kate,

  Good luck tonight with the pub opening. I have been by several times during the day to see how it is going. I can tell that it will be a success.

Love,

Mom

P.S. Tell your dad he did a good job on the pub and raising a wonderful daughter.

“Well if you guessed short, sweet and to the point, you guessed right. Just a note for luck. I swear I don’t understand that woman.” Kate was exasperated. “Please don’t let me turn out like her,” she said as she put her head on her grandmothers’ shoulder.

“Oh, I don’t think you have to worry about that. You have too much of your father in you.”

A woman walked out of the pub and looked around. She was wearing a white long dress with a high collar. She started walking up the close then stopped and turned around. She walked back down past where they were sitting and stopped again. She spun around in a circle obviously confused about which way to go. Kate’s grandmother caught her eye and nodded toward the woman. Kate shrugged her shoulders. Her grandmother leaned forward.

“Pardon me. Are you lost?” she asked the woman.

Startled the woman turned to look at them.

“Can you help me?” she whispered.

Kate’s grandmother stood up and approached the woman.

“Sure, honey. What do you need?”

“I'm looking for Kate Thorn,” she whispered.

“I'm Kate,” Kate stepped forward. “Do I know you?”

“Thank heaven, Kate. I need help, to get home,” Kate had to lean forward to hear her words. As she did a blanket of cold engulfed her. She backed away from the woman and it dissipated.

The woman looked over Kate's shoulder at someone, Kate and her grandmother turned to look and when they turned back, the woman was gone.

“What on earth?” her grandmother said, as she looked at Kate whose mouth had dropped open.

“Was that a ghost?” Kate asked in awe. “A real ghost?”

“I think it was. And it knew you.” Her grandmother laughed and put her hands on her hips. “I think I am really going to like it here. So many mysteries and riddles in this old city. Yes, I think I am really going to like it here.”

She walked back to the bench and put her arm around Kate. They giggled about it for a while, every time getting it under control, only to burst out giggling again. Finally they managed to subdue themselves. They sat like that for a bit longer, the night’s quiet broken only by the music drifting out of the pub. Even with the sorrow she felt at her parent’s divorce and the excitement of the opening of the pub, she felt a peace she hadn’t felt in a long time. Her life was now off the beaten path and she felt like she belonged. She felt at home.

The End