Jack Beale 00 - Dangerous Shoals

back corner of the bar that continued to stare.
    Jack spotted two seats at the bar, nudged Max, and moved toward them. Max remained by the door for an extra moment as she shook her head and fluffed her fingers through her hair in an attempt to make it seem a little less disheveled before she moved to join Jack.
    “Evenin’ folks. Nasty night, isn’t it?” the bartender asked.
    “Sure is,” replied Jack.
    “What can I bring you?”
    “I’ll have a draft. ESB if you have it.” Jack looked at the tap handles.
    “Sorry, don’t have ESB. How ’bout a Sam Adams?”
    “That’ll be fine.”
    The bartender looked at Max, who had been studying the drink list that was on the bar.
    “I’ll have a Cosmo.”
    “Absolut Citron?”
    “Yes.”
    “Light or dark?”
    “Light.”
    “Very good. One Sam and one Cosmo coming right up,” and he turned away to get the drinks.
    “Jack, I haven’t run that hard since …” she paused and her voice softened before finishing the sentence. “Well, since last winter.”
    “I know. You haven’t lost a step either,” he said with a teasing grin.
    Before things got any more serious, a Sam Adams was placed in front of Jack, then the Cosmo in front of Max.
    “Would you like menus?”
    “Yes, that would be great.”
    He handed them the menus and turned away.
    Max’s Cosmo was filled right to the rim so she leaned over and sipped a little so she could pick it up without spilling. She must have made a face because Jack leaned over and spoke softly in her ear. “Don’t tell me. They didn’t use your favorite lime juice.”
    “They didn’t, but it’s still good. Just not as good.”
    The menus were delivered, burgers ordered, and eaten. With each round of drinks, the crowd thinned, but they didn’t notice.
    When Jack heard the bartender say “Good night,” he twisted around just in time to see a tall thin form slide out the door. Then, before the door closed, he saw that the rain hadn’t let up. As he turned back he realized how quiet the bar had become and that he and Max were the last ones remaining.
    “Sorry,” Jack said to the bartender.
    “No worries. Somebody has to be last.”
    Jack turned toward Max. “Max, it’s time to go.”
    “I know.”
    She slid off the barstool and had to grab Jack’s arm to steady herself.
    “You okay?” Jack asked.
    There was a slight pause before she answered, “I’m fine.”
    Both he and the bartender watched as she relaxed her grip of his arm and turned toward the door. That first step never happened as she leaned back against the barstool.
    “Is it still raining?” she asked, her words slurring just a bit. “I don’t want to get wet. And it’s a long way back to the boat. Can we stay here?” She looked at Jack.
    Jack looked at her, then at the bartender, then back at her. “That might be a good idea.”
    Before Jack could say anything else, the bartender said, “Let me go check for you,” and he disappeared.
    “Jack, I’m drunk.”
    “I know,” he replied.
    When the bartender returned, he found Max and Jack sitting, facing each other, their heads resting on each other’s shoulders and their arms draped loosely around each other. He cleared his throat to announce his arrival.
    “No problem. They have a room.”
    Jack paid the tab, they thanked the bartender, and then they worked their way up to the registration desk.
    * * *
    “Jack, I …” Max’s words were lost as she flopped onto the bed.
    “Me too,” answered Jack as he looked at her inert form. His eyes betrayed his feelings as he undressed. Then, with great effort, he managed to undress Max, tuck her under the covers, turn out the light, and finally slip in beside her.

CHAPTER 42
    IT SEEMED LIKE only a moment had passed. Jack’s head felt heavy and he had to pee. He pried his eyes open. It was no longer dark, although the room was far from bright. He glanced at the clock on the bed table. 9:00 A.M. He looked over at Max. She was still sound asleep so he slid out from under the covers as quietly as he could to go to the bathroom. On the way he pulled the curtain open and glanced out the window. The rain had stopped, but he couldn’t see anything except grey. “Shit. Guess we won’t be going anywhere today,” he thought to himself. After taking care of business he looked at Max again. She hadn’t moved, so he dressed and slipped out of the room in search of coffee.
    Upon his return he tried to be as quiet as possible, but when he opened