Saturday March 16

In the morning, Bobby was down in the bar stringing up green lights and adding green floral arrangements to the two large tables. She had 2 planters by the front door and put St. Patty’s day arrangements in each. She got a large cut picture of a leprechaun mounted on cardboard and cut a hole in the face for funny pictures.

She felt the place was just about ready when Mark arrived with his green pizza dough, dressed in his green tee-shirt. Then Drey and Effie arrived dressed in green too. Quinn and a very pregnant Ray came next and then guests started arriving. Mark and Drey got busy making pizza and Effie served drinks like a pro.

Bobby ran out the back door and upstairs to change and came back in a green skirt and black sweater, back tights and green shoes. She had green eyeliner too and of course emeralds. She ordered up a green beer and began mingling. Quinn was an official photographer and Bobbie wondered if she needed written permission to use people’s pictures on their website.

Johnny arrived with his guitar and found a corner and started playing all the Irish songs he knew. He knew a lot, after all, he was Irish. Her Mom and Johnny’s Aunt Linda arrived and found a place at the bar. Greg, Trixie, Vanessa , Keith, Barb and Doggie, of all people, sat at one table and Ray, Quinn, George, Eddy , Charlie and Jen sat at another. Joan said she could only stay a minute and perched at the bar and a few people moved around. Bobbie started helping the bar taking orders and delivering drinks.

Around nine o’clock a few people left but a few were still singing and dancing, and telling stories. Bobbie noticed Lorne and Rocco at the bar with their heads together and she smiled and looked up and 6 more people were coming though the door. It was Andrew Wong and some of her old work mates. She ran over saying she was so happy they’d made the drive from Cid city and they joked that her opening a bar was the best thing that had ever happened to them.

Andrew hugged her and told her that retirement looked really good on her. She thanked him and asked if he wanted a green pizza. Trixie and Barb knew Bobbie’s work friends and they chatted while Bobbie drank green beer. She told Andrew they could stay in her apartment, she had guest rooms and couches.

“That’s OK Bobbie, we have a room at the fancy hotel in the city”

“That’s good Andrew, next time maybe my hotel rooms will be all finished.”

“Bobbie, it’s just not the same without you at work. We all really miss you. Are you sure you won’t work a contract for us?”

“I’m sorry, I don’t think so Andrew, I’m having too much fun renovating this motel.”

She hugged Andrew and moved away to talk to George. George was sitting at the bar and his fingers were stained a little green. He looked at Bobbie and tried to say something but his words seemed all garbled.

Bobbie shook her head and remembered moving to the door to say goodbye to her mom and didn’t remember much more…

Bobbie woke up and she was not alone. Ignoring her hangover she slid off her bed quietly and looked back. It was George. Oh God she couldn’t quite remember the end of the night. Sadly, no doubt, someone will remember. She checked herself and said nope, no hanky panky, she was fully dressed. Well at least not that kind of hank panky.

She went into her washroom and washed her face and brushed her teeth and looked at herself. “You’re still a little drunk.” She said to her reflection. She drank a couple glasses of water that did not sit well in her tummy. Better out than in she sighed, leaning over the toilet. She brushed her teeth again and washed her face again and determined she was no longer drunk. She opened the door and reached into her closet and found jeans and a clean sweater. She hopped back in the washroom had a quick shower andd…She still felt awful and still didn’t remember last night. She sat on the edge of the bed and shook George’s arm and said. “Good morning Sunshine.”

He jerked awake looking disoriented. “Where am I ? Who are you? Bobbie? Bobbie, oh thank God it’s you!”

Bobbie started to laugh. “We’re at my house, in my room, in my bed.” She wondered where he thought he was.

George closed his eyes and said. “That’s enough detail, how did I get here?”

Bobbie shrugged and said. “Get up we’ll try and find someone who remembers.”

Now that both of them were awake they opened Bobbie’s door and heard something in the theatre room. Johnny and Andrew were asleep, each on their part of the sectional.

Bobbie said. “You go ask them what happened and I’ll try and find someone else.”

George nodded and started shaking Johnny’s arm.

Bobbie walked out into the kitchen and immediately saw Trixie and Greg, dressed and looking fit, sitting at the kitchen island like they were TV morning show hosts or something.

Trixi crossed her arms and said. “Well, well there’s the Merry Widow.”

Bobbie heard the guys coming in behind her…

Trixi continued. “And her jolly band of suitors.”

Andrew grabbed her arm and “Bobbie I’m so sorry!”

“Me too” said Johnny

“Me too” said George

Bobbie smiled and said “it’s OK guys let’s just forget all of this. I’m sure It was all just drunken ramblings and I don’t remember anyway. Did everyone have a nice time? She added hoping to change the subject (whatever the subject was).”

Around then Rocco and Lorne came out of one of the bedrooms.

“Well, well!” Said Trixie to break the tension and everyone started to laugh.

That’s when Doggie and Barb came out of the next room.

Even Trixie was speechless.

Bobbie wasn’t sure what to do so she put on some coffee. Just then Mark arrived with a tray full of left over green pizza.

Bobbie heard a ping and found her phone on the kitchen counter beside the stove and her emeralds (really!?). It was Andrew’s drive.

She looked up and said. “Andrew, the guys have your phone and they’re at the hotel and will pick you up at 11:30.”

“OK.” Said Andrew, picking up a piece of green pizza.

Bobbie moved the green pizza to the dining room where there were lots of chairs and brought a tray of mugs and kept the coffee coming. Pretty soon people were fed and watered and headed out to find their way home.

On his way out Rocco said quietly. “This isn’t too weird is it?”

“Don’t be silly Rocco. Welcome to the family.”

Eventually, Bobbie found herself all alone. She rounded up the coffee cups and straightened up the dining room. She tidied the living room and then went into the bedrooms and stripped the sheets. She was on her second load of laundry when she got a text from Mark. The bar was all cleaned and the St Patty’s day decorations were put away. She texted him back “Thanks, you’re a life saver.”

She was almost ready to have a nap when Trixie called and invited her out for dinner. Bobbie agreed to be at Thurston Manor by 7.

Bobbie’s exhaustion overtook her worries about Eddy or Charlie seeing her acting drunk and foolish and she laid down and slept until 5.

She awoke with no headache at all. Got dressed and headed over to hear what Trixie had to say.

Trixie said. “The irony is you are the only one who didn’t really hook up last night. I mean other than Andrew, Johnny and George of course. You were on a roll as the hostess with the mostest. You were serving drinks and pizza and actually collecting money for them. We made a pretty good profit last night. Anyway, Andrew wanted to get your attention, allegedly to kidnap you and drag you to Cid City but who knows. Johnny sees him and thinks he’s bothering or assaulting you or something and starts a scuffle. Andrew is not a scrapper so Johnny ends up apologizing and buying him a glass of wine. Andrew didn’t need the wine and meanwhile George is watching the kerfuffle and is concerned you are going to get hurt so he proceeds to rescue you and take you home. So while 3 predators vied for your favour, you were oblivious but it seems you escaped with your virtue intact.”

Bobbie couldn’t stop laughing but said “I don’t think they are predators, necessarily, and I know my virtue was intact but how do you know for sure?”

Trixie said. “I checked. I don’t know George that well so I looked to see if you were passed out and he was ravishing you but he was more passed out than you. You said good night Trixie. But what you should know is, Greg was the one who wanted to check on you and save you if needed. So you might have woken up with both Greg and George in your bed, protecting you, if I had not insisted that I would check. Why do they all want to protect you?”

Bobby just shook her head and said. “Thank you Trixie” and they linked arms and went into the dining room.