Friday June 28

Bobbie felt good when she awoke. She had a list of things in her mind to prepare for the party and Brose was in the kitchen with coffee.

She came out stretching. “So you got the coffee all figured out, you’re settling right in.”

“Fossy’s had his food, drops and medicine too. I just want to be helpful today.”

“Thanks dear.” She said as she grabbed her coffee.

He liked her little endearments, he also liked that she was still in her nightie. He wondered when his libido would calm down. “I’d like to catch the news, can we have coffee in the media room?” He followed Bobbie into he room and they watched the world news. When it started to loop, he leaned over and grabbed the remote and turned it off. He kissed her and said. “Maybe we should play a bit before the day starts”

Bobbie honestly thought he was talking about video games and was a little confused. Then she saw he was holding a fancy personal vibrator and her eyes opened wide.

A while later, she came out of the shower and said to Brose, who was laying on the bed. “You are full of surprises.”

They headed down to the restaurant, she showed him SPOKES and the Terrace on the way. When they finished one of Mark’s biscuit sandwiches she told him she had to go to the festival grounds and check on the sound and light system and did he want to come?

They walked over chatting and teasing each other and Bobbie went to the Tubing head office. “Hello.” She called, nobody answered.

Brose stood beside her and Trixie and Greg spotted them and came over. “Hi Bobbie, the tubing guys are busy with customers and Johnny left a message, he had to go to Cid City to pick up the stage and equipment. He’ll be back after lunch.”

“Great, I hope he can come to the Friday night soiree. We can get the sound set up later this afternoon. I like you to meet Ambrose. Trixie McNally and Greg Thurston, this is Ambrose Hennessy. He is low key joining us this weekend.”

“It’s nice to meet you Ambrose, Bobbie has been spending a lot of time with you, we were curious.”

“I’m pleased to meet you too.” Added Greg, shaking Brose’s hand. “Trixie and I have only been seeing each other since January so I’m figuring out how things work round here too.”

“You guys should try some of that nice coffee at the Cool Beans coffee stall.” Said Trixie, pointing to the only manned table on the site. “I need to talk to Bobbie about the festival.”

The guys left and Trixie said. “Wow, he’s not hard to look at. You have such good luck with men Bobbie, his body language speaks volumes.”

“He’s just nervous about fitting in.”

“Oh, I don’t think so, he’s just tagging along, adoring you. People will notice tonight.”

“Trixie, You’re seeing things! He seems to like the motel. The private deck is good and the apartment is better than he thought. I can’t decide to do tonight’s barbecue on the deck or get Mark’s help and do it on the Terrace by SPOKES.”

“It would be easier to get Mark to do it but send all the dudes to the roof deck and get them to barbecue. Provide lots of booze and they’ll bond.”

“Maybe I should put a dartboard out there too.”

“Brilliant! So the kids program in the morning is shaping up. I’m getting Greg to build a little platform over here and I’m making it dinosaur corner for socials pictures. I hired a couple of acting students that dress in those awkward blow up t-rex dinosaur suits. I found big blow up pool donuts that I’m going to get them to wear so they’ll have the tubing theme. They might become the mascots of the whole event I’ll see how they work out. We’ve got face painters, a one man band and a juggler so they will be allowed to busk and perform for change. All of our tables are rented. Ben’s coffee and our chili of course, I think there are a couple of Mennonite groups and a couple of antique stalls too. I’m most excited about the fancy ice cream truck.”

“That sounds totally great. Johnny set up some acts for the morning. Some life sized marionettes, that we were lucky to get and the Crow Harbour Hoppers, who are tap dancers. He’s got a group that sings kid’s songs, a school choir and a youth improve group that is supposed to be hilarious. Some of them will play in the evening too. We’re shutting the stage down at noon and bringing it back up for the evening show at 6.”

“The weather is really co-operating and look at our men over there working with their hands.” Brose was helping Greg build the small platform.

Brose and Greg were done and Trixie thanked them and said she had to get back to her office and sent Greg on an errand to find big blow up palm trees and really good Scotch.

Bobbie looked at Brose. “I have things to do here before I go back to the motel.”

“Unless you need me, I have some work I should do so maybe I’ll head back now.”

“She gave him her apartment keys and said. “You should walk over with Trixie, I have to find the Tube guys and am trying to get hold of Johnny. I’ll bring you up some Pizza for lunch later.”

Greg was off on his errands so Trixie and Brose started walking back.

“So you went to Cambridge School of Business.”

“I guess you’re a Harvard man”

“Yes, but I almost went to Cambridge. You work mostly as a financial planner?”

“I managed several large clients but my firm, Bridges and Floyd, were downsizing their North America office and basically said I could keep all my domestic clients and run the pared down office. Instead, I stepped away from my firm.”

“I see. Bridges and Floyd are huge; I was sad to see them go.”

“It was complicated. I’d always wanted to run that office but in the end it was a bit of a let down.”

“I see. Well it’s good to talk to you I’m heading up to read a few reports and will likely see you this evening.”

Meanwhile, Bobbie was on the phone with Johnny. He had everything they needed for the festival stage except generators. There was power at the Tubing office but not enough to run the equipment so Bobbie had to find the generators in Crow Harbour. “OK Johnny, drive safe” Bobbie couldn’t find the Tubing guys but she hoped they had the entrance gate all figured out and she started to walk back to the motel.

She got to the restaurant and went back to into the kitchen. They were busy prepping for lunch at SPOKES. Bobbie was glad to see Mark was mostly directing his staff and not cooking himself. He walked over to Bobbie. “Whew, we are hopping and I’ll bet it will be busier tomorrow during the festival. He pointed to two large pots. The chili is made. I don’t have a vegetarian one so I might get Gina on that after lunch. I have 20 loves of garlic sourdough bread too. And Bobbie, I passed my Chef’s papers. I’m a proper chef now and it’s all because of you. I am so grateful!”

“Congratulations Mark; you did all the work!”

“If you didn’t hire me and you didn’t have a personal relationship with Dean Harland, I never would have succeeded. It really was because of you!”

“I don’t know what to say Mark other than it sounds like a good time to ask you for favours. Would you be able to make up 3 dozen hamburgers for me for tonight and let me borrow the charcoal grill. Also can you please put on a couple of Pizzas on for me and Brose now?”

“I have a bunch coming out of the pizza oven. I’ll grab meat lover’s and a Pesto with glazed onion for you.”

“I’ll also take a couple beers, I’ll come out front to pay for them.”

“OK text me when you want the burgers.”

Bobbie carried the pizza and beer on a tray up to her apartment. “Honey I’m home!”

“Brose came out of her office smiling.”You’re spoiling me, I see the benefits of living above a restaurant.”

“I have a few things to do and I don’t know when Johnny’s going to arrive with the stage gear. I wish I had a clone. How’s Fossy?”

“Fossy is turning a corner, he’s litter trained, almost finished his meds and has a lot of energy.”

“My grand kids will wear him out.”

Bobbie called George to ask him about renting generators and he assured her he’d handle it. She called the bakery and ordered 3 dozen hamburger rolls and two dozen hot dog buns.

“She finished her pizza and said, all we need to do is pick up some food and booze.”

They finished up their errands in time for the guests that started arriving at 5 o’clock. Bobbie and Brose greeted everyone. Half the guests were happy out on the deck drinking Scotch and cooking meat. Inside, Bobbie had help setting out the buffet on the kitchen island and getting the leaves for the big dining room table and a card table for the kids.

Dinner was almost over when Johnny arrived around 8. After parking two big transport trucks at the festival site, he came over to the motel grabbed a gluten free hamburger and said that he and his guy were going to do the set up.

“Great Johnny, George is bringing the generators sometime tonight, maybe I’ll walk over later.”

Everyone went home around 10 and Bobbie suggested she and Brose walk over to the festival grounds. The Motel was quiet and they continued down the road until the lights from the parking lot faded. The air was warm and they could hear peepers. Brose swore he could see fireflies in the small field. “This almost reminds me of camp. In the great outdoors but charged with activity. I haven’t really thought about my job all day I feel like a kid who is out after dark, there’s no moon at all tonight.”

They got closer to the Tubing office and the stage in behind it suddenly lit up. “I guess George brought the power.”

Johnny saw them and ran over. “Isn’t it great Bobbie. I was lucky to get all this gear. My buddy Stack here, set us up.”

Bobbie glanced over and saw a man that looked like a sixty year old Johnny Rotten. “He’s something, I’m just going over to thank George.” She indicated Brose should wait.

“Hi George, thanks for coming though for us.”

“It’s my pleasure Bobbie.”

“I’m sorry you couldn’t come to dinner. I introduced everyone to a friend I’ve reconnected with, Ambrose Hennessy is staying with me this weekend and will join us at the festival.”

George looked over. “He’s staying with you?”

Bobbie nodded and George said. “Well, I have to get going, I might see you around the motel a bit more because I’m checking in on Tuesday.”

As George walked away Brose joined her “So Bobbie, did you break his heart? Johnny said you were dating him.”

“No, we only went on one date. You met his dad, Dean, this evening. Dean is dating my mother. We’re more like brother and sister.”

“I see.”

They were sleepy and went to bed early.