What could she say to two people who had overhauled the Shamrock’s image in town, making it more profitable than her father could ever dream about? People were even driving from neighboring towns just to come to the pub.
The couple were leaving, returning home to California via Jared’s private jet. But they’d left behind some enormously talented trainees who could draw a crowd all by themselves.
“Don’t thank us,” Carl answered gregariously. “Julian helped us get our start by spreading the word about our place in the early years. Since he’s come into his fame, he talks about our place a lot. It’s kept us thriving.”
Kristin shook her head. “He might have helped, but you two are an amazing team. Sandie’s dishes will be the talk of the town for a very long time.”
“They’ll carry on,” Sandie replied confidently. “You have some great cooks now, and you can afford them.”
Kristin hugged both of them gratefully, still stunned by how quickly the bar and grill had become the place to go in Amesport.
It was barely four, and Kristin had just left the medical office to get to the bar to say her good-byes to Sandie and Carl. The place was already jam-packed, even with the quick renovation job that had been done to add more tables and more seats at the bar.
Eventually, they’d have to really expand, build onto the existing building or rebuild if things kept moving the way they were right now. Time would tell, but right now, the kitchen was putting out the best deli food in town, and customers poured in for the new and improved gourmet burgers and specials, and to watch the talented new bartenders make fancy drinks. Most of the positions were part-time, but all of them had been trained by Carl and Sandie, and they’d transformed the atmosphere from a tired bar to a place where everybody wanted to gather.
The added seating had taken knocking out a wall, but it had been completed overnight, and the decorating had been done the next day. Looking at the revenues, Kristin had to admit that being closed for two days hadn’t hurt the bar one bit.
She waved at her two saviors through the new decorative door, Carl still wearing a pair of flip-flops as he exited. He’d told Kristin that there was no sense changing his image when he was going to be back in California shortly.
“I like them. I like them both,” Mara said to Kristin, speaking for the first time as Kristin slid back into the booth where they’d all said good-bye.
“Me too. I’ll miss them. They’ve been the best thing that’s happened to this place in a long time. And they were just getting started. Dad has a list of things to do as the place grows. He seems happier, more excited than I’ve seen him for a long time.”
“He deserves it,” Mara mused as she started to devour a juicy burger with guacamole, chili, and a combination of other items that made it difficult to get her mouth around the enormous creation.
Mara moaned in appreciation as she chewed and swallowed. “This is not only huge, but it’s delicious.”
Kristin smiled at her as she stirred her Diet Coke. “Sandie trained the cooks well. Dad’s employees are so picky now that they won’t let anything they consider imperfect go out the service window.” She found that amusing, since Shamrock’s had been serving up subpar food forever. “People just needed the right training. Unfortunately, I couldn’t manage to do much of that. I wish I could have.”
After wiping her mouth, Mara insisted, “It’s not your fault, Kristin. They have the experience, the vision to create something, because they’ve done it before. It’s not like you’re familiar with the pub scene.”
“It feels so weird,” Kristin shared with her best friend. “All I did was work. Now that Dad’s place is handled and prosperous, I don’t know what the hell to do with my time anymore.”
“Relax a little? Date?” Mara said hopefully. “There are a few nice guys working for me now. I’d love to hook you up.”
Kristin rolled her eyes. “Now that you’ve married your dream guy, you’re just hoping everyone else will, too.” She knew Mara so well. Since her buddy was so content in wedded bliss with Jared Sinclair, she wanted to make sure her friends were all happy, too. “Not everyone is destined for marriage, Mara.”
The brunette shook her head because her mouth was full. Once she’d swallowed, she remarked, “You are. Beatrice gave you the stone. I know she gave Julian one, too. Are you sure there’s nothing you want to tell me? You two were together in Vegas. In the same suite. And you want me to believe you were just bunking together because the hotel was full?”