Champagne Guy

Fate's Connection

They matched out the hotel sooner than they had imagined. Looking at rich dudes dig into expensive, scanty foods gently rolling their chin chewing like babies was enough sight for her. It was all too familiar for McKenzie and she wasn’t a bit fascinated, instead it made her feel sick. She could only think of past family dinners, the silence, the soft music, and egoistic elegant carriage of powerful wives- that was what she needed to get away from.

McKenzie sighted her client from afar. She dressed in a particular way. McKenzie thought and finally gave it a name- Extravagant. She pulled her body high as she sat on the slim chair, a huge hat stretched inches apart on her head covering outlines of her face. She sipped from a cup at intervals and gave lifeless looks around her surroundings.

Olivia whispered “Miss Paris” with wide eyes. McKenzie smiled.

“Good morning Mrs. Finley” She smiled formally as she got to the table.

“Morning. You’re late.” She stared at her with the same passive look on her face then sprang up and strolled to the grandiose arrangement of flowers some steps away.

McKenzie shook her head. This was one of the proud people who would want to place a complaint whether it was right or not. She sighed and walked towards her.

“Ma’am, were portraying a scene to compliment nature. Look at the flowers so lovingly like you have a connection with them. Mother Nature feel. Be free and warm- y’know, like Sound of Music” McKenzie explained hoping she could get the whole theory.

“Yeah, I getchu” She replied hanging her hands on her waist.

“Ma’am could you smile more? It’s a little too icy”

“Oh Miss Hamilton, I’m trying the best I can. That’s the best I can smile, you can’t change the whole of me”

McKenzie sighed and looked back into the camera lens.

Once McKenzie said they were done, she scrapped her purse from the table and waved her hands at McKenzie and Olivia as she walked toward the road.

“Isn’t she going to look at the outcome of her effort?” Olivia asked looking from Mrs. Finley to her friend.

“I’ll hand them over to her at church”

“She attends St. Garfield’s?”

“Yeah, wife of a Deacon”

“Really?”

“I’m just worried I might not be at church on Sunday”

“You won’t go again?” Olivia questioned with a worried look. She looked at her and turned away her face.

She walked to the road side and stared at the cars as they drove by. The Life she had dreamt of didn’t seem to become real as time passed. It grew farther instead, and the only thing she found consolation in was that she still had life to keep on trying, her family was safe, and she had a friend to share happiness with. But it wasn’t enough, a huge factor was missing and she was worried that she couldn’t tell what it was.

She wasn’t disinterested in the Family business, it just seemed too much of theory to her. If she got into the company, she would get the title of ‘boss’ from scratch and would definitely be dealing with the paper works, probably even working from inside the house.

That meant she wouldn’t be carrying crates of beverages, or driving lorries to consumer companies- something her father would never in his life approve of her. Even if he wanted to, there were stronger forces to keep her under subjection- from hometown. She lived in America but wasn’t much of an American.

She wasn’t as experienced and exposed as an average American youth, but she knew what she needed to live a calm and cultured life. She was never happy to follow decisions her parents asked of her. Most times, they were to her psychological and emotional detriment, but she did them, she kept on obeying, sulking in her own pain and anguish, not giving expression to her inner mind.

Olivia left as soon as it clocked six. Her little sis had gone visiting the neighbors again and her Grandmother was all worried and panicking. She couldn’t recall Agnes taking permission to have a nice time with her friends. She had slight Dementia.

McKenzie sometimes wondered why her own grandmother never come down with any sickness. She was always agile. Too agile. She sometimes hoped she would get a warning from the doctor to slow down on her activities. But no, it never happened. She was a replica of an Oak tree

She took the bus and was about boarding a taxi home when her phone rang for the first time in the day. It wasn’t anything unusual, there was no one to call her.

“Kenzie dear”

“Mom”

“How’s your day going?”

“Great. I’m almost home”

“Why? It’s only six. You have till eight?”

“It’s just two hours”

She sighed “Okay, if you insist on coming home, please get a Champagne for your Father, he needs one from Scotland and it’s suddenly missing from the Cellar, we can’t afford an incomplete set for the auction”

“Okay Ma, Champagne from Scotland.”

“Thanks Sweet”

Jack House was the only grand bar around that could have such a specification. She figured since she had exhausted her cash on the bus, she would have to walk down there.

*

She slightly bent to rub her aching knees. She walked into the bar and paused to look around. She fell in love with the theme. The design was so cozy and soft. The whole tavern was dark having just little light to see your immediate surroundings. Asking her to wait for the attendant was a relief to her. She stole the time and took a quick nap by a table at the corner.

The time clocked seven before she opened her eyes. Oh boy, Mr. Hamilton’s going to grill me. She sprang up and matched to the counter. There he was; the attendant. She tried to keep her weak eyes open.

“Hello, what will you need” The attendant asked said clearing the tray on the slab.

“Champagne” her voice drowned away as she slightly dozed.

She looked drunk to him. Why would she ask for a bottle of Champagne when she was already this knocked out? But it wasn’t his concern. He was here to sell or he would be putting his friend in trouble. He took out a bottle and placed it on the table. When he saw she wasn’t saying anything, he asked

“A shot?”

“No… yes, a shot…” she said resting her head on her palm.

He nodded and pour some into a flute. He looked up to her, she was really sleeping.

“Ma’am” he called slightly raising his voicing then pushed the glass of champagne towards her. “Here”

She opened her eyes and let out a little “Ah!”

“No, No! I’m not taking it here. I’m delivering it”

“You said to serve a shot”

She looked around confused “Did I?”

“I asked, and you said to”

“You didn’t even ask which I wanted. I want one from Scotland, not Italy”

He sighed. He had carried along well for hours, now she was the first customer to make things go wrong.

“How much does this cost” she asked slightly frowning.

“$45”

“This is great!” She raised her hand in exclamation. She didn’t have up to that with her.

He looked to his wristwatch and began tapping his foot from behind the counter. If he waited for five more minutes, he wouldn’t be able to start dinner with the family. He had missed the three previous ones. He couldn’t missed this again, Brother has specifically to him “Don’t miss this, and don’t come late”

“I can offer you a solution”

She looked at him from under her eyelids already tensed, her wrist watch told her it was heading away from seven.

“You can work to pay. I’m sorry, it’s the policy here, there’s nothing I can do about it either.”

She grunted. “Argh!” she exclaimed silently.

“What do I have to do?”

“Sell”

“You mean I’ll stand behind the counter and sell?” she asked really hoping she was wrong.

“Yes. The prices are tagged on the bottles. I can tell you’re in a hurry. I’ll advice you start right now. You’ll be free by eight.” He took off his badge and stretched it forth to her. She looked from the badge to his face.

He was calm, really calm, too calm. Something about the calmness on his face calmed her down too even if she didn’t want to be calmed down. The chandelier above them sparkled and twinkled in his eye balls. His eyes didn’t look like that of a dishonest person. She dragged the badge from him and placed her bag on the counter making a noise. He stepped out and took off his waist coat.

He saluted the other attendants and looked back at her.

“Good luck” Then he took sharp steps outside the door.

“Let’s get done with this, Kenzie. It’s actually the adventure you always sought for” She consoled herself.

* * * *

“Eight” she said and sighed.

A young man came inside the bar. He looked English, she could almost guess his hometown. Placing the sliver badge on the slab, she grabbed the handle of her bag. She looked up and saw the English man walk towards her looking at her in a strange way. He squeezed his eyebrow and looked at one of the other attendants who gave him a knowing look.

She decided she had to explain herself.

“I’m paying my bills” she said embarrassed.

“Oh” he said and then nodded “Okay. I’ll take over” he smiled slightly.

She stepped out of the corner and walked out of the bar feeling really bad. She was really tired, she hadn’t stressed herself like this in a really long time. That aside, father tried giving her some liberty, and she told him she was unworthy of it.

She staggered on the streets as she began walking home. The moon was fully out and there wasn’t much cloud to cover the bright stars today. She thought of the attendant and felt anger creep into her mind. She wondered if he couldn’t offer her some help of his own, maybe help with her bill. She shoved the thought of him away and began anticipating the trouble she would meet at home.

Oh Mr. Hamilton!