Free Incidental Happenstance by Kim Desalvo Page B

hadn’t taken two steps into the pub before Siobhan saw her and came running to her side.
                “Oh Tia! I just knew you would come. I’m so glad you came!” The large red haired woman pulled her into a bear hug and swayed with her slowly back and forth. Tia’s heart lifted immediately in the warm embrace and she sighed into the woman, returning the affection and breaking into a relieved smile. She could actually feel the blood rushing back to her face. The woman pulled back and held her at arm’s length, looking her up and down. “You look good, sweetheart,” she said, planting a kiss on Tia’s cheek. “Everyone’s been asking about you. I told them that you would make it if you felt you could, but in my heart, I knew you wouldn’t miss it. Oh, do come and say hello to Paddy; he’ll be so glad to see you! He’s tending, of course—you think the man would let anyone else work tonight?” she said sarcastically. Her voice dropped to a whisper and she leaned against Tia. “Nick is here with us tonight too sweetheart, I can feel him everywhere. He’s at peace, you know, and you should be too.”
                Dylan watched the exchange with curiosity. As he followed the women toward the bar, he quickly observed that this was no ordinary evening at the pub. The entryway was set up like a shrine; a small table was set up and it was covered with flowers, full bottles of beer, guitar picks and handwritten notes, most of which read, “RIP” or “We miss you, Nick.” There were pictures hanging on the walls around the table of a young man who had apparently passed away—this was obviously a memorial of some sort for him. When he took a few steps into the pub, he noticed some of the patrons wore t-shirts with the man’s photo emblazoned on the front with RIP printed beneath the likeness. He suddenly felt like an intruder; he knew he didn’t belong here, but it sure looked like Tia did. He watched as the bartender, a friendly-looking and obviously Irish man came from behind the bar to envelope her in a familiar hug. She must have known this Nick. Was that the reason she was looking for solitude tonight? It would certainly explain why she looked like she was about to faint when they first walked in here.
                He glanced around the homey little pub and watched as the patrons rushed over to greet Tia with obvious affection. There were lots of hugs, and soon it seemed that everyone in the place had left their tables or their pool games to come over and welcome her warmly. In his mind, subtle clues started connecting. Was this the pub where she performed his songs? Was Nick the guitar player she mentioned? And had it been his imagination, or had one of her references to singing been made in the past tense? Could that be the reason she hadn’t sung in front of a crowd in a long time?
                He wondered if he should just sneak out right now, and leave Tia to her friends. She was at home here, in the hands of people who obviously loved her. He was pretty confident that there weren’t any Buds in this place tonight, and that she’d get home safely. She didn’t need him tagging along at an evenas obviously very personal to her, although he wondered why she hadn’t been here in the first place and had all but passed out when he suggested they come in. She’s a mystery wrapped in an enigma , he thought, and his curiosity piqued even more.
                But, if he left now, he’d likely never see her again. He didn’t know her last name, her phone number, and if he just slipped out, the only connection he’d have with her would be a song dedication at tomorrow night’s concert. Most of the time they’d spent together so far had been chaotic, and they hadn’t really had much of an opportunity to get to know each other on a personal level. He realized he wanted to know more—their conversation thus far had been so easy and natural, and