How did Lacey secure employment with such ease? The interaction with the bar manager left her stunned. Her new boss, Nick, appeared unfazed by her quick hire and was more relieved about having an extra pair of hands.

He might have been kidding around. It seemed unbelievable. Although Lacey harbored suspicions, she would see this offer through to its conclusion.

Regardless of the peculiar circumstances, Lacey knew she needed a job. She had bills to pay for the utilities on the condo, groceries, and dance classes. Life had to continue, even though everything was falling apart. Emotions checked themselves at the door for monetary needs.

She had a few hours to kill before her shift began, and returning to her home wasn’t an option. Loneliness still taunted her, but she wouldn’t give in to that feeling. Today was a fresh start for better outcomes. The need to explore the town became obvious, so she did that. Greenwich Village was a place full of memories for Lacey.

During the short period Lacey stayed with her sister, they spent weekends in this neighborhood. June lived in New York for several years before Lacey arrived and was an expert tour guide. June loved showing off all her favorite places. The times they shared here were special. This had been June’s happy place. There was a sense of pride for both Sheridan women in their time together, away from their tumultuous upbringing. Lacey escaped a toxic home, and June became the big sister hero Lacey had always seen her as throughout their lives together.  Being in this area brought the aspiring dancer immense comfort despite the pain from loss.

Spring’s arrival brought warmer weather, filling the streets with more people. The sun was setting in the artsy New York neighborhood as she came toward her new employer. She entered through the front entrance and took a deep breath.

You need the job. Pull yourself together.

The patrons filled the bar almost to its capacity. Lacey rushed to the bathroom, locking the door. A yell from the girl she had cut off came outside the door.

“Hey, lady! Get out of there! It was my turn!”

“Almost done.” She turned her attention to the mirror. Her pulse rushed inside her neck. What had she gotten into? I barely know this man; can I work for him? Was there a catch to this being that easy? A thousand questions with no answers. She stole another glance at her reflection, took a deep breath, and walked out. Flashing an apologetic grin at the woman, she made her way to the bar.

Nick saw Lacey from behind the counter and smiled to himself. Nick was happy to see her return and accept his job offer. His intuition about the blonde left him with a strong desire to help her. He didn’t know the whole story, but that didn’t matter to him. Lacey possessed a visible sadness he wanted to help remove. Their introduction and quick hiring were based on a gut feeling, and it turned out great for him.

“Hey!” she yelled over the music. “Lacey Sheridan. Remember me?”

The man smiled and gave a friendly nod. “Yeah, get your ass back here. Don’t worry about the house menu. Stick to beers tonight,” he told her with a wave of his hand to show the already growing pile of clientele. Lacey nodded. She understood and got to work serving drinks.

Her lack of speed created a problem. Lacey’s first night was happening now, and not knowing the bar layout or where anything was slowed her down. But the customers didn’t care. They wanted a buzz on before the weekend, and her awkwardness delayed their fun.

“Hey, bi –,” someone shouted, but before they could finish, a counter voice screamed over them.

“She’s doing her best, dude! Chill!” a woman scolded the enraged male. The strange, protective girl smiled as Lacey served the man and a few others.

Once there was a break in customers, Lacey went over and introduced herself. “Thank you for that. My name’s Lacey. It’s my first night here, so I’m a bit of a mess,” she admitted.

The brunette lady laughed. “No, you’re not. He’s a jerk,” she nodded.

“I’m Jessica. A friend of Nick’s and a regular. He seemed to like you, so don’t worry about tonight,” she reassured Lacey. “Keep going, and you’ll get to the after-hours party. Much slower and a lot less of a bass,” she teased. Jessica walked over to join Nick and his friends in a private booth.

Did a new friendship begin? Lacey hoped so.

Editor: Lucy Cafiero