He stared at his empty luncheon plate. The fish and chips and pint of bitters had not eased his misgivings or quenched his need for relaxation and redemption. Memories of the Spanish sunshine had quickly faded replaced by his son's excuses, which had started even before he finished parking the motorhome in its designated spot on the farm. The promised work had not been done. He knew what that meant. The bills had not been paid and that foretold another trip to the bank and another slice of his savings gone. He wondered where he had gone wrong. He prayed for guidance as he swirled the remainder of his beer around the bottom of his glass and then downed it.
"Aye John, I think you need another." The words of his favorite barmaid broke through his morass. She had noticed his funk when he entered the pub and her heartfelt hug of welcome had done little to change his mood.
"Oh...Sure, thanks Vickie."
"Let me take your plate and glass." As she reached across the table she intentionally brushed her sweater-covered breast against his shoulder. Then she allowed his dirty cutlery to clatter to the floor. As she picked up the silverware, she made sure he had a good long view of her ass deftly outlined by her skintight yoga pants. "Sorry about that," she cooed as her left hand now rubbed back and forth across his shoulders. She enjoyed the fact that his body pushed back ever so subtly against her hand. "I had better get you that beer."
"You could stay here and give me a massage, Vickie," he replied with a chuckle.
Their eyes met. She smiled and snickered, "Unfortunately John, that's not a menu item." She quickly gathered up his dishes and walked towards the kitchen. He just watched her departing form and for the first time that evening he was not thinking about the farm or his family, but of a different form of redemption.
She placed the glass of bitters on the table along with an extra serviette and the bill. She lingered for a moment while John reached for his wallet. Glancing at the bill, he noticed that the second beer had been omitted. "You need a little extra to steady your nerves and the serviette has a suggestion for your evening," she said with a knowing smile.