"I don't think I'll be in San Diego any longer than a week. I wish you could join me, but with the reopening of Sanches's in less than a couple of weeks, I understand you won't be able to." We were on the plane flying back to Oregon and Karen was giving me the breakdown of her schedule.
"I'm going to be busy, Eddie has the brewery up and running and and is brewing not only for the restaurant and tap room. But also getting caught up with distribution." As I was saying it I was going over a mental list of what my week held.
"Beth says Alex is going to be traveling for a project in San Francisco, he'll be there a couple of weeks. Do you mind if she stays at the house while he is away? She gets scared when she is all alone when he is gone. Before we were married she would stay or sometimes travel with me."
I raised my eyebrow hearing Karen say it. This new sexual freedom within our marriage was still new to me and I was still figuring out where the boundaries were. "I can loan her the dogs." I was joking when I said it. "It's fine for her to stay. Beth and I will figure it out." I was still wrapping my head around the concept that my wife was encouraging me to have her best friend stay with me while she was on a business trip. But I knew Beth well and she is easy to be around, not to mention she is gorgeous.
"If it were anyone other than Beth I wouldn't even offer our home let alone my husband. But it's Beth. It's not like you haven't slept with her before."
"I know. But you were in the bed also."
"The fact that you are reluctant makes me even more comfortable with it. I know you love me. And I trust Beth. But if you are uncomfortable I'll tell her you will just check in on her.
*******************************
On my way through the brewery I couldn't help but have a critical eye. I stopped to look at the mash temperature, the boil kettle was transferring into the whirlpool, grains were being staged for another batch. Eddie was on it. With the additional help he had, and our increased capacity, I had a renewed confidence. Next door the packaging line had a hazy IPA going into cans. And bourbon barrels were being filled with a Russian imperial stout. we looked at the weeks production schedule and we were on track to have the twelve beers on tap we had planned on as well as already increasing our production.
The kitchen was in the midst of developing the menu. Cheryl our chef was rushing across the dining room when she spotted me, a folder in one hand and her phone in the other. It was easy to see she was a little frantic. Not completely out of character for her. Cheryl is a perfectionist and is high energy. "Jim, I'm so glad you are back! We are going to do some trails on the menu tomorrow. Please tell me you can be here? We still have a lot to do and I have got to get this menu final and then we need to talk about pairings.
"What ever you need Cheryl, I'm here. You tell me when and I'll be there."
"Maybe 10:00 tomorrow morning. Bring your appetite, we have a lot to sample. If you know anyone else that has a good palette bring them. I can use as much feedback as I can get."
"Karen is out of town, but I'll check and see if Beth wants to come for that. She knows flavor profiles and is good with pairings. She might welcome the diversion."
"Beth? Our Beth?" Cheryl knew we were friends, but she also knew Beth. And if you know Beth then you "know how she is." I think she mostly held her tongue. And it's probably just as well.
"The woman can cook. And while she knows wine far better than beer, she understands flavor layers and profiles. I'm telling you, she can help big time with your pairings."
It was obvious Cheryl was placating the boss by agreeing to let this go, and that was fine. Beth didn't need me to make a spot for her on a tasting panel, I was confident her skills would speak for themselves. Beth is much more complex and diverse in her skills than what initially meets the eye. Most make the mistake of not getting past the fact that she exudes sexy. It's how she walks and carries herself, her sense of humor. She loves to have fun. And really it's their loss. She'll make your brain work to keep up with her at times. Really it's her best quality. And it's also one of the reasons I like her so much. It's easy for me to see where Karen gets her business savvy, they are so much alike. Let's face it I have great sex with Karen that I enjoy tremendously. So it it's not like I'm dying to get laid here. It is however like a desert after a hundred dollar steak. You could leave the restaurant right there and be satisfied and content. But then the chef sends out a desert that knocks your socks off! That's what sex is like with Beth.
I needed to finish my rounds, there were things I needed to see before heading home.
My next stop was to check the improvements to the docks and moorings. It was important to me everything was as I wanted it. Our opening would likely set the pace for us and have the industry take notice. There are few breweries built on the water front like ours is. My goal was this would be a destination. Our food and beer had to be on par with our environment. I knew what a tall order that was but I was determined.
I walked out to the end of the pier. I would be lying if I said it wasn't intentional to save this for the end or the day. It relaxed me, it also made me miss Karen. She loves this walk, it's so serene and peaceful. I paused at the end of the pier long enough to watch a group of pelicans in a coordinated flight just barely over the water. It was getting dark and I thought I should head for home. The outdoor lights had come on around the brewery, they are those kind of industrial overhanging type with exposed bulbs. I was pleased with the look. It brought back the fishing village vibe I was looking for. I did need to get some rest, it had been a long day. I got to the brewery at 6:30 this morning when Eddie opened up. It was almost 9:00 and I was tired.
"I was starting to wonder if you were out painting the town." Beth was cleaning up in the kitchen when I came in.
"Oh...I'm sorry. I forgot you were staying, that's terrible of me." I looked at her and again started to apologize when Beth cut me off.
"No, it's no big deal, you have a lot to do. It's not like I need a babysitter. When I asked Karen if it was ok to stay while Alex is gone its only so I didn't have to be by myself in that big house. You don't need to go out of your way, you have way too much to do for that, really. You look hungry, I made tacos. And I was just putting stuff away let me make a couple up for you."
With out even waiting for an answer Beth was heating oil to fry the tortillas and heating beans and meat in the microwave. I started to get the lettuce and salsa out of the refrigerator when she shooed me out of the kitchen. "Let this Latina feed you, it's my heritage I got this."
I was laughing at her sudden accent re emergence. I have known it to come out only when she is pissed at something or in the middle of an orgasm. "Ok, ok, can I at least get the Latina something to drink?" I could play the same accent, I grew up in Southern California immersed in the Mexican culture.
"Si. Un cervesa mi guappo?" She was seeing if I could keep up.
I told her in Spanish "a beer is coming up right away for the beautiful lady." And we were both laughing as I left the room go out to the bar to get a hazy IPA for her and one for me as well.
We got to the seats on the back patio at the same time. Me with our "cervesas" and Beth with a plate of tacos for me. "Mucho gracias" I told her continuing our Spanish banter.
"You'll get more than you bargained for if you keep that up." Beth laughed.
"Seriously, thank you. I forgot you were going to be here and was thinking I was going to have to settle for a microwave chicken pot pie since I'm too tired to cook . This is a very delicious surprise. I don't know what I would do with out you."
"You would be hungry and horny." Beth didn't skip a beat.
