Pete's Pub

Sarah relaxed in the warmth of Pete's hug. She realized Pete was opening up a little about his family, and she wanted to know more. "This is the first time you've mentioned your kids – what else can you tell me about them?"

Pete looked at Sarah and said, "Tell you what – it's a beautiful day outside. If you have time, why don't we walk to the park for some sunshine and fresh air, and we'll have a lovely chat on the way."

"That sounds wonderful – let me go change into some walking clothes first." Sarah headed to her bedroom. She put on a pair of denim shorts and a lightweight, short-sleeved top. She panicked for a second when she couldn't find any comfortable casual shoes in the closet and she was afraid she hadn't brought any. Finally she found a pair of sandals tucked away in a bag she had yet to unpack. She slipped them on, and then examined herself in the mirror. Making one last adjustment, she released her hair from the bun she normally wore at work. She smiled – she felt it was the perfect spring outfit for a perfect walk with a perfect gentleman.

When she came out of her bedroom, Pete saw her and his eyes got big. He smiled and said, "Goodness, Sarah – spring looks great on you!" Sarah blushed – she never dressed casually as a means of catching someone's eye, and yet as Pete stood there admiring her, she couldn't help but wonder if she had subconsciously chosen this outfit for just that reason. Whatever it was, she knew she was enjoying being the center of attention, even if that attention was coming from just one other person.

They went downstairs together, walking through the pub to get to the street. Pete stopped and said something to Nora, who frowned at him, and then looked over at Sarah and frowned again. Pete made one more comment, and then walked over to rejoin Sarah as they stepped out into the beautiful April afternoon together.

They walked silently for a while. Pete directed her to a nearby park. She felt sad that she'd worked downtown for over three years and never knew this park to be so close. She was slowly realizing some of the things she had sacrificed in her fanatical drive to be the best she could be as far as her career was concerned. And while she felt she was finally reaping the benefits of that drive with her leadership work on this current project, she also knew something else was awakening – something she didn't know existed before.

It was Sarah who broke the silence. "Tell me about your family, Pete."

He thought for a minute, and then said, "Well, you've met my daughter Nora. She's 26. She is a pre-school teacher, and she comes and helps me in the pub a couple of evenings a week as well as Sunday afternoon, so I can have a day off, although I usually just spend it in my apartment. She's not married, but she does have a steady friend. My son Daniel is 24. He is also a teacher – both kids took after their mother, actually in more ways than one, although that is probably not a fair statement. Do you want to hear the whole story?"

Sarah replied, "Only if you want to share it. You don't have to, if it's still painful."

"There will always be pain, but I'm beyond the point where I can't talk about it. My wife – well, ex-wife now, is also a teacher – 2^nd grade in an elementary school in the suburb. Her name is Regina, but I always called her Gina. We met our freshman year at college, and we wanted to wait until we graduated to get married, but we were too much in love with each other, and we got married as 20 year olds right after our sophomore year. We lived in the married apartments they had on campus, which cut the living bills in half, though it was still tough. But we never doubted getting married so young, and somehow we made it through.

"Gina got a teaching job right away, and started teaching in the fall. I had been accepted to Williams, and acquired a whole bunch of student loans. She basically supported me during my three years in law school. With the end of law school looming on the horizon, we decided to start our family. It was perfect – I had my law degree, Gina could stay home and take care of the kids, we had one girl and one boy – it was the perfect little family.

"But somewhere I forgot about that family, as I succumbed to the same drive for success you have now. I was rarely home, so even though we were married, I know Gina felt abandoned. I kept telling her that soon, I would be to a point where I could back away from the hours I worked and be the father and husband my family needed. That "soon" never came. We had all the money we needed, but I fell into the same trap in which so many people fall – no matter how much you have, you always seem to want more."

By this time Sarah and Pete had reached the park, and they sat down together on a bench as Pete continued his story. "Gina was constantly complaining about my time away from the family, and rightfully so. I kept saying to myself that as soon as this current project was finished, I'd have more time. Unfortunately, when one project ends, often there are two waiting for your attention. I wasn't keeping the promises I was making to my family.

"The kids rebelled first. On the rare times I was home to spend time with them, they complained loudly about me missing this concert or that ball game or any other number of activities I didn't see. I tried to mollify them with materials things – clothes, cars as soon as they turned 16, that kind of stuff. But they saw through me. They enjoyed the things I was buying for them, but they would have rather had a father who was there for them as they were growing up.

"I was also gone so much that I didn't notice that something was wrong with our marriage. The reality was that something WAS wrong, but that started soon after I signed on at BH&H. Gina put up with being a single parent for a long time, and I guess when she wasn't getting the affection we had when we were newlyweds in college, she sought it elsewhere.

"Looking back now, I see the clues I missed at the time. Our sex life had slowed, but I just thought that was the natural progression as couples get older. But the last few months it got really slow, and when we did get together, there didn't seem to be any passion left in it. She also began to have more meetings, including some overnight conferences she went to, claiming she had been named the reading captain for the staff and was required to bring back information from the conferences and share with her colleagues.

"What really was happening was that she was having an affair with a teacher from another school in her district. He claimed to be in a sexless marriage, and the two of them were fulfilling each other's needs for passion and companionship. I caught them in my home – in my own bed – on a day they were supposed to be in class. They had each taken a sick day, and I just happened to take half a day off from the law firm when I caught them."

Pete put his head down, and Sarah could see tears starting to form in the corner of his eyes. She scooted close to him and took his hand in hers as he continued. "Of course I blew a gasket and started yelling at her right away. Her lover jumped up and grabbed his clothes and ran out of the house. At first Gina started apologizing and pleaded with me to give her another chance, but my strong Irish blood had little sympathy for a cheater, so I moved out that night and went to stay at Brian's house – the same Brian who is in the pub nearly every day.

"Between my anger and my sorrow, I dropped into a deep depression for a few months. Brian was the one who kept me sane, and made sure I didn't do something to hurt myself, or worse. Gina and I went to counseling to try and repair the damage, but I just couldn't get the image of her in bed with her lover out of my mind, and eventually I quit trying and filed for divorce. That was seven years ago. Signing those papers was the lowest day of my life. I still love Gina – I always will, and if I hadn't been so stubborn as I stuck by my foolish pride, we might still be married today.

"Except that I might not have the pub, and even if I did, look at the hours I spend there each week – probably more than at the law office. Gina would not be good with that. So maybe it was meant to be. I'm not a huge believer in fate, but maybe in my case I was destined to have these events happen to me."

Sarah scooted even closer and gave Pete a hug. They sat there in silence once again, until Sarah asked her next question – "So in that time, have you seen other women?"

Immediately she felt bad for asking – it really wasn't her business, but for some reason she wanted to know more about this man who had been able to bring happiness in her life in more ways than she thought possible. She also felt it might do good for Pete to share – she didn't know if he had someone who could be a confidant, but she hoped he felt comfortable enough with her that she could serve in that capacity.

Pete sighed and said, "No, not officially. Every once in a while a woman will come into the pub and we'll hit it off. I've been on a few dates, for lack of a better word. But nothing is ever serious, and to tell you the truth, I'm not sure I'm marrying material. It would have to be someone extremely understanding to know how much I love this pub and will probably always spend too many hours here."

Sarah chuckled and said, "That's certainly true. When I came in this afternoon and didn't see you, I almost thought I was in the wrong place! So how did the pub come to be?"

"It was Brian's idea. I was still staying at his place a few days after I had left Gina. He could tell I was miserable, but he also knew that my stubbornness would not relent and let me forgive her. So he started asking me questions about my future, making me think hard about what I was doing and whether I wanted to continue doing it for the rest of my life. After the fallout of the affair and my realization that I'd been a pretty bad father and husband, remaining a lawyer did not seem attractive to me at all.

"So with that realization up in the air, he asked me what I would do if I wasn't a lawyer. The idea of the pub was born from that conversation. We talked about the void of eating and drinking establishments in the downtown area, and how we both felt a high-class pub that served food would be a huge hit, especially to the thousands of people who work within a 10-block radius of where the pub is now.

"It started as an outlandish dream, but the more we talked, the more we thought we might be onto something. We did multiple tours of downtown, seeing where our competition would be and what kind of places those were. We did employee studies of the buildings within the vicinity of the location we had our eyes on for the pub. We even did random on-the-street interviews, not letting the people know what we were considering. We asked them what was missing in the downtown area, and nearly every one of them answered with some type of bar or pub or restaurant.

"Those interviews were the final shot of convincing we needed. We started right away. Brian's business background was invaluable throughout the process of acquiring the land for the pub, obtaining permits, hiring general contractors, and in general overseeing its construction.

"From start to finish, it took two years. I quit at BH&H about six months before we opened. I focused on the interior of the bar – creating the grill menu, working with interior designers on color schemes and furniture purchases. There were some days I thought we would never get it open! So when it finally did, it was a huge relief. Now all we needed to do was wait to see if customers would come.

"The wait wasn't very long. We found that if one person from a company or firm in the area liked us, they would spread the message to their colleagues through the company email system. It was our best form of advertisement during the day. Soon managers were having business meeting here. Contracts were signed between two companies over drinks and wings. Receipts exceeded even our wildest dreams for the first five years."

Sarah could hear the pride in his voice. It's no wonder why Pete was happy all the time. With his family gone for the most part, the pub had taken their place. He poured his heart and soul into it, and it was rewarding him handsomely. In a way, the pub was a testament to the heart Pete liked to share – open, warm and welcoming, a place where people could go and forget about the cares of the day. Sarah understood perfectly why she felt so relaxed and comfortable at the pub – it was because she was relaxed and comfortable about its owner.

Pete looked over at Sarah and said, "I've been dominating the conversation here, my friend. What about you – tell me your story."

Sarah started with the beginning, telling Pete about her father's abuse, and how she and her mother made it pretty much on their own. She told of her drive to be the best – something with which Pete could identify. She shared the fact that she had eschewed a social life simply because she knew the margin for error in her drive to make it to the top was very slim. She told him of his disdain for males in general, which looking back on it now was a mistake, because she realized many males had been there to help her.

"Pete, this week has made me realize I've been missing out on some pretty important things – particularly the fact that I've had no life outside of my drive to the top of the legal world. I've experienced so much, but it's all been tied to my career. So my experiences this week are all brand new and exciting, the more I think about it."

Pete smiled and asked, "So what has brought about this change?"

She pointed at him and said, "It's you! You're the reason for the change. That first night I walked into the pub, angry, cold and lonely, you immediately started warming me up with your charm and happy attitude. When I left that night to catch the train, I was confused and conflicted – I had always worked to avoid anything that would interfere with my job and the preparations prior to it. On the train home, usually I'm setting my agenda for the next day. That night, I was thinking of the warmth and atmosphere of the pub, and how in just 45 minutes I was swept up in its charms.

"I remember coming in the next night, and already thinking I was home – I was in the place I cared about the most. Once I had stepped inside and the doors closed in behind me, I felt safe and relaxed, and I knew at least some of the people there – including you, you old charmer – really cared about me and wanted me to be happy.

"But now, sitting here listening to you tell your story...well, I realized as charming as the pub is, the warmth and caring is because of you! Any personality reflected in the pub comes from its owner. I was so busy being driven by success that I didn't realize I had a side in me that enjoys being around warm and happy people."

She leaned over and touched Pete's cheek with her left hand, guiding his face to her so she could give him a kiss on the cheek. Pete blushed and looked down at the ground, trying to hide the smile that was on his face. As he looked down, he glanced at his watch and saw that he needed to be back at the pub in 30 minutes to relieve Nora.

He stood up from the bench, and then reached down to help Sarah up as well. "I've got to get back, Sarah, but this has been one great afternoon, and I hope you'll be so kind as to promise me another fine walk in the future!"

Sarah giggled at his word usage as she replied, "Why, Pete, sir – are you asking me out on a date? If you are, I'm pretty sure I would say yes."

They started walking back to the pub. Sarah thought back over the past week and all of the new and exciting things that were happening in her life. Before her first stop in the pub, she could have never imagined walking in the park on a beautiful spring day with a man old enough to be her father. After all, men were the enemy! It had been a man who had abused and neglected her and her mom, and it had been men that had driven her all her life to prove to herself and the world that she was as good – if not better – than they were.

But certainly she wasn't feeling any enemy-like thoughts as they walked back to the pub. Instead, she was feeling nothing but happiness, with a side of something else thrown in. That something else confused her, because even though she wasn't sure where it was coming from or to what it was attached, she felt she needed it – almost a craving. Certainly it wasn't a feeling she had felt previously in her taskmaster-type life.

Whatever it was, it was pushing her to be closer to Pete. So as they continued their walk back to the pub, she slipped her right arm into his left, and the walked in connected fashion the rest of the way.

******

When they arrived back at the pub, they came in the main front door, and it was clear that Nora was not in a good mood. Pete looked at Sarah and said, "I'd better get over there and relieve her, before she tells off a customer." Sarah squeezed his arm, and then headed up to the apartment. Curious as to why Nora was upset, she walked over to the window that looked down into the pub, and saw her in a pretty heated argument with her father. Eventually she took off her apron and threw it down on the bar before grabbing her purse from behind the counter and heading out. Whatever the problem was, it was clear to Sarah that it was not resolved.

She headed downstairs to the pub and went over to Pete, who uncharacteristically wasn't smiling like he normally did. Instead of approach him, she decided she'd take her normal spot on the end barstool and wait for Pete to come to her. She had never seen him in this kind of a mood before, and not knowing what to expect from it, she knew patience was her biggest ally in dealing with whatever it was that was causing Pete problems.

She looked down the bar and saw some customers she didn't recognize. She also noticed Brian was in his normal spot. They looked at each other and smiled, although her smile wasn't as open and informal as it normally was. Brian sensed the concern in her face, so he picked up his beer and moved down to the empty stool next to Sara. Now she was really confused – not only was Pete not his usual lighthearted self, but for the first time since she'd been coming to the pub, Brian was moving to be next to her.

He sat down and they greeted each other. Brian looked at Sarah and said, "You know, Pete's been in a particularly great mood the past week. Normally he's a happy guy anyway, but for some reason, he's been much more jovial and good natured, and the customers have noticed it. I have as well. Do you know why he's had this great week?"

Sarah shook her head no, and Brian spoke again. "It's because of you! You have really reached his heart, and he's been walking on air ever since. I think it's great – it's been a while since Pete has shown anything like how he's been lately."

Sarah blushed before she mildly protested. "What do I have to do with this? I was just a woman who needed a place to stay one night as I waited for my train, and he went out of his way to make me feel welcome. I figured he was nice to everybody like he was to me."

Brian nodded. "It's true; he is nice to all of his customers. But you've put a twinkle in his eye, if you will. I think there's a depth of his being nice to you that no one else has experienced before. I suppose it's easy for you to look past it since you haven't known Pete for nearly as long as I have. But I'm not the only one who sees it – in fact, I suspect that's what Nora and Pete were arguing about."

"Why could they possibly be arguing about how Pete is treating me? What's wrong with a guy who is just being nice to someone with whom he has shared similar experiences?"