A Christmas Flower: A Novel by Bryan Mooney

Author:Bryan Mooney [Mooney, Bryan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781477808993
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Published: 2017-09-05T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Henley’s Restaurant was a River Dale institution, serving great local and regional specialties and drawing a large following from the surrounding towns. The bar was directly ahead of them as they entered, with a podium off to the left of the foyer, where a young hostess greeted them.

“Good evening, Dr. Harding,” said the young girl with a boisterous smile. “Remember me? Monica? From the nurses’ training clinic this summer?”

A flicker of recognition slowly dawned on Beth’s face. “Ah yes, Monica Sullivan. I remember you. How are you?”

“Very good. I got into nursing school starting next semester. I can hardly wait,” she said with another huge smile. She picked up two menus and said, “Follow me, please.” She made her way through the crowded restaurant.

Over her shoulder, she said, “It can get kinda noisy in here when they open up the dance floor and the music starts. Follow me. I reserved a small booth for the two of you back here in the corner, just as you requested.”

Henley’s was divided into two distinct parts. The room off to the left of the entrance was the bar area that served a smaller menu filled with tapas, chicken wings, fresh oysters, small seafood plates, and happy hour specials to a large and often raucous crowd. The main restaurant to the right of the bar served a full menu and featured white tablecloths and candles in the center of the tables. The candles were more practical than romantic, since the low lighting made it otherwise difficult to read the menus.

“Perfect,” they both said in unison.

There was a small, empty dance floor off to the left, just steps away. In Henley’s, country music was usually the tune of choice, but since it was Christmastime the DJ was featuring many of the old standards and new renditions of Christmas classics for the holidays.

In the far corner of the room, beyond the dance floor, stood a tall memorial Christmas tree. The blue spruce was so tall, it crouched just beneath the ceiling of the restaurant. Hanging from it were many different brightly colored ornaments—red, green, blue, and white. Each had its own special meaning. A large American flag hung prominently on the back wall.

“Your server tonight will be Jonathan. Enjoy,” Monica said after handing them their menus.

Their server was a college student home for the holidays. “Hi, I’m Jonathan. Would you like to hear the specials for tonight?”

“Yes,” they said, looking at the menu.

“Tonight we’re featuring a fourteen-ounce venison steak that’s been marinated in Worcestershire sauce, red wine, cognac, allspice, cloves, limes, and oranges for ten days. After that we rub it with our special spices and slow sear it over a hickory wood fire grill to keep it nice and juicy. Very tender, and it is absolutely out of this world,” he said enthusiastically. “It’s served with garlic and olive oil smashed potatoes with a side of fresh green beans. Next we have—”

“Whoa, no need to go any further for me. I’ll have the venison,” Logan said.

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