Milli looked at the waitress then back to Jack, “That’s Mariah? She’s grown so much in the last two years. She’s almost identical to your wife.”
Jack couldn’t help the proud look on his face as he turned his attention back to his daughter. “She’s finally old enough to get some work done around here. I wanted her to work in the kitchen, but she wanted to greet and serve customers. She’s always been the social sort.”
“Is that Mrs. Woodman?” Mariah said, shocked to see Milli sitting at the bar. “How ya doing girl? Find any guys that have caught your interest?” Milli chuckled as she watched Mariah get slightly flustered, “I’m only 16! It’s not like I need to get married right away!” She retorted before disappearing back into the kitchen.
The distant ‘ding-dong’ of the church bell split the mostly silent atmosphere. “That’s the end of the day. I reckon hungry townsfolk be arriving in no time. Relax, enjoy your stay.” Jack paused as he looked at his windowless windows. “Try not to throw any more people out my tavern.” Milli chuckled, “You know I can’t promise that.” She replied, drawing a long sigh from Jack.
By the time Milli had gotten her steak, a few tables had already been filled. More patrons continued to pour in and within the next 20 minutes. Every single table had been filled and only a few seats remained at the bar. “How do you even manage to keep up with this many customers all at once?” Milli asked Jack. “Good relations and the fact that I am the only restaurant in town. Besides, most of the people here are the workers looking to complain about the day.” He replied as he started wiping the counter down.
Looking up from his busywork, Jack noticed a set of familiar ears that stood out from the crowd. “Looks like yer wolf and son are here to get something to eat.” Milli looked over and easily spotted the furry ears.
Eldin split off from Lumina and went straight to the bar. Taking a seat right next to his mom, “I didn’t know you’d be here tonight mom.” Eldin said as he looked to Jack ordering a steak for himself. The large man wrote the order down on some paper nearby and put it on the kitchen window and set a complimentary glass of water for him. He eyed Eldin’s badge. “That’s quite impressive, achieving something like that so young. I guess all those years studying and practicing really paid off.”
“It did. Though there were many times I wished I had chosen something else to do with my life.” Eldin replied as he started to drink the water.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
Jack chuckled a bit before speaking, “You know. Mariah’s already 16. When you planning on getting hitched.” The surprising statement from Jack caught Eldin off guard causing him to aspirate some of the water leading to a fit of coughing.
Milli started laughing, “She’s a hard worker and quite the looker. You’d make a fine couple. I’m all for it.” Once he regained the ability to speak, he looked at both Jack and his mom. “Are you serious? I mean she is pretty. But marriage?” Eldin replied his eyes were wet from tears caused by the inhalation of water. “Are you crying?” Milli prodded on relentlessly, fully knowing what it felt like to get water down the wrong pipe. “You’re horrible.” Eldin retorted as he attempted to shove his mom very unsuccessfully. It was like trying to move a mountain.
As loud as the atmosphere in the tavern was, everyone could clearly hear the sound of a plate shattering. The entire building quieted briefly as everyone looked at the commotion. Two of the patrons were having an aggressive argument. Even though everyone was staring at them, they paid no heed as they began to brawl with each other. Knocking over drinks and plates of food from nearby tables.
Jack let out a sigh, as the now disgruntled patrons joined in the scuffle eventually leading to an all out brawl. Normally tables would be upturned, and chairs broken. But this was Jack’s tavern. All the tables and chairs were made from finely crafted ironwood. The tables themselves firmly anchored and bolted into the ground.
Ironwood is given its name due to its similarity to actual iron. It’s not as hard or as strong as iron, but it is close enough for people to believe it is.
“Then you get these days where the stress of work erupts into a bar fight.” Jack stated with annoyance as he watched. The tables held strong even when a 300lb. man was thrown on top, and cries of pain were heard when another landed on a chair that refused to break. It was a unique thing, fighting in a tavern where the furniture could fight back.
Bar fights were not uncommon in Woodvale. Eldin was happy he was sitting next to his mom. Everyone in Woodvale knew not to fight near the massive woman. A conditioned response they had all learned painfully whenever they brought her into their scuffles.
Looking out in the chaos, Eldin watched as Lumina easily avoided being covered in potatoes and sidestepped a man who had been knocked over. Once she was in the clear zone around Milli, she took a seat on the stool next to her mentor. “I had almost forgotten how lively this place is.”
Looking out one of the windows, the sun was starting to set, “Eldin. You put in those orders for the supplies right?” Milli asked as she finished her drink. “Of course. I have most of it being delivered… oh. Oh!” Milli chuckled, Eldin had almost forgotten about the promised deliveries he had ordered earlier in the day.
Quickly getting up from his seat, he started making his way out the building and back to home. Lumina also decided to follow her friend seeing as how she wouldn’t be able to talk to anyone else tonight.
Jack set down a seared steak where Eldin had been sitting. He assumed the boy was in the bathroom and would come back for it. Milli looked around briefly before she stabbed the steak with her fork and set it on her own plate and started eating it.