"She's something. We rescued her from a neighborhood that got burnt over two years ago. Spent months trying to find her owner, but no dice," Mitch said as she leaned down to set the small bowl on the floor and then gently pulled up Ellie's right ear so Lilly could see it. "See here? The tip was burnt off and her fur and feet were singed. She spent a few days at the vet, and I took her home and she's never left," Mitch said with a fond grin toward the dog.
"And Eleanor after Mrs. Roosevelt I assume," Lilly giggled as she looked up at Mitch.
"You assumed right," Mitch replied, obviously surprised Lilly remembered her admiration for the first lady.
There was a prolonged silence between the two as they regarded each other. Mitch was first to speak as she stood and sat back on the barstool and picked up her glass of water.
"As I said, we were on a run and I thought I'd stop by, see how May was," Mitch said.
"You live close by?" Lilly asked, suddenly realizing she didn't know where Mitch lived. She knew Mitch had moved out of their shared apartment right after she moved to Atlanta but didn't know where to.
"Oh, I bought Rasmussen's old cabin when it went up for auction five years ago," Mitch said.
Lilly was quiet for a moment and then stood up and looked at Mitch with shock. "You ran from all the way from there?"
"Well, there's a trail that cuts through the switchbacks. It's a shorter, more direct route. The way back is a bit of a bitch though, but it's good practice for when we gotta hike miles to get to a fire," Mitch said with a shrug.
"Wow." Was all Lilly could say. "How about another glass of water and I'll grab a bigger bowl from the kitchen for Miss Eleanor?" Lilly said as she backed her way toward the kitchen and grabbed a bowl from the open shelf. She filled it at the bar and brought it around to sit next to the empty silicone bowl. Ellie immediately went to it and took to lapping up that water as well.
"May is hanging in there," Lilly said, remembering what Mitch had said a moment ago. "She hates not being able to go home, but she knows that where she is now is best for her for around the clock care."
"I imagine it's hard for her," Mitch said with a small frown. "How's it going here?"
Lilly dropped her head for a second and sighed. "I took a peek at the books last night after I came back from visiting her. They're a damn mess. I think she's been letting Mark run it almost exclusively and I think he's vastly under-qualified. He's a great bartender and manager and he's been here for her, but he's not a bookkeeper," Lilly said.
"Oh wow," Mitch said with surprise.
"Yeah, I have to sit down with Mark and attempt to get the books in order before I leave on Saturday," Lilly said.
"I wish I could help out, but like I said..." Mitch shrugged with a rueful smile.
"I appreciate the offer. I think I might go home and get some things in order so I can come back out for a longer amount of time. I can't have this hanging over May's head and I want to be here for her... for..." Lilly said but stopped as she felt herself getting upset.
Mitch reached across the bar without hesitation, grabbing her hand. "Hey, you are an amazing niece. I know May is so happy you are here," Mitch said sincerely.
Lilly wiped at the tears with the hand not held in Mitch's and gave her a warm smile. "Thanks, Mitch."
They once again fell into a quiet regard and Lilly took the opportunity to really look at Mitch. She hadn't done it in a decade. She noted the little crow’s feet that had developed around Mitch's deep blue eyes, probably from the endless hours spent in the sun fighting wildfires.
Her face had a sharper shape now, as did the rest of her. All of her teenage and young adult awkwardness gone, replaced by an effortless command of her lithe, sinewy body. She was gangly and cute back when they were in high school, but now Lilly thought she looked strong, confident and strikingly handsome.
The playful mirth that had always shown in her eyes had been replaced with a deeper, sanguine calm, like she'd seen and been through a lot. But it hadn't seemed to dampen her spirit. She looked content if not happy and suddenly Lilly wanted to know everything she'd been up to the last ten years.
She wondered if she had found someone else. Someone to be there when she got home, someone to care for her. Someone that should have been her, in a perfect world.
"I should get going, let you do your thing," Mitch said, breaking Lilly out of her rumination. Lilly wasn't ready for her to go, though. She racked her brain for some way to extend her visit, grimacing when she came up with one. She only debated a second before speaking though.
"There is something you can help me with while you are here." A small, tentative smile fell across Lilly's lips.
"What is it you need?" Mitch asked.
"Mark told me one of the toilets in the women's room keeps running and I've called Roger like five times," she said gesturing vaguely to the restrooms.
Mitch was already getting off the stool and tying off Ellie's leash to the bar rail with a crooked smile. "He'll charge you an arm and a leg anyway."
"Well, perhaps you can just show me how to fix it then?"
"Of course. It's actually pretty easy. Lead the way," Mitch said and then turned to Ellie when she let out a small whimper. "Lie down, Ellie. I'll be back in a minute."
Lilly was impressed when the dog immediately laid down and put her big head on her paws and let out a very human sounding sigh.
"Oh wow, when were the bathrooms redone?" Lilly asked with surprise. She had only been in the staff bathroom since being back. She turned and looked at Mitch who smiled shyly as she squeezed past her and stood by one of the sinks.
"Last year. Fish and I and a couple other guys who had some construction experience redid both. It was so past due," Mitch said with a shrug.
Lilly felt her heart swell and her chest warm at the thoughtfulness. Of course Mitch would do that for Aunt May. She had the urge to hug her but refrained. Instead she reached out and squeezed her arm and gave her a grateful smile.
"That's awfully sweet of you Mitch. It looks great."
And it did with large light gray tiles on the floor, newly painted stalls with new hardware. The old sagging Formica topped sink and vanity were replaced by three sturdy commercial wall mount sinks and the walls had floor to ceiling tile that complemented the flooring color.
"It was no bother at all. I was glad to do it. Your aunt has been more of a parent to me than my own. You know that," Mitch said, something flashing in her eyes before she smiled again.
Lilly just nodded, not trusting her voice to speak at the moment and went to the stall and held open the door and watched Mitch as she stepped in and took the tank cover off the toilet and reached in.
"Ew," Lilly said with her nose crinkled, making Mitch look up in confusion and then chuckle.
"The tank is full of clean water, silly," Mitch said in amusement. "Come here," she said and crooked her wet finger at her. Lilly’s expression was skeptical, but she came around the other side of the toilet and peered down.
She tried to listen and understand as Mitch explained to her about water lines and flappers and handle chains. All she could think about though were memories of Mitch working on her old Bronco, feet hanging out from under it as she laid on her crawler.