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front of the bar. If she walked around to the other side the back end of the plane—whether it was all pieces from the same plane, she didn’t know—was mounted on the back. From the side, it was as if the bar had been built around the old aircraft.
    Eddie Wing was unloading bar glasses. The scene was so familiar to her. She’d come in here often enough after school with Heather Wing to get a soda or for Heather to get some money or just to check in with her parents before they headed out again. Wow, she hadn’t seen Heather since school.
    She found a seat at the bar. When Eddie turned, Rachel saw that he hadn’t changed a bit. Well, maybe he was grayer at the temples, his laugh lines a little deeper, but his smile was still genuine and robust and not something he reserved only for special occasions. It had the desired effect: to welcome, to relax, to put patrons at ease. Relax, friend, you are among friends , it seemed to say.
    And Rachel did, letting the melancholy of missing Nana momentarily slip away.
    “Rachel Delaney-Tolbert, is that really you?”
    Rachel smiled, grinned really, she couldn’t help herself.
    “You’re all grown up, girl! How are you?”
    She opened her mouth to speak, but Eddie raised a silencing hand before she uttered a sound.
    “Hold up just a short sec. What will you have to drink? Libation first, conversation second.”
    “White wine, please. House Chardonnay is fine.”
    Eddie’s raised hand turned into a pointed finger and he tapped the air. “You got it. One house Chard coming right up.” He slid a wine glass from the rack and poured her a creamy yellow blend.
    Rachel’s mouth watered as he poured. Between the heat, being back home, the town council meeting, seeing Logan, Logan seeing her, she’d earned this beverage. She should have ordered a margarita. A large, with a straw. But, then again, she needed to be on her toes when she talked to Logan. Although, having a good buzz might make the conversation she needed to have with him easier.
    “Here you go. Our finest house blend.” Eddie winked at her and Rachel accepted the glass.
    “Thank you Mr. Wing—”
    Eddie shook his head. “Nope. If you are old enough to drink, you’re old enough to call me Eddie.”
    “Well, thank you . . . Eddie.” That felt weird, but okay . She took a sip and let the cool, crisp flavors roll over her tongue.
    Rachel asked about Heather and Mrs. Wing.
    Eddie beamed when he talked about his new grandchildren. “So, how’ve you been?” he asked. “A doctor, did I hear?”
    Rachel smiled. “Almost. I have two more months of my fellowship, but yes. Very close.”
    “Well, how about that? That is wonderful. Good for you, Rachel, good for you.”
    Rachel swirled the drink, and the butter-colored liquid swished along the sides of the glass.
    Eddie leaned back against the bar, his arms tucked across his broad chest. “Rachel,” he said, “I’m sorry about your grandma. She was a special lady.”
    Rachel stared into her wine glass. Swallowing around the lump in her throat she met Eddie’s eyes. “Thank you. I miss her.”
    “So, I guess you’ve got your hands full with this big project you’re planning.”
    She bit her lip. Obviously Eddie had heard about the town council meeting. Of course he had. The town wasn’t that big. Then Rachel realized this was a golden opportunity. “Sure do. It’s going to be a fun evening. Maybe you will help spread the word for me. It’s the evening of Homecoming, at the high school, just after the game. I hope you and your wife will come. And, Heather and her husband, too.”
    Eddie chuckled, his arms resting comfortably over his middle. “I’d be happy to. And, of course, we’ll come. Wouldn’t miss it.”
    She felt an inkling of ease settle around her. She had her first guests for the evening and had even garnered some word-of-mouth advertising. Maybe coming to Wings hadn’t been such a bad idea after all.
    Now she just needed to convince her