Wine and Spirits

By J.J. Fogg

Sometimes love is hard to hold on to and family not easily defined. Unspoken truths, unrequited feelings, unfinished business—it’s all too easy to get ‘stuck’ in life’s struggles.
Doc’s Place is a neon oasis in the middle of an industrial district—a bar where people with seemingly only one chance left, often find redemption, family and, sometimes, even love.
Join Nick, Lily, Doc and Eddie as they each search for answers in this Halloween romance.

• Language: English
• Publisher: J.J. Fogg
• Release date: Sep 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005089658

J.J. Fogg

J. J. Fogg is an American author, currently living in the Midwest. When he isn’t sitting in front of a computer screen to work, he’s often sitting in front of a computer screen to write. J.J. is a military brat without a ‘home town’ but he considers himself at home anywhere from Bogalusa to Ontonagon, Ocean Beach to Anna Maria, and all stops in between.

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Wine and Spirits

By J. J. Fogg

Copyright 2020 J. J. Fogg

All rights reserved.

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Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

About J. J. Fogg

Other Books by J. J. Fogg

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Chapter 1

"What's his deal?" Eddie asked from behind the bar. He gave a suspicious nod toward the man seating himself at the table in the far corner.

He's harmless, Eddie. Just leave him be, Lily replied, not looking up to see whom he was talking about since she already knew. She tried to act nonchalant, hoping he'd drop the subject but knowing he wouldn't.

Eddie could be a pompous blowhard when sober and an insufferable jackass with even a little bit of alcohol in him. The latter seemed to be the case most of the time, though, and even tonight, she'd noticed him imbibing while on the clock.

Unfortunately, keeping Eddie on staff was a stipulation Doc insisted on before gifting the bar to her. He had others, too—'provisos' he called them—provisions that would have seemed strange if they'd come from anyone else. No advertising. No decorating for holidays. No televisions. No karaoke or any other music, for that matter. Even the jukebox, while the bar was open, could only be used by customers. But this proviso, seemingly the most benign of them all, confounded her the most.

He has no people-skills, Doc, she argued. And he isn't just awkward. I could work with that. He's downright rude and not just to me but to customers, too! Please, cut me some slack on this. I've agreed to everything else.

Non-negotiable, was his staunch reply.

Lily was a tenacious optimist, always looking for and almost always finding the good in people. But Eddie was a tough case even for her—a really tough case. Under any other management, he wouldn't have lasted half as long. But she intended to keep her word, not only because Doc still liked to drop in every once in a while, but it was the right thing to do.

This place can't afford customers hogging tables all night, Lily. I'm gonna take care of this right now. Eddie threw a towel onto the bar and puffed out his chest as if he was about to bounce the man out of the place.

Whoa, whoa, whoa! Hold on there just a minute! If there's anything this place can't afford, Eddie, its employees drinking the profits. And I already told you to leave him be. That's not how we do things here and you should know that by now. Not to mention, he's one of my regulars.

That doesn't mean he can…

Aww, she interrupted quickly with an insincerely sweet tone. You thought I was asking for your opinion, didn't you? That would explain why we're still talking about this, wouldn't it? Her words dripped with sarcasm. Then, just as quickly, she ditched the fake sweetness in her voice. "I'm not asking, Edward."

Fine. But so help me, if he's still here at closing time…

Dammit, Eddie! she snapped, reaching the limit of tolerating his incessant posturing. "He will still be here and you already know it. And you’ll still leave him alone! Just like you'll do when he shows up next Friday and the Friday after that and the Friday after that! Got it? Good!"

He was never going to win, even if she wasn't his boss. The only thing he was actually succeeding at was pissing her off.

Well, I guess I can give him a pass, he acquiesced, hoping to save face. This place is half-dead anyway.

She rolled her eyes. Whatever you have to tell yourself.

For the record, Lily, there's nothing worse than a half-dead bar, especially on a Friday night, he grumbled. I don't know how this place stays open.

"Listen, Mister Know-it-all. I know what Doc built here and money was never the point—or even big crowds. We're here for those souls who do show up—no matter who or how many there are or how many drinks they buy. And in case you didn't notice, we're still here, you haven't missed a paycheck, and we're doing just fine. So, we're not a typical bar. I'm glad we're not. Have you still not figured anything out?" She paused to gauge his reaction but it was blank.

Well, either way, you need to get on board. I agreed to keep you on for no other reason than Doc made me. But you're under no obligation to stay if you're as miserable as you make it sound. You can leave any time you want and I certainly won't stop you. Now would you mind too terribly much doing your job and getting this paying customer his drinks? Or would you rather whine some more?

"Damn, Lily. You know, you're like the annoying big sister I never wanted? He stuck his tongue out at her. By the way, he hasn't ordered yet so I can't make his drinks, now can I? he tried to deflect. Hell, you haven't even gone over there yet."

Seriously? How long has Doc been training you, Eddie? And you still don't pay attention to your customers? Not even the regulars?!

He had no answer for that. Sure, he knew this guy was a regular. He'd been coming in every Friday night since before he'd started working at Doc's Place. But the truth was he knew next to nothing about the man. All he knew was that he sat at that same table every Friday night and then camped there for way too long. Oh, and he was weird, like most of the other folks who came here. Then again, if it weren't for the weird customers, this place might not have any at all.

"Do you at least know one of the drinks he always gets?"

Again, silence, but this time coupled with a strained expression on his face. Though trying to preserve some measure of dignity by recalling even one of the drinks, he instead just looked an uncomfortable kind of constipated, losing even more dignity in Lily's eyes.

Wow, Eddie. Just wow. She seemed surprised and, at the same time, not at all. Red? she coaxed.

Red wine! he interrupted her abruptly as if it had been on the tip of his tongue already.

And a Fu…

Funky Monkey,