Confederate Gold and Silver (5 page)

Steve explained to Kathy Comer, the lone bartender on duty, the events of the afternoon. He told her how Paul had been the only person to stop and help him with his flat tire. He also told her his reward, besides a frosted mug of cold Coors Light, were the wet clothes he was still wearing. They both had gotten soaked from the typical late summer afternoon thunderstorm which had run along the coast as they struggled with the flat tire.

Kathy was a long time employee of Steve’s. He had liked her from the first day she started working for him and had liked her enough to help her financially make ends meet on a couple of occasions. She had worked at the bar off and on for the past twelve years, struggling to make ends meet for her and her three children after two tough divorces. In her late forties, she was still a very attractive looking woman. Paul watched her as she playfully flirted with several of the other customers sitting at the bar. She seemed to know each of their first names as she set drinks down in front of them. Kathy soon set Paul’s frosted mug of beer down on the bar in front of him. “Thanks for helping him out with his flat tire. Even though he’s the owner of this dump, he’s a great guy. I appreciate what you did for him. If he had to do it by himself he probably would have died of a heart attack as the most work he ever does is counting his millions.” Steve could not help but laugh at her comments as he knew she was one of his few employees who really did care about his health. She had been the only employee of his who had occasionally looked in on him when he had recovered from two heart attacks a couple of years back. As she walked away from where they now sat on two bar stools, Steve tossed a sarcastic comment back at her, one which made her laugh as she started to mix a drink for another customer.

Taking a long hit on his cold beer, Paul saw he had not gotten all of the grime off of his hands from when he had changed the flat on Steve’s car. Using some of the drink napkins on the bar, he managed to quickly get most of the grime cleaned off his hands.

As he finished cleaning off his hands, Paul asked Steve if he really was the owner of
The
Grumpy
Sailor
. “Yes, I am. I’m lucky enough to own a few other places as well.” Pressing him some more, he soon learned Steve’s family had been among the early settlers of Murrells Inlet. Steve described how his family had set up a trust fund for him many years ago and further described how the fund had allowed him to invest in several real estate ventures in both Murrells Inlet and in nearby Pawleys Island. Besides the bar they were now spending part of the afternoon in, Steve told him he also owned a nearby strip mall, a family friendly water park which the tourists flocked to each summer, and a small strip of land along the ocean in Litchfield, the next town south of Murrells Inlet. “I’ve had several offers for that piece of property, but I’m not interested in selling it. I do pretty well with what I own, considering the current economy and all, but of everything I own that dang water park makes me a ton of money every year. Those tourists are some of my favorite people.” Steve was not bragging as he spoke to Paul, he was just still amazed after all of these years how well his small water theme park had managed to provide for him.

At first, Paul thought he had heard all of what Steve had owned, but then he learned he was partners with three of his friends in a good size marina down on the southern tip of the Inlet. He also learned Steve and his partners were the owners of
The
Links
at
Pawleys
Island
, one of the premier golf clubs along the Grand Strand. “We got the marina up and running about twenty-four years ago. After a few years of giving it a go, we finally started making some money and we decided we needed a new challenge so we formed a partnership called
Bogey
Free.
We soon built a golf course which has become one of the most challenging courses around. Without a doubt, it certainly is one of the most scenic courses along the Grand Strand. That’s doing pretty well for us also, despite the many other places folks have to play golf down here. But we treat our golfers well, that’s why they keep coming back.”

Steve had not planned on telling Paul about all of his real estate holdings, but when Kathy had stopped to check on their drinks she had felt free to fill in a few of the missing pieces. It was only because of her comments that he reluctantly spoke about the golf course and marina he owned. As he did, he shot her a disapproving glance. Seeing the look he gave her, Kathy realized she had crossed over into an area she probably should not have spoken about. She quickly disappeared out of sight for several minutes into the bar’s nearby kitchen.

Paul was now somewhat taken back by who he was sitting with. He was just not having a drink with just some retiree from New Jersey, but rather it was with an obviously wealthy descendant of one of the first settlers of the area. He had severely underestimated who Steve really was.

“I’m impressed,” Paul said after polishing off the rest of his cold beer. He then told Steve about briefly visiting the marina on one of his early house hunting trips, seeing the size of the marina and the volume of business it did on the weekend day he was there. He further described how amazed he had been at the number of boaters who had been buying gas, beer, snacks, and other supplies at the marina’s store. “I knew someone had to be making some money down there. That’s a busy little place you have during the boating season. You must be doing well!” He also told Steve he had been amazed during his visit at the many different sizes of boats he had seen docked at the marina. The watercraft had ranged from jet skis, small personal fishing and pleasure boats, to the larger and more impressive yachts which travelled up and down the east coast during warm weather.

“You are involved with two of the things in life I have an interest in. I have always dreamed of owning a pontoon boat, but I’m afraid that’s going to remain a dream for a few more years. I also love playing golf. I hope to start playing more than I have had the chance to do over the past few summers back home. What a life you must be leading, I’m envious!”

They spent the new few minutes talking more about the marina’s operation and about the highly respected golf course that Steve was the majority owner of. As they talked, Paul told Steve about his recent move to Murrells Inlet and about his career as a state trooper.

As they sat talking, Steve motioned to Kathy to come over to where they sat at the bar. She had finally felt it was safe to come out of her hiding spot in the kitchen. As she did, Steve interrupted his conversation with Paul by asking her to bring him his briefcase. “I left it on the floor in my office next to the filing cabinet. Don’t bother trying to open it; I locked it when I left last night. I know you thieves like to steal my stuff when I’m not paying attention.” Kathy shot him a smirk when she turned to fetch his briefcase. The smirk caused Steve to quickly chuckle at his own joke as she walked away. As Paul and Steve resumed talking, their talk soon turned to other topics of conversation. They were topics any two strangers might have with each other after just meeting for the first time as they sat at a bar enjoying their drinks.

After being handed his briefcase, and after putting pen to paper, Steve handed Paul two pieces of paper. “Besides today’s drinks, as another sign of my appreciation for your help this afternoon, here is a gift certificate for you and your wife to have dinner on me here at the restaurant. I’m sure she will enjoy it as the food is quite good. We have a couple of the area’s best chefs working for us. Treat her to a nice night out, it’s all on me. This other piece of paper has Willie Tegeler’s name and cell phone number on it. Willie is the golf pro at
The
Links
. I’ll call him in the morning to let him know you have a summer’s worth of free golf coming. That’s my welcoming present to you for moving to Murrells Inlet. And, if you want, tell Willie you are looking for a part-time job at the course, you know a few hours a week, and I’ll make sure he finds something for you to do. Keep the job and you will have free golf as one of the perks. It won’t pay much, but the free golf is worth it, at least that’s what I’ve been told. Your new neighbors will love being able to play the course with you at a discounted rate. You will soon be the hero of your neighborhood!”

Paul did not know what to say at first so he said nothing, struggling to find the right words for a few moments. He had only known one other person in his life who had been as generous to him, but that had come from a long time friend, not from a total stranger. He tried to protest that this was far too much for just changing a tire for someone in need, but Steve would hear none of it. “I’m an old man with tons of money. You helped me out when no one else did and I have always respected people who have gone out of their way to help others. From what you have told me about your past career, I doubt too many people went out of their way to show you their appreciation, even if you were just doing your job. So let’s just call these tokens of my appreciation and paybacks for all that you have done for others over all of those years. How’s that sound?”

Again, weakly perhaps because he was still taken back by Steve’s generosity, Paul attempted to decline the gifts he had been given, but Steve quickly cut him off, waving his hand at the notion of his new friend not accepting his thanks. “When I give something to someone, I expect them to accept it. Give it back and we aren’t friends any longer.” He knew Steve was joking, at least he hoped he was, so he placed the papers on the bar and simply thanked him the best he could.

“Paul, one more thing, let me have your cell phone number. I want my foreman, Chubby, that’s what we all call him, to call you in the morning. He might be able to help you with your dream of owning a pontoon boat. It’s nothing special mind you, but I have one I want to sell. Chubby will explain it to you when he calls you. Now, seeing as we finally have business out of the way, how about another beer?”

Paul had wanted to leave so he could get home to tell Donna about the events of the afternoon, but realizing he could not say no to Steve after what he had just been given by him he agreed to have another beer. “How about I pay for the drinks? How’s that sound?”

Steve couldn’t help but laugh, as did Kathy who was standing nearby pouring Paul’s second beer. “Pretty ridiculous, don’t you think? I own the place so why should you have to buy a drink for the owner? I appreciate the thought, but the drinks are on me. I think I can afford it.”

It had been a pretty foolish statement to make and Paul quickly admitted it had not made much sense as soon as he said it, but it had been too late to take back. “Well, perhaps another time then and perhaps at another place.”

“Sounds like a plan. Let’s make sure it happens.”

Raising his second mug of Coors Light, he thanked Steve for the beer and for his other generous gifts. After a few more minutes of continued small talk between them, they finished off their drinks. Standing up from his bar stool, Paul put a ten dollar bill down on the bar for Kathy’s tip and again thanked Steve for his generosity, assuring him they would get together again soon. Walking outside, Paul was quickly greeted by the high humidity brought on by the afternoon thunderstorm. Making the short walk to his car, he managed to avoid the large puddles of water still remaining in the parking lot. Driving home he could not help but smile at the good fortune he had encountered that afternoon. “Thank goodness for thunderstorms and flat tires.”

What he could not possibly realize was what the events of the afternoon would soon lead him to. The phone call he would receive from Chubby would start to make it all come together.

******

Donna had just gotten home from her job interview and was getting some groceries out of her car when Paul pulled into the driveway. “How on earth did your clothes get so wet?” She asked him as he got out of his car. Closing his car door, Paul was still smiling over his good fortune.

“OK, what’s so funny? I see the smirk you’re wearing.”

“Not a hello or a ‘Hi Honey’? Just a comment about my wet clothes, is that all you have to say?” Paul knew Donna’s question had been the obvious one for her to ask as his clothes were still wet despite sitting at the bar with Steve for a couple of hours, but he also had to tease her as well.

“My clothes got wet when I was being interviewed for my new job.” His statement made absolutely no sense to her as she had no idea what he had gotten himself into during her absence that afternoon.

Soon Paul told her about the events of the afternoon as he stripped out of his wet clothes inside their now closed garage. Donna listened as he started telling her about his afternoon, but before he had gone too far she made sure he was taking off all of his wet clothes. She wasn’t about to let her new carpet get stained by his dirty wet clothes. As he got deeper into the events of the afternoon, Donna realized something special had happened. She then felt foolish about making an issue over his wet clothes. “Hey, it’s no big deal. I was going to take them off anyhow.”

She stood silently as Paul finished telling her about meeting Steve and about his generosity in thanking him for being a Good Samaritan. Standing there open mouthed, she didn’t know what to say about his new good fortune. “Honey, you can close your mouth now,” an almost naked Paul told her.

“Oh, yeah, and by the way, tomorrow some guy named Chubby is going to call me about a pontoon boat Steve wants to get rid of.”

“He wants to give you a boat as well? Just for fixing a flat tire?”

“Sounds something like that. I don’t think he’s going to give it to me, but maybe there is a deal or something we can work out. I guess I’ll just have to wait and see.” Deep down Paul hoped his good luck would continue.

After hearing about the boat, and while pleased to hear what he had been up to, Donna’s shoulders slumped as he finished talking. “I thought I had a good afternoon as I got a new job which pays good money, but you won, you had a great afternoon.” Paul could not help but smile at her as he knew she was amazed at what had happened for both of them that afternoon.