The Third Place (Chapter 19) - Interlude

Signs that something momentous was happening took time to develop.  Aakriti Chandra stayed for the rest of that day with us before flying back to San Diego.  She was different in those last few hours, we could tell, yet had little more to say, other than the odd question for Dad and Mom about the Third Place’s operations.  A portion of her inquisitiveness in that regard was reserved for Finn.  It had become clear to her that he had grasped all aspects of the business and that his knowledge of technology and obvious connection with the younger generations provided him with vital insights into the future.  And that was something she was determined to be part of.Things with Finn and I were at a wonderful stage.  Any spare minute we had away from school or the restaurant were spent at movies, innovative eateries, at museums or just walking – which we did for hours. And we loved to dance, though most of the clubs in our city had closed down due to the economy.  Nevertheless, we moved in similar styles and discovered real joy in sharing the soulful rhythms together.It was becoming clearer to everyone that the two of us were moving towards a deeper commitment to one another and we made no attempt to hide it.  As always, Mom and Daisy were full of questions yet kept a comfortable enough distance that it left me free to come to them about Finn without feeling confined.  Dad? That was something different altogether. While Mom saw everything in a way that caused her to respond to things in the moment, Dad always seemed to observe those occasions when something vital and important were occurring and which we often missed in the day-to-day of busy lives.  He periodically would speak of what he saw, but it was rare. When he did, however, there were always important lessons in what he shared and we valued those moments, unique as they were.It was on one such occasion that his insights altered my relationship with Finn and placed a new twist on our shared life together.Finn, as ever, was huddled over the laptop, tallying the ledgers to determine how the month went.  Whether he said anything or not, I loved just being around him, bringing him a late-evening beer and tidying up around the main dining area.“You know, I’ve done these books for long enough now to know that this place is like an engine that just goes of itself.  We don’t move things around all that much, except for the odd change in the menu to reflect current tastes, and yet we’ve never faced any real loss in years – the demand is just always steady, even during the worst days of winter. It’s amazing really.  Somehow your Dad understood how to put together a perfect operation, despite all the bankruptcies of similar establishments and everyone pressing for innovation as the secret to survival.  Somehow he knows the secret to longevity.”I sat down opposite and shared in his wonder.  Finn was right, of course, and we’d known that for years, but with the economy worsening by the month the Third Place’s success was precipitating a new sense of interest to his ever-fluid mind.“Does he ever say anything about how he figured it out?  Or has your Mom said anything?” he asked.“You’re looking in the wrong place,” came the familiar voice from the kitchen.“Dad,” I muttered in surprise.  “How long have you been here?”“Actually, I fell asleep at the corner nook in the kitchen after that large dinner crowd and I don’t think anyone noticed that I was AWOL.  Or perhaps they didn’t care,” he added through a warm smile.I was about to make a comment but Finn beat me to it.  “What did you mean with that bit about looking in the wrong place? Seems to me it’s all right here in front of me in these ledgers.  They tell the story and it’s awfully impressive.”Dad held up one finger to indicate he’s be right back and soon enough returned from the kitchen with a glass of his favourite Scotch with ice.  He got right down to business.“The secret of this place isn’t here at all, Finn – it’s out there, where all our patrons live.”Finn smiled, waving his hand back and forth.  “I know, it’s because of their ideals.  You’ve told me that before.”“It’s in their need, Finn.  They require this place in order to adapt and survive.  Although their lives are bigger than just home or the workplace, the frequently don’t get the chance to test that out.  People don’t belong to institutions like they used to, where citizens came together to accomplish larger purposes.  And so they’re alone, isolated from the bigger picture, yet still requiring help, a push, to get out into that bigger life.”“And this place helps them to do that,” I interjected, trying to be helpful“No, honey, that’s just the thing – they do it. And much to their surprise, they are taking to it in ways that still surprise them.  Nevertheless, they come here because we have an expectation in this house that they are more than their families or their jobs, and that this community is bigger than just them.  We hope they will find that niche for themselves through their dialogue with others in these rooms.  That’s what keeps them coming, Finn – not some grand strategy, but the need of citizens in a time of great change to participate and adapt to all the challenges.”Finn tapped his beer bottle to Dad’s glass.  “Here’s to that.  But were you not surprised when it worked to the degree it did?  I mean you had never run a restaurant before.  How did you know it would work?”“Just from being a part of that greater world.  I’ve seen a lot in my years and I’ve noticed that as people lose control of the larger issues of their lives – global conflict, economic woes, the decline of democracy – they’re not content to just watch things circle the drain. They still desire to have a hand in their world and it’s getting hard to know how when the stakes are so huge. But here, in this average place, in this town where they live, they can learn with others how to handle the pressures of modern life – not by retreating but through engaging.  And as long as they know we expect that of them as they walk in this door, our future will be secure since it resides in their hopes for a better planet.”We all perused our drinks as we digested what Dad had just discussed.  Finn, who always preferred to find the hard facts of any case, had to content himself with the down-home philosophy that spoke more of neighbours than negativity, of citizens as opposed to chaos, and of personal intimacy instead of global dissension.  I was intrigued to see that Finn was contenting himself with what he had just heard.  There was something in it, he knew.Dad sat up, cleared his throat, before saying, “I suppose the real challenge we face is that if this place indeed has a future, it must have people who can lead it into that future.”Mild alarm crept into my mind.  We both knew what Dad was driving at – he didn’t have all that much longer to run the Third Place.  Everyone understood that it was Everton Overly’s instinct that had made the restaurant what it was and brought the success it enjoyed.  What would transpire when he was no longer here?  That very consideration placed a kind of mild pressure on me, since I would likely have a part in that future and I just knew I didn’t have his ability.When no one responded to his observation, he continued.  “It seems to me that what comes next has to revolve around Finn and you, Annie.  It’s no secret how you two have been getting on,” he said with a wink, “but should you girls move on, then I suppose that will be it for the Third Place.  Yet I haven’t been blind, Finn.  I’ve delighted in what you two have together, but you and I have something special as well, though I don’t know if you’ve sensed it?”“Of course, I have,” came Finn’s clear reply.  “We both care about what’s happening behind the scenes in this place and I’ve come to deeply trust your insights – though I was a bit dubious at first.”“Well, it could be that there might be a future for both of you here, in this place, carrying its spirit into that future we’ve been talking about.  I’m not trying to pressure you in any way, but since we’re talking about the stakes in this place, I just can’t imagine anyone truly understanding except us, and Mom and Daisy, of course.”“What about Mom?” I asked.  “She might still be interested?”“Oh, no, she’s with me.  We have places to go and wonderful things to see and I will not go without her.”We understood this to be true; their love was a glue, a bond, an energizing agent that infused the Third Place with its fulsomeness.“It’s late,” Dad said, rising from his chair.  “Finn, you’ll always have a place here because we all trust you implicitly. What you have to figure out is if the two of you will share that place, since your love for one another is more than apparent.  Should the two of you have other dreams and wish to chase them, then that leaves everything with Daisy and that’s likely too great a responsibility.  This place runs as a team and it will be difficult for her to manage things as a solo act.  Just think about it, both of you.  This place is yours if you want it, but that decision is yours.  Good night, and thanks for including me in your talk.”We laughed quietly together, since we hadn’t even known he was in the vicinity when we started our discussion.I watched Dad move quietly to the stairs and my heart brimmed with love for him. Then I turned to face another man who I cherished and began a discussion that had to be broached – our future. Next chapter - Days of Defiance