discoveredinalj | Day 30 - Discovered Among A Reindeer

Opening Day
The Best Is Yet To Come Part III
by macklingirl

Bodie and Doyle were a bit nervous when they arrived at their pub. "I hope it'll be good tonight", Bodie said while he opened the door. "It was so much work to get this into good shape again."
"Oh, don't you worry, Bodie", Doyle answered and put down the basket with the china. "They will all come and it will be a great party."

While Doyle was busy clearing out the transport baskets, Bodie placed the bar stools at the bar.

"Wait a minute", Bodie said after he looked at the shelves. "I think we'll have to re-arrange some of the things you've put onto the shelves. There is no room for the bottles left I need in my bar."
"He, what do you mean 're-arrange'? There is a lot of space behind the bar." Doyle said, whisking some sweat from his brow. "I didn't use all the space for my café."
"Well, come around and look for yourself, Raymondo", Bodie said with a smile. "I'm sure you'll see what I mean." When they both stood in front of the bar Doyle grinned sheepishly. "Aaah, yes, I see what you mean. Ok, let's rearrange it a bit."

"Oh sure, Ray. But first, let's have a glass of wine and raise a toast to our second mainstay."
"Yeah, to our second mainstay. I'm so happy we have something to look forward to when we have to retire sometime. Or to get London out of our hair for a weekend. Cheers, love."

They soon re-arranged some of the things Doyle already had placed and they even found a place for ketchup and mustard and some beer cans.

"Let's take a break, Bodie. I can't stand on my feet any longer", Doyle said and sat down at the piano. "Let's play our song." Bodie sat down on the floor, took his guitar and they played for a while.

After fifteen minutes he sprang to his feet. "Come on, Doyle. We have no time to waste."

They carried the chairs they had found at an antique market into the bar

and placed them on the coffee table.

Afer that they went outside to fetch the big crate of Champagne they ordered for the opening party.

"Oi, where should I place the plant? It should be somewhere safe, don't you think so?"
"Oh yes, I think the best place will be behind the door. It should be safe there for tonight and tomorrow we'll think of a better place", was Ray's replie.

Then they climbed the ladders to fix the party lights.

When they finished with everything they had to do to make the pub ready they took two steps back and looked around. They liked what they saw. There were wine and whisky glasses, some pewter cups (they had heard that there were people who liked their wine out of pewter cups. Silly folk), coffee and tea cups with matching saucers and cake plates, beer and wine bottles, champagne and even a bottle of whisky. Everything was there, except the food which Doyle would make soon.

Half an hour before the first guests arrived Doyle put the food on to the bar.

At point 5:00 PM Mr. Cowley and Miss Walsh arrived. They were placed at the table and ordered some tea. They drank it while Bodie played the piano for them.

"What do you think, Elizabeth. Will they quit CI5 now with them owning a pub like this?" Cowley asked Elizabeth Walsh in a low tone. "Oh no, I don't think that you'll have to worry about that. I think they love the thought of having something to live for when they get older and aren't able to do the work on the streets anymore."

Cowley took a sip of his tea and discovered, that Doyle had spiked his with some whisky. "Good lad", he said with a grin. "What was that, George?" Elizabeth asked curious. "Oh, nothing. I only thought if Bodie would like to play a game of Poker with me. When I win I'll tell them they shouldn't play with the thought of running this place by themselves. If he wins they can decide what they want."

Bodie was very keen to play because he was sure he would win. But Cowley's hand was better.

So it was clear that they would continue to work for CI5 and only run the pub on the side. Once this decision had been made, it was a great opening party with a whole host of guests.

Anson came from an undercover job where he had to play a homeless guy. "You should have bathed", Doyle greeted him and gave him a can of beer. "You're smelling worse than your cigars ever did."

Susan came and was greeted by Bodie.

And they all had a lot of fun.

The End

Title: Opening Day
Series: The Best Is Yet To Come
Author: macklingirl
ProsLib: Yes, please. I will create a PDF with all three parts of the series and send it.
Disclaimer: The characters of Bodie and Doyle or any other CI5 Agent aren't mine. But everything you can see in the photos is mine. The complete bar is handmade by me, every piece of furniture and the lighting. Only the china and the bottles are bought.

I apologize for the bunch of pictures, I just can't stop sometimes. And I apologize for the slightly greasy quality, photografing was difficult.