Your First Love is Pregnant? I'm Done Being Mrs. Hawthorne!

###Chapter 78: A Drink With a Story

Nina Wainwright jotted it down, then typed out a question for Leo Larkin.

After Leo told her the solution, she got a bottle of mineral water for Catherine Grant. She scanned the code to pay, then handed it to Catherine. "Cleanse your palate, then try the second one."

Catherine drank the second glass and savored it carefully. She nodded slightly. "This Gin Mule is pretty good, but the aroma could be more distinctive. I think the Gin Mules on the market all smell a bit too similar. You could try developing a new aroma. You know, as a bartender, you can’t just follow the book. You need your own unique creativity."

"I’m still just a beginner. If I try to run before I can walk, I’ll just end up falling." Nina was very humble. As a complete novice who had just started bartending, she felt she needed to master the ratios for various drinks before she could truly get the hang of it and start being creative.

"You have a point there," Catherine said, looking agreeable.

Nina mixed a few more drinks. After Catherine tried them, her eyes lit up. "These two are great! Especially this Bamboo. Speaking of which, the Bamboos that Lucy Stratton and Lily make aren’t very good. I wonder why."

"It’s probably the choice of vermouth that makes the texture off. There are different types of sherry, too. Different sherries will produce a different Bamboo," Nina replied.

"Wow, you even know that. I, on the other hand, don’t know the first thing about mixing drinks." Catherine finished her glass and urged, "Make me another one of these. I’m having lunch here today."

The Bamboo is an aperitif, so having a couple more was perfectly fine.

Nina mixed another one for her and placed it on the counter. "My shift is almost over. I won’t be mixing anymore after this. I’ll just chat with you."

"What do you think of Leo Larkin?" Catherine asked while scanning a QR code to order her dinner.

Nina was tidying up the bar. Hearing the question, she answered, "He seems cold, but I get the feeling he’s a good person."

"I mean, what do you think of him as a woman thinks of a man?" Catherine said, winking.

"I can’t with you. I haven’t even divorced Zachary Hawthorne yet. What’s going on in that head of yours?" Nina said with a helpless laugh.

Catherine replied with a straight face, "You’re not still in love with Zachary, are you?"

"There are still feelings, of course. All those years together... you can’t just sever that in an instant. But just because I have feelings doesn’t mean I have any expectations for him anymore." Nina picked up a cloth and slowly polished a glass.

"That makes sense... It would be weird if you could just stop loving him all at once." Catherine took a small sip of her Bamboo, closed her eyes to savor it for a moment, then couldn’t help but say, "This is seriously delicious. The slightly tart and astringent taste gives you this indescribable feeling. Why don’t you stay a little later? Mix a few more and have some customers try them?"

Different bartenders make drinks that taste different.

Catherine felt Nina had a real talent for it.

"Can I do that?" Nina was hesitant. ’She knew Lucy and Lily didn’t like her. If there’s a commission for selling drinks, won’t I just be making them angry again?’

"Of course you can! Why couldn’t you?" Catherine asked, looking puzzled.

"Okay, I’ll give it a try then." Nina didn’t want to worry her, so she agreed right away.

Around six o’clock, Lucy Stratton and Lily arrived, and the other bartenders started trickling in as well.

The moment Lucy saw Catherine Grant, she immediately went over, her expression fawning. "Cathy, you’re here for a drink? It feels like you haven’t been here in ages."

Catherine’s family was well-off, and since she knew Lucy and Lily, she always spent a lot whenever she came, contributing a good deal to their commissions.

"I guess so. I’ve just been a little busy lately," Catherine replied with a smile.

After greeting Catherine, they turned to Nina. "Your shift is about to end, you should hurry up and pack up."

Nina hummed in acknowledgment. "I’m staying a little longer. I came up with a drink today, and I’m going to let some customers try it later."

Lucy sized her up, a hint of disdain in her smile. "Is that so?"

Lily sighed. "If a customer complains that your drink is bad, it’ll be deducted from your pay."

"I think it’s delicious, so I’m sure someone will like it. You don’t need to worry," Catherine said, oblivious to their dislike for Nina and assuming they were just showing concern.

Lucy and Lily just said, "Oh," and went to the break room.

When customers started arriving, Catherine immediately began promoting Nina’s drink. "The bar has a new bartender today, and she makes a very distinctive Bamboo. Would you like to try it?"

The first few customers declined.

Catherine didn’t give up or feel discouraged. She just sat down and carefully looked for a suitable customer. Then she saw a woman dressed like a white-collar professional walk in alone.

The woman found a corner and sat down.

Catherine walked over to the bar and whispered, "Quick, quick."

Nina immediately started mixing a Bamboo.

By the time Nina finished mixing the drink, the woman still hadn’t chosen anything. She was just flipping through the menu, looking vexed.

Nina carried the Bamboo over to her table and placed the pale-colored drink in front of her.

The woman looked up at Nina. "I haven’t ordered yet."

"Perhaps you’d like to try this," Nina said. "It’s called a Bamboo."

The woman looked at the pale drink, lifted it, and took a sip. At first, the taste was ordinary, but after a moment, she noticed the slightly astringent finish had a unique character. After another small sip, she murmured, "This is a drink with a story."

"Thank you for the compliment. It’s the perfect drink to have before a meal," Nina told her.

The woman nodded and said no more.

Nina returned to the bar.

Catherine helped her sell a few more. Those who liked it all agreed the drink had a story. Of course, those who didn’t care for drier drinks politely declined.

Nina’s task was complete. She and Catherine left the bar together.

"Let me give you a ride," Catherine said sweetly, hugging Nina’s arm.

Nina looked at her helplessly. "Did you forget you were drinking this afternoon? You can’t drive."

"Right... I’ll call a car, then." Catherine hadn’t drunk much and wasn’t drunk, but she still called for a designated driver.

"Leo Larkin will be back the day after tomorrow. I bet he’ll be very pleased with the Bamboo you made today," Catherine said to Nina after they got in the car.

Just as Nina was about to answer, her phone suddenly rang.

Nina took it out and saw it was a call from Zachary Hawthorne. She frowned and pressed the answer key. "I’m on my way back now."

"I’m not coming back for dinner tonight. Just eat by yourself and go to bed early. And don’t go to that bar anymore," Zachary said, his tone cold over the phone.

Catherine, leaning close, heard what he said and turned to look at Nina.

Nina just gave a faint "mm" before hanging up.

"Is this how you two always talk?" Catherine whispered, leaning in close.

Nina hummed in response, her expression calm as she put the phone back in her bag. But inside, she couldn’t help but feel a little upset.

’I wonder how Luna Sterling is doing. He must be going to see her tonight, right? After all, he’s already been home for two days.’*****