Chapter Text
By late afternoon the old cedar counter she had polished so often lay in sections outside the bar. Beside it stood its replacement, pale and clean.
The foreman wiped his hands on a rag.
"That's that part done."
One of the younger men pointed at the torii.
"Want us to take that down as well?"
Liam looked up.
"Absolutely not."
The room went quiet.
The foreman nodded.
"Leave it."
Liam stepped outside. From one of the old cedar sections he cut a thin slice with his knife and pocketed it.
The foreman smiled.
"Old wood."
"Aye tis ."
"Older than the place."
Liam shrugged.
"Sure, something like that."
He looked at the new counter waiting to be carried in.
"Yerrah, everything wears out eventually."
He picked up a glass and started polishing it.