It was December and despite the snow Kirby had made his way to the bar with some exciting news. Most of the regulars were there and we were all anxious to hear what he had to say. Although we were all sure it would not be anything, we didn't already know.

"Joe!" Kirby was out of breath. I found her!"

"So, it was a girl," I smiled. I was really going to enjoy this.

"Yep, and you won't believe where she grew up!"

"Across the street from my grandmother's house?"

"How did you know?" The disappointment on his face was almost heart breaking. "Do you know where I can find her?"

"She is sitting right here." I pointed to where Joanna was sitting. Everyone other than Kirby was either chuckling or giggling.

Kirby sat down at the bar, "You owe me a beer and an explanation."

We filled Kirby in on everything. He asked if I was going to transfer the bar over to Joanna since it was her uncle, Joe Bob, who had mistakenly given it to me. I told Kirby I had offered and she had refused. She said both our mothers had been taken advantage of by Joe Bob's brother and she did not feel the blood tie entitled her to anything special. In fact, knowing what a scoundrel her father was, she preferred to disavow any relation to him. She pointed out that I was the one who had brought Joe Bob some joy in his last days and so I was the one entitled to the bar.

She also explained, she didn't want to be tied down by a bar, because she still wanted to travel someday. She was still considering Dex's offer, if she could just figure out what to do about her mother. Someone had to check on her and she feared someday she might even have to move in with her mother unless she could come up with the money to put her in an assisted living facility.

I was hoping Joanna and I would eventually take it to the next level and eventually make Joe Bob my uncle or at least, uncle-in-law, even if it was posthumously.

We settled up our account with Kirby and he left somewhat disappointed, but satisfied the mystery had been solved.