Bill
Steam started pouring from the hood of my car. Just my luck the engine was hot again. I pulled over to the side of the country road I was on and opened the hood. Steam came rolling out at me at once. I kicked the front bumper.
Damnit!
I called my friend Ken, to see if he could help.
"Hon, I'm at work and two hours to go. Let it cool and see if you can make it home, better yet, there is a garage a mile up the hill from where you are, go there and ask for Dave. My cousins own the place. I can meet you there."
"Sure, I can try that. Call ya back in a few."
I waited about 30 minutes to allow the engine to cool a bit and started towards the garage. As I pulled in the parking lot it seemed empty and the thermostat was hot again. The garage parking lot was empty, and they appeared closed. I went to the door, and found it locked.
Shit!
I looked over at my car and the steam rolling out, the sun was bearing down.
How hot is going to get today? Sigh.
I took a seat on the step to stay in the shade, and waited again for the car to cool off. After another half an hour wasted, I got up to leave towards home.
As I started my car up, a tall man came walking out of the building. He waved and headed towards the car.
"Can I help you?" He asked smiling. He had to hold his hands up to shade his eyes from the glaring sunlight. "My name is Bill."
I turned off the car, and asked if Dave was there. Everyone had already left and he had been closing up.
"Nope, I'm hot and headed to the tavern up the road for some ac and a beer. What seems to be the problem?"
I explained about the car getting hot, and he had me start it. I popped the hood, and he looked at a few things, and had me turn it off as it started to get hot again.
"Probably need a new sensor." He pointed to the part, "The car needs to cool down, and then I can add more water to the radiator for you. Don't want to open it up when its this hot. Why don't you come down to the tavern with me, have something to drink and give you and your car a chance to cool off?"
"Kenny was going to meet me here after work. Let me call him real quick, and see if he is already on his way." I pulled out my phone and dialed. Yes he was on his way, and assured me that he knew Bill, that he had worked at his cousin's shop many years. He agreed to meet us both at the bar.
"I'll go around back and get the van. Lock up your car and I'll be right back."
"Thank you, I know you didn't have to stay and help. I appreciate it."
"You're welcome." He smiled and went off to finish locking up. I grabbed my purse and keys, waiting on him to pull around front. As he pulled up, he jumped out and ran around the van to open the door for me. He had to jiggle the handle a bit.
"Trick door handle." He laughed. "I fix cars all day for work, no time to fix my own."
"I can imagine." I hopped in the van, and we drove a mile to the local tavern.
He was right the air felt wonderful! Cool, icy and quickly cooled me down from the heat I had been out in so long. Bill bought us both drinks, and we sat and talked until Kenny arrived. He seemed like a very nice man, with gentle eyes that I could not stop looking into. He seemed so intense, with long hair and tattoos, that the gentle look to his eyes was almost a total unexpected contrast. He worked at the garage during the week and rode and repaired motorcycles on the weekend. He told me the part I needed wasn't much to do, and he would be happy to do it for me. We exchanged numbers just as Kenny arrived. I said thank you again, and then Kenny helped me get my car home for the evening.
It was a hot sticky Saturday morning, and I had slept in till almost noon. I stumbled through the house and started making coffee at the kitchen sink. As I looked out the window I almost dropped the coffee pot in the sink. There was something colorful on the hood of my car. I walked outside, barefoot and wearing only a t-shirt, tip toed through the gravel to reach my car.
It was a bouquet of flowers, and a note.
Good morning Sunshine! I hope you don't mind, I replaced the sensor in your car. Enjoy the flowers! Bill
I smiled, and could not believe that he took the time to fix my car first thing while I was still asleep. I stepped happily back inside, to put the flowers in water, and started on my day. Later that afternoon, Bill called to ask if I could meet him for lunch on Monday. I thanked him for the flowers, and since I wasn't sure of my schedule, I asked if he would call me on Monday morning.
It started raining...and rained till Sunday afternoon. Monday morning the sun was up again, and the overdue yard was drying out, needing to be mowed. I managed half a pot of coffee, and started mowing. I had a lot of yard-work, trimming and 6 acres of just lawn area to mow. Bill hadn't called, so I forgot and just kept mowing till I run out of gas. I was wearing cargo shorts and an old white tank, which I managed to get grease on from the mower engine. My shirt was so wet I could almost wring it out. My ponytail was falling down, sweat making the pieces curl up around my face and neck. I really needed a break, and some more gas to finish up.
I went to the store, picked up a few things, some gas for the mower and headed back towards the house. As I drove down the windy road towards my home, I noticed a friend of mine was home from work, and pulled in. They were a couple that I often helped out with their kids. Julie hugged me at the door, and as I started to go inside, a van pulled in the driveway behind my car. It was Bill.
"Well, well, look who it is!" Julie exclaimed.
"You know him?" I asked.
"For a long while, just haven't seen him in forever. Hello Bill!"
He reached over and hugged Julie as they met on the steps. I wasn't too surprised, Julie knew most everyone in town. He looked over at me and smiled. As his eyes looked me over, I became aware of how sweaty and dirty I was. Bits of grass were on my clothes and in my hair.
"Come on in and cool off! Have a glass of tea!"
We went inside, Bill said hello to James, and turned back to Julie.
"I'm sorry Julie, the reason I stopped was this girl here." He looked over at me.
"Oh, you two have met?" Julie gave me a look, and I just gave a twisted smile back. And looked at Bill, who was still staring at me intently.
"I think I got your number down wrong, I dialed again this morning, and got a confused elderly man. Will you please have lunch with me?" He pulled out the paper he had written my number one and sure enough the seven looked like a one.
"Well, I'd like to, but as you see, I'm working." I said looking down again at my grease ruined tank top.
Julie interjected, "Lenore, you should go. You deserve a break and Bill has lived around here for years." James had to add in his two cents. "Yeah, you should."
"Well okay. I do have to get back to finishing the yard maybe we can just go to the café down the street."
"Sure." Bills eyes lit up as he smiled.
As we sat out at the picnic tables that were outside, the waitress brought out our milkshakes and cheeseburgers. We talked a little, I asked how long he knew my other friends. He said years, but that he didn't see them very often because he had his own business in another town repairing bikes. All seemed well, until he slipped up, and said "we" when he talked of working on his house. I asked him if he had a girlfriend.
He looked away, then said, "Yes, I do. We live together and raise our kids. I stay because of my son. We just don't get along anymore."
"Then why would you ask me to lunch?" I queried on. "Why bring me flowers?"
"W-well..." he stammered, stalling for an excuse. I stood up, and looked right at him.
"Well, thanks for the lunch, but maybe we should get back to Julie's. I'm not interested in breaking up families." I was point blank and matter of fact.
He sighed, "I will take you back. I have to drop these parts off at Danny's on my lunch break, which is why I seen your car and pulled in."
"Small world. I know Danny too. His son hangs out with Julie's kids." Our conversation turned to polite small talk as we headed back.