Author's note: This chapter starts the second half of the Gabe and Mindy story. I deeply appreciate the kind words and generous ratings of the readers. I especially appreciate the inspirational writings and personal advice of the lovely Ms. 'A' (you know who you are!) and hope I've followed that advice.
I hope you enjoy the rest of the story.
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Gabe was looking forward to spending the day working with Mindy on her grandpa's car. To make wheel painting easy Gabe made a stand years ago with a standing 4x4 piece of wood screwed to a plywood base with a flange bearing screwed to the top. A wheel can sit on the flange and when you give it a spin you just hold the spray can and the wheel moves instead of the painter. So easy! Gabe had to sand and clean the new junkyard wheels so they would be ready for paint. He hit them with a wire wheel first, then sanded and wiped each one with grease remover before spinning it on the wheel paint stand to put a coat of primer on. He had picked up the rebuilt radiator after leaving Mindy's and had already reinstalled it with a new thermostat, hoses and a new high performance aluminum water pump to make sure the engine stayed cool.
The sound of tires crunching gravel and a throaty V-8 let Gabe know Mindy had arrived. She drove down to the shop, parked outside the last bay and rolled down the passenger window inquiring "Excuse me, young man. Could you take look at my muffler bearings?"
Gabe laughed and walked out, greeting her at the Mustang's door with a big hug and a long, tongue involved kiss. Mindy held Gabe for a few moments and then leaned back into the car and brought out a box with four cans of spray paint. Gabe took the box and walked with her into the shop. She noticed the new radiator and water pump so Gabe explained the advantage of the new pump. Mindy saw four grey wheels on the floor. "Are those the wheels I'm painting?"
"Yes, I'll show you how this tool works." Gabe shook the first can, set the wheel on the flange, back side up, and gave it a spin. He started the spray at the top of the wheel working his way to the center, covering the entire wheel quickly and completely.
"I'm impressed!" she exclaimed. "That'll be easy."
"Just paint the backs first," Gabe said, "and let them dry a little and then flip 'em and paint two coats on the fronts."
"Yes, sir!" she said as she snapped to attention and saluted. They brought the painted wheel into the shop to compared the color to the original. It was a little darker but Gabe figured the car would be a little darker once they cleaned up and polished the original paint
"Before you get started I want to give you something. Since you're here a lot and I hope you'll keep coming here to work with me you should have the proper clothing." Gabe handed her a girly gift bag with colored tissue paper sticking out of the top and Mindy chuckled but when she pulled some coveralls out and saw 'Gabe's Restorations' monogrammed on one side and 'Mindy' on the other she started to well up.
She ran over to Gabe and hugged him and instead of the expected 'thank you' she asked, "How much an hour are you paying me?" They both laughed loudly and hugged tighter as she kissed him on his cheek.
He said, "I hope they fit. They're just about the smallest size I could find. You can change in bathroom."
It was a very small room in the back corner of the shop along the side wall. There was a deep parts rack on the same wall that obscured the bathroom so she had never noticed it. Mindy entered expecting the usual repair shop restroom with a filthy sink and toilet with pictures of nude women taped to the wall. Instead, and very much in Gabe's style, it was clean and simple with the only picture being him in a newspaper article on the opening of his shop. She came out when she was done and they fit almost perfectly, needing only the belt from the pants she wore.
Gabe was taken aback. "You make overalls look better than they have any right to!" She spun around like a model and pretended to prance as if she was in a fashion show as she walked to the wheel spinner.
Gabe left her to paint the wheels, confident she was smart enough to figure it out and would ask a question if she needed help. Sure enough, she quickly gave the can a long shake and had the second wheel spinning, painting the back like a pro.
Gabe was working on the electric power steering on the bench along the back wall. He had to cut the steering column and welded the unit right into the column, making sure it would be hidden under the dash. He'd made a lot of progress on it already but his attention was always diverted whenever he would hear the shake of a rattle can. That meant Mindy was getting paint on the wheels so he could drop them off at the tire shop for new shoes. Gabe walked up as Mindy was putting a second coat on the last wheel.
"Nice job!!! They look great. They'll look even better with new tires and hubcaps" Mindy was happy that Gabe thought she had done a good job. They gingerly moved the wheels into the shop to dry and Gabe put the wheel spinner back on the top shelf of the parts rack along the side wall.