"Everything that happens here tonight is what I want, please, go with it and enjoy."
Those were his words, I remember them very clearly. I should probably start a little earlier though.
"Are you sure? He barely started on it and it blew up, the lawn guy we hired was no good so we just bought this riding mower to make it easier for my husband." Said the woman.
"I can see it from here, the smoke coming out of the case there, that hole shouldn't be there, did you put oil in it like the manual said?" I replied.
"Manual? Oh we never read those, it should come with oil though right?"
"Not already in the engine, it's fine, I have two more rows to do then I'll come and cut yours, put that thing in neutral and push it onto your driveway though, I have a friend that might be able to repair it for you, your warranty will be no good for that."
"That would be wonderful, thank you."
The woman was my neighbor, I'd said hello in passing but never long enough to introduce myself. I'd moved to a new home after my divorce and just kept to myself really. She was maybe mid 30's, short and slim with dark red hair and petite frame, he was a little taller, slim built with short hair. She was pretty cute too, I wasn't about to make a move or anything but I appreciated a pretty woman.
"Yea, it's as I thought, engine is fried I'm afraid, I'll talk to my buddy, he may be able to rebuild or replace the engine cheaper than buying a new mower," I said as I looked over their mower.
"Thank you, we'd appreciate it. Sorry, we've never introduced, I'm Cole, my wife is Lisa," said Cole.
"Marcus, good to officially meet. Let me cut your grass while I have my mower out then I'll tow this thing to my yard."
I loved an excuse to be on my own riding mower longer, I made short work or their yard then hooked up their broken machine to my tow hitch.
"Thank you so much, please let us make you dinner tonight as a thank you, the kids are away to camp for the weekend so it would be a good time to get to know you better," said Lisa with a smile.
"Uh, sure, I'd like that, can I bring anything?"
"Just your appetite, 6pm good?"
"Perfect, I should know more about this and give me time to shower, it's getting hot."
I dropped the mower off with my friend, he laughed and told me he'd have it back to me the next day, even with it being a Sunday. I waited until dinner before I told Lisa and Cole.
"So, about your mower, I have good news and you're going to laugh." I said to Lisa as she let me in.
"Oh?"
"About a week ago he got one of the same tractor mowers in, the guy's kid was trying to be helpful and back it off his truck but didn't secure the ramp and it fell. Threw the kid clear so he's okay but it destroyed the back end of the mower. Anyways, long story short, he has a good engine to put in yours, only had to straighten a few pins. Guy didn't want to wait on repair and just bought a new one."
"Oh that's great, what do we owe you?"
"Well, he owed me a favor, I own an IT company, helped him stop a cyber attack last year, he called it good, said he'll even put the oil in for you. He's a good friend, I send a lot of business his way."
"That's so wonderful, thank you! Can I give you anything for gas?"
"Nope, my office is right over there too so we're good. I'll accept your thank you as full payment."
"Well we appreciate it, it's good to have such a nice neighbor."
"Cole is finishing up dinner, what can I get you to drink?"
"I'll take a coke or something, thanks."
Lisa brought me a drink, Cole came out a few minutes later with a tray that he set on the table, said a quick hi then continued bringing food out, declining my offer of help. He made quite the spread, a perfectly cooked beef roast with all the sides.
"I know it's summer but we get half a cow every year and this joint wouldn't fit in the freezer," said Come as he sat down.
"I do hope you're not vegan or anything," said Lisa.
"Oh no, this looks pretty amazing though, I love to cook but barely put the effort in for just myself," I replied.
"Cole is a wonderful cook, we actually met at a cooking class, I can burn a salad but Cole has a gift," said Lisa, smiling.
"That's true about the salad, we were to make a light salad with homemade dressing and croutons and Lisa forgot hers in the little toaster oven. The tutor gave her a refund and said, what was it my love, 'I can't work with you young lady', Lisa threw the salad, complete with bowl, into the trash and said well nobody eats this crap anyways and stormed out, I thought she looked so beautiful when she was mad and asked her to dinner when I saw her still raging in the parking lot."
"We haven't looked back since, we get on great as long as I don't cook," laughed Lisa.
"You have anyone special in your life Marcus?" asked Cole.
"Sadly, no, my ex wife was the smart one, I spent more time working than I did paying attention to her so she left. We're still friends but she found someone else, I'm not bitter about it, it was my own doing," I replied.
"Oh, sorry, still has to hurt though right."
"I'm over it really, was a few years ago. So what is it you do for a living Cole?"
"I am a forensic accountant for the FBI," he replied.
"Don't be modest honey, he's the lead forensic accountant for them," said Lisa.
"Awesome, watched a documentary a while back on what you guys do, I have a lot of respect for it, people don't realize the lengths the criminals go to when they want to wash their money."
"Oh please don't get him started, he'll talk your ear off!" laughed Lisa.
"Well I meant what I said, you have my respect for what you do, I help victims and potential victims of these cyber criminals and know it's hard work keeping up."
"Well thank you, I don't tell everyone what I do, some people just don't understand."
"Oh I get it, what about you Lisa?"
