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“The battery is brand new,” Anita complained. If it was another issue, then that would just be more expensive.
She opened the door and climbed out, surveying the parking lot. Carly was right. There wasn’t a slope or hill in sight.
“I’ll check with the front desk to see if any of the employees have jumper cables.”
“Okay.” Carly climbed out of the car too, but seemed content to wait in the parking lot.
Anita hurried inside. Paula was still in the front lobby, chatting with one of the employees. “Did you change your mind?” she asked. “Want a rematch in Scrabble?”
“Our car won’t start.” Anita glanced from the employee to Paula. “Do you happen to have jumper cables?”
“No,” she said, “but Wyatt should. He’s like a Boy Scout in everything. Always prepared. I’ll be right back.”
“Oh, I could ask him...” Anita started, but Paula had already headed toward the dining room.
A moment later, Wyatt strode out, his gaze landing on her. “The battery?”
“I had a new battery put in last week,” she said. “So I don’t know what’s going on.”
He only nodded and moved past her, pushing through the front doors. “Can I see the keys?”
She handed them over and watched as he slid into the front seat. He tried to start the car, but no such luck.
“There’s nothing, not even any lights coming on,” he observed. Then he popped the hood and climbed out. “Do you have a flashlight?” He rolled up the sleeves of his dress shirt.
She sorted through the jockey box. “No.”
Wyatt continued with his inspection. “The battery is hooked up fine,” he said. “Might be something else, like the starter. It will have to be towed to a repair shop.”
Dollar signs seemed to float in front of Anita’s eyes. “All right. I’ll go inside and call a towing service.”
Wyatt straightened from the car. “I can get you both home after the towing service gets here.”
“Oh, I don’t want you to have to wait,” she said.
He closed the hood of the car. “You’ll need a ride home anyway.”
“No luck?” Paula asked, crossing to them.
“We need to call a tow truck,” Wyatt said.
“I can call Jimmy,” Paula said. “He owes me a favor.”
“Jimmy?” Anita asked.
“Her boyfriend,” Wyatt said. “Unless you’re just friends right now.”
Paula flashed a saucy smile. “We’re currently dating. I’ll go call him, and he’ll take care of all of this.”
Before Anita could ask any questions, Paula hurried back into the center. “That’s really nice of her, and generous of you both.”
“It’s no trouble,” Wyatt said, and he seemed sincere. “Let’s say goodbye to Gramps, then we can be on our way.”
ANITA DID NOT EXPECT WYATT and Paula to be so helpful. Not only contacting the towing company, but offering a ride home as well? It was nice, though, and she wasn’t going to complain. As they walked into the lobby together, she asked him, “Are we putting you out too much?”
“It’s no problem,” he said in a no-nonsense tone. “Paula will wait for the tow truck, and I’ll take you and Carly home.”
The next moments were a blur as Wyatt told his grandfather goodbye, and Paula got their phone number, then said she’d have Jim call them with an update as soon as he had one. Next thing Anita knew, she and Carly were climbing into Wyatt’s car, which happened to be a shiny red Cadillac.
