"Sheis fine, her piece of shit car won't start." After sharing a quick laughwith the man Gabriel put the phone back up to his ear and ran across thestreet.
"Okay,I am on my way."
***
Sittingin the dark at one of the tables at her empty workplace, Salene watched as carsdrove by on the busy street. Flashes of red and white whizzed by as peoplerushed to get home. A task she was trying to do herself when she discoveredthat her only mode of transportation had betrayed her.
Thelarge black pickup truck pulled up close to the Starbucks windows cuttingdiagonally across four parking spaces. After locking up Salene solemnly gotinto the truck, turning towards the driver she immediately felt guilty. Thefaint smell of sweat in the air along with his apparent workout attire told hershe had interrupted his routine.
"Sothat hunk of junk finally quit on you, huh?" He shot her a smirk as hepulled out of the parking lot leaving only her little blue car in the desertedparking lot.
Relievedhe did not seem angry at her interruption of his night, she relaxed.
"Iam hoping it's just the battery, though I am not sure why it would be thatsince I had it replaced months ago."
"Mmm,"his noncommittal answer made her worry.
"What?You do not think that might be it?" Dear God let that be it, because shetruly could not take it if it was not.
Therest of the trip back to the house involved her answering questions aboutsounds and random car actions much like a doctor's visit.
Pullinginto the garage Gabriel pressed the button above her head to close the door."I hate to tell you this your car sounds like it has a bustedtransmission."
Followinghim out of the truck she met him in the front of the cooling vehicle. The newsmade her stomach feel queasy.
"OhGod," she moaned, mentally reviewing her bank balance. "Is that anexpensive fix?"
Gabriel'seyes went wide as if he was about to make a joke if she was kidding or not, buthe just stared at her for a second before giving her a pitying smile.
Shakinghis head, he walked over to the small metal box on the wall and grabbedsomething from inside.
"Look,replacing the transmission on a car like that just isn't worth it." Hesaid point blank.
Annoyedin a little afraid of what he was saying Salene shifted in agitation."Don’t say that, this is my only mode of transportation so regardless Ineed to get it fixed."
Gabrielgave her another sad smile that pretty much told her she needed to wake up andface the music.
"Salenesweetheart your car is barely worth five hundred dollars, a new transmissioninstallation could cost double that."
Itfelt like all the wind had been taken from her sales. Finally, things wereworking her way this past week since they started over. The job was goingsmoothly, her home life is peaceful, and she could actually begin to makerudimentary plans on how to set everything back right again. Not sure what todo or how to react Salene could only stand there numbly.
Thejingle of keys in front of her broke her attention. Grabbing her hand Gabrielplaced the key and fob into her hand.
"Usemy second car." Motioning to the car behind him Salene glanced at the redlate-model BMW. Ever since she arrived, she had never seen him use the car inthe second car slot.
"No,no that is too much," shaking her head Salene stepped back giving herselfroom to process the too generous offer. There was no way she could use theman's car as well.
“Christwoman," Gabriel rolled his eyes heavenward as he leaned on the hood of thewarm truck. "What is the problem? You are already under my roof, sleepingin my bed, and eating my food. Using my second…"
"Woahwait a minute I am not sleeping in your bed!" Salene could feel her wholeface heat up at the very insinuation.
Smilingdevilishly, he hooked one foot onto the grill of the truck.
"Welltechnically I do own the bed, so really you are sleeping in my…"
OutragedSalene completely forgot her earlier depression, as she did her best to stampdown his skewed logic.
"Nope,nope, nope that is not the same."
