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Quickly, I fix us each a small cup of tea and join Jason at the table. Again, his huge fingers curling around the delicate bone china look insane, but I don’t comment.
“So honey, your VW should be running better now. I did the oil change, alignment, brakes, and tires, so you’re all set.”
My jaw drops, gasping. “You didn’t really do all that, did you? That sounds expensive and I can’t afford to pay you, Mr. Benning. I’m so sorry,” I say in a low, trembling voice.
He waves me off carelessly. “No, it’s fine Olly. The oil change was all you had to pay for, and we’re squared up on that already. Don’t worry about the rest. Just look at it as a Grand Opening discount.”
It feels wrong, but I’m in no place to argue because one, the work’s already been done, and two, I don’t have any money to spare right now. Between rent on the cottage and tuition payments, I’m stretched beyond thin.
“Well, thank you,” I say in a small voice. “That means a lot to me. And congratulations on opening Benning Motors too.”
He nods.
“Thanks. I appreciate it.”
I take a deep breath, trying to get my bearings around this handsome, generous man.
“So, you’re new to Millbrook right? And you just opened your shop?”
He nods.
“Yup. I moved here a few months ago and got Benning Motors up and running straight away. I’m a mechanic by trade, in case you couldn’t tell,” he says with a wink.
I giggle.
“Where are you from originally?”
He shrugs, his expression suddenly going vague. “Here and there. Everywhere, really. We moved around a lot when I was young, so you could say that I don’t have many roots.”
Hmm, something tells me there’s more to that statement than he’s letting on, but it doesn’t seem like the right time to ask. I wonder if there was a death, or a painful divorce, or something else along those lines, but I’m not going to push him to explain because it seems rude. If he wants me to know more about him, he’ll tell me when the time is right.
I nod and take a small sip of my peppermint tea.
“I understand. My family moved to Millbrook to get a clean start, so actually, we just settled here a few years ago.”
Jason cocks his head.
“Why what happened?”
I take a deep breath and tell him about how my father died in a mining accident back in West Virginia.
“After it happened, we were devastated and it seemed everything in our little town reminded us of him. After all, it’s a mining town so wherever you turn, there he was. As a result, my mom thought moving would help to escape the tragedy, and in a way I guess it did. Things improved, but the pain never truly goes away. I still miss my dad terribly and it’s been years now.”
I steal one of the cookies from the tray, unable to meet Jason’s gaze suddenly. OMG, tears are pricking at my eyes, and I swallow hard, trying to keep down the lump. But the big man merely puts a hand on my arm, the heat of his fingers soothing.
“I’m sorry you’ve had to go through that, Olly, especially at such a young age. I can’t imagine how hard it has been for you and your family.”
I look up at him and manage a smile through my blurred vision.
“We’re surviving, but even after five years, I miss my dad terribly.”
“You’ll be fine,” he soothes. “Time heals all wounds.”
I laugh lightly. “I don’t know about this one,” I say with a shuddering sigh. “It was gruesome, you know. A couple miners were trapped in a shaft, but there was a leak too, so they had to seal it. With the men, including my dad, still inside.”
Jason’s fingers go still on my arm.
“I’m sorry, Olly. I’m real sorry about what’s happened.”
I let out another shuddering sigh again.
“No, it’s okay. I’m sorry for throwing this out there. I mean, we barely even know each other and now I’ve basically verbally vomited on you.”
Jason smiles gently and squeezes my arm. “Then vomit all you need. We all face difficulties, and I’m glad to help in some small way.”
With that, we both look down, and finish our tea in silence, but it’s curiously comfortable. It’s as if we’ve known each other forever, and my heart relaxes as a soothing balm glides over my soul. Then Jason stands up and stretches, his hands practically brushing the popcorn ceiling before shooting me a grin.
“I should be going. I have an early day at the shop tomorrow, and I’m sure you have work or school to be getting to.”
I tilt my chin curiously. “I do have work and class tomorrow. How’d you know? Did I mention it while I was at the garage?”
The big man grins.
