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“Just so you’re aware. These vans have faulty wiring and spark plug issues, so this won’t be the only time it breaks down on you.” I stepped back to take a look at the body. “There’s also the issue of rust.”
She winced as she slid off the seat. “I know.”
“Take a look at the list and let me know if I can do a few things on there. I don’t feel right with you driving this on the highway.”
She wrapped her arms around herself as if she were cold. “I can take care of myself, Jake.”
Her saying my name made my heart do a weird flutter in my chest.
“I’m not saying you can’t. I just want you to be aware of everything. I’m not trying to convince you to do something you don’t need. We don’t play those games here.”
Lily smiled softly. “I don’t think you’re trying to do those things.”
For some strange reason, relief coursed through me. Why did I care so much about what this woman thought of me?
Lily lifted the estimate in the air. “I’ll take a closer look at it and get back to you.”
“Good. That’s good.” It wasn’t a no, and I wasn’t sure why I was so relieved by that. I didn’t want to see her again. It wasn’t a good idea. But at the same time, I wanted to know she was riding around in a reliable car.
She looked at me tentatively. “Can I pay you for the work you did?”
“I said I’d take care of it.” My words came out gruffer than I intended.
“If it’s all the same to you, I’d feel better if I paid for it. I appreciate you wanting to take care of it, though.”
Deciding that arguing with her wouldn’t go over well, I gestured toward the garage. “Come on in. Maisy can get help you get the bill settled.”
I headed into the waiting area and stopped in front of the reception desk.
When Maisy looked up at my approach, I said, “Can you get Lily’s bill ready?”
“Sure can, boss.” Then Maisy smiled at Lily before turning her attention to her computer.
I tried to keep my tone professional. “Give me a call if I can do the other work we talked about.”
Lily smiled and reached a hand out to cover mine. “I will. Thank you so much for fixing Berta.”
“You’re welcome,” I said before walking away. The words felt like sandpaper on my dry throat. I tried not to think about how warm her hand felt covering mine. How good it felt to have another person touch me. And it wasn’t just anyone; it was Lily. I’d never had a reaction to a female quite like this before. Sure, they were a good time, and I enjoyed their company, but I never felt the need to create distance from someone. No one had ever threatened my solitary existence.
Three
LILY
Ipaid the bill for Berta, thankful it was smaller than I anticipated. I wasn’t sure if Jake gave me a deal, or the garage was just reasonably priced. I’d had different experiences at other garages. They seemed to charge more for the older vehicle parts because they were more difficult to find.
I usually came out of the situation feeling like I’d been taken advantage of. I didn’t know the lingo or the going rate for parts and labor, so I was at a disadvantage.
In contrast, Jake explained everything to me in a way I could easily understand it. He’d even offered to cover the bill when he forgot to call me with the estimate. Despite my initial impression of him and his gruff exterior, I respected him. And I believed him when he told me Berta would break down again. It was only a matter of time.
The thought of restoring her was attractive, but there was no way I could afford to do it anytime soon. Even if my business suddenly took off, I’d need to hire another employee or two to manage the front counter so I could spend more time making and delivering the arrangements.
Then there was the matter of the farm. If I wanted to make that a viable business, I needed time to work on landscaping and planting. Time was something I didn’t have, between the shop and Gia’s wedding clients.
The one thing I was thankful for was that the partnership with Gia’s wedding planning service brought in a steady stream of customers. Even if some relied on online florists for their bouquets, brides still needed someone local for their events.
It was a small consolation until I could figure out a business model that made sense in today’s modern world.
I never felt as settled as I did when driving Berta around town. She comforted me when my grandmother was gone. Made me feel like I wasn’t quite so alone.
