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But my eyes fixate on the girl who’s ignited a flame within my heart.
Ella steps up to the front of the car and, leaning over the engine, searches for what made it stop. I should do the same, but I’m rooted to the spot, utterly captivated.
The sunlight cascades upon Ella’s features, a soft halo encircling her silhouette. Her shoulder-length hair, the color of rich mahogany these days, catches the waning rays and emits a mesmerizing radiance. If her hair was still angel blonde, it would be like spun gold in this light. I want to see it that way again.
But no matter what she looks like, it’s her soul that calls to me.
She gazes at me over her shoulder as she taps a finger against her lips.
“Are you waiting for divine inspiration, so you can determine what’s wrong with this car without looking at it?” she asks with a raised eyebrow.
“You know that’s more Claudette’s department. And even she only gets it right eighty percent of the time,” she jibes.
I chuckle and step closer to her, the scent of too much lavender and vanilla hitting my nostrils. It helps to get my head back into gear.
“I think it’s the alternator,” I declare.
A smirk forms on Ella’s lips. “Oh, really?” Her voice drips with skepticism. “And what makes you so sure about that?”
I pause for a moment, trying to remember what they taught us about cars in the army. I haven’t had to do this in years.
“Well, the alternator charges the battery while the engine is running.” I explain. “If the alternator is faulty, it can’t supply enough power to keep the battery charged, which could result in a drained battery. So, it’s likely the alternator is causing the issue.”
Ella chuckles, clearly enjoying herself. “That’s an interesting theory,” she says, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “But I have a different one. I think it’s the battery itself.”
I tilt my head, intrigued. “And why do you believe that?”
With a smug smile, Ella points to the rusted connections. “The cables are all corroded.”
I stifle my groan. How did I not see that? It’s obvious—all I had to do was look a little closer. But all that matters is we found the problem. So I play a little more.
“You know what, Ella? You might be onto something there.” I nudge her while her giggles fill the air, bathing me in comfort.
I walk around the car to get to the boot. Anticipating we might need some tools, I opened it when we stopped. As I pick them up, I spot Claudette in a clearing, stretching and doing yoga poses.
I only met her today, but I like her. She’s a lot like my sister Kate—a bit unconventional and out there.
When I get back to Ella, she’s wiping the cables clean with a piece of cloth.
“Where did you find that?” I ask her, pointing at the fabric in her hand. She in turn points at her shirt which now has a part missing at the bottom. She doesn’t muck around. I like that. But then I like everything about her.
“We had a wrench in the car?” she asks, surprised, staring at the tool in my hand.
I step next to her to tighten the connections she just cleaned.
“I picked it up at the wreckers in Halifax. With a derelict car like this, I thought it might come in handy.”
“Perhaps you have a bit of Claudette in you after all,” she teases.
We work in silence, but the current between us seems to grow stronger with each passing moment. It’s buzzing in my ears.
I can’t help but steal glances at Ella, watching her move with a graceful ease as she finishes cleaning the cables.
Finally, I tighten the last connection, and we both step back to admire our work.
“Can you start the engine?” I ask, then add. “Do you know how to hot-wire a car?”
“Of course.” She smiles proudly.
