by Danni Roan
Frankly, he had been surprised that the truck had started up again, and the clouds of white smoke billowing from the tailpipe did little to fill him with confidence, but in the end, it was up on the lift, dripping oil and radiator fluid all over his hard-packed floor.
“What do you think?” Portia asked for the tenth time as she nibbled a nail, peering up at the undercarriage of her truck. “Can you fix it? How bad is it? When can I be back on the road?”
Pablo sighed, walking out from under the old truck and dabbing at a spot of motor oil on his cheek. “I’m only halfway through inspecting it,” he said. “You need to give me time. I’ll be honest, though, it looks like you’re in for a full rebuild.”
Portia placed her hands on her hips and scowled. “How long will it take? I’ll pay extra for you to hurry.”
“It’s isn’t just about the expense.” Pablo felt like rolling his eyes but restrained himself. “I need to know everything that is damaged and then find the parts. I can pull the engine this weekend if you’re in such a rush and start taking it apart, but I can’t tell you anything until I’m done checking it out.” His dark eyes glinted, pinning the pretty woman to the spot as he tried to make her understand.
“Oh.”
The young woman looked so sad and despondent that Pablo reached out to touch her arm, but pulled back as his work blackened fingers contrasted starkly with the pristine elegance of her dark blouse.
“Why don’t you go sit in my office while I finish up?” he finally asked a half-smile tugging at his lips. “I’ll come in, and we’ll go over the whole thing once I’m done.”
“If I must,” Portia felt her shoulders sag. She had taken a gamble and lost. Starting her journey with her vintage truck and trailer before they were ready had backfired as her father had said it would. This trip was not the jaunt she had planned, but she would have to deal with it.
Deep down, Portia had known starting like this was a bad plan, but together the truck and trailer were so dog-gone cute, she had given in to temptation. With visions of beachside campsites along the white sandy shores of Lake Michigan, dancing in her head, she had thrown caution to the wind.
“Come on,” Pablo motioned for her to follow him as they ducked through an old double door that led into what must have once been a former horse stall. The ceiling, its dark beams exposed, hung low over their heads, but bright sunshine pouring through the six-over-six window made the space seem large and welcoming.
“There’s coffee there, and soda in the fridge.” Pablo pointed at a small table and mini-fridge. “I’ll be back as soon as I’m done and will give you every detail. Make yourself comfortable.”
Portia didn’t even have time to reply before the handsome mechanic had slipped back out the door, leaving her alone to examine her surroundings more closely.
The office was nothing like she might have expected, and to her surprise, bright paintings of old cars, in a variety of different mediums, hung on the walls. Although the desk was covered in papers, the office wasn’t cluttered with old auto parts or discarded tools. Instead, it boasted an old leather sofa, two comfortable chairs, and what must be a bathroom area through another closed door. In fact, the whole space was well ordered, neat, and welcoming.
Taking a turn around the room, Portia walked to the window pulling the latch and pushing it wide to let the fresh summer air inside. Leaning on the sill, she examined her surroundings and smiled. The land around the barn was verdant and green, and down the road, she could just make out an elegant old house near the shimmer of water. Perhaps her dream of a lakeside holiday wasn’t so far away after all.
Leaving the window open, Portia pushed her long blonde hair over her shoulder and headed for the coffee pot on a tall bench style table along the far wall. She had just reached for a mug when a sparkle of red glinted at the corner of her eye.
Placing the coffee pot back on its stand, she turned, spotting the beautifully wrapped packaged on the table. The small box shimmered like hundreds of diamonds in the bright sunlight, drawing her in. In all of her life, the young woman had never seen such a compelling package. It was simple, elegant, and brilliant all at the same time, and a warm glow seemed to radiate from it.
Lifting the present, it had to be a present, she turned it in her hands, wondering at the play of light along the bright red wrapping. The box was no bigger than a Rubik’s-cube and fit comfortably in her hand. Looking around to see that she was still alone, Portia gave the box a light shake. Silence answered her inquisitive gesture.
What could come wrapped in such a perfect package? Who had sent it? Why was it sitting here in the office unopened? All these thoughts raced through Portia’s mind, and she desperately wanted each one answered. She needed to know what was in the box. She needed to see what prize rested within. Placing a pretty pink nail beneath one fold, she began to peel back the adhesive with a gentle tug.
“I think I’m done.” Pablo’s voice behind her made Portia jump, dropping the package to the table as she scurried back for her un-poured mug of coffee, guilt at almost being caught gurgling inside.
“Already?” Portia asked, lifting her empty mug to her lips and pretending to sip. She could feel her cheeks flaming, and she hid behind the oversized cup as the mechanic approached.
“As done as I’m going to be for now. You’d better sit down.” Pablo grabbed an extra chair, pulling it up to his desk before grabbing the coffee pot and pouring the dark brew into his cup. “Refill?”
“Uhm, yeah, sure,” Portia’s smile was sickly as she held out her mug for him. “So, what do we know?”
Pablo took his time adding cream and sugar to his coffee then indicated the seat once more as he slipped into his desk chair. “You really should be sitting,” his dark eyes raked over her knowing that his next words would not be welcome.
Portia eased into the chair offered, cradling the mug on her lap between suddenly icy hands.
“To start, you’ve blown a head gasket and overheated the engine that means I will probably need to rebuild the whole engine. It looks like it has been leaking for quite a while, and there’s coolant about everywhere. On top of that, the transmission needs a whole new rebuild as well. You’ve all but stripped the gears, and the synchronizers are bad. You’ll need new brakes, new drums, and if I were you, I’d replace all the hoses and lines as well.”
Portia sagged in her seat. She knew she could have had all of this done back home, but she had been in a hurry for her perfect road trip. “When can you start?”
Pablo’s eyebrows strained to become one with his hairline at the woman’s words. Did she have any idea what it cost to rebuild an old truck? He wasn’t even sure what parts for a classic Ford like this would cost or where he would get them. “I can start calling about parts today, but it’s going to be a long haul. You should also consider getting the bodywork done to keep the truck from deteriorating farther. I noticed a hole in the floorboards when I was looking at the brake lines, and it’s only going to get worse with time.”
Portia grinned, she had tried to cover the quarter-sized hole in the floor with a mat, but the thing never would stay in place.
“I knew about that one.” Taking a sip of her coffee, the young woman looked up, meeting Pablo’s eyes. “Could you do a complete rebuild and renovation? I know it will take time and that it will be expensive, but I also know it needs to be done. I’d like you to start this weekend.”
Pablo felt his lips tugging at the corners again and gulped his coffee to hide his grin. Ms. Princeton was confident of herself and seemed sure that he would take on the work. He already had cars waiting, but could he say no? The money from this one job would just about pay off what he still owed the bank for setup expenses in the old barn.
“I’ll have to rearrange a few things, but I’ll do it.” The smile that had been threatening broke across his face as he offered his hand, surprised when Portia took it proffering a gentle shake. Her soft skin felt like silk beneath his work-roughened paw
, and he hesitated a moment before releasing it. This would be a job he would never forget.
The sound of the phone ringing broke Pablo’s revelry, and he grabbed the handset placing it to his ear. “Thanks, sis,” he drawled, shooting Portia a bright smile and putting the phone back in its cradle. “I have good news,” his smile brightened as Portia gazed at him along her very straight nose. “There’s an RV site still open at the Old Inn, and you can stay as long as you need to. My brother and his wife run the place, and they just had a cancellation, so the spot is all yours.”
“That sounds good,” Portia said, her tone full of doubt. “Is it far? I had planned on being in the state park up the road. It backs right onto the lake.”
“Not far,” Pablo grinned. “I’ll hook up your trailer to the Tahoe and take you over there now. We may be in the back of nowhere, but trust me, you’ll like the spot. Everyone does.”
Portia studied the handsome man across from her but didn’t comment. She hadn’t planned on being stuck in some squished up RV park for the next few weeks, but at the end of the day, she had to go somewhere.
“Alright,” she finally agreed. “I’ll call my daddy and tell him when we get there, he worries. Besides,” she rolled her eyes but grinned, “he told me Sweetie wasn’t’ ready for this trip.”
Pablo collected the mugs from his desk, walking to the window and tossing the dregs into the grass before closing the pane.
“Come on then,” he added, stuffing the mugs into a milk crate along with a bundle of paperwork. “I guess I’m closing early tonight.”
Portia stood her eyes once more, drawn to the little package on the table. “Aren’t you going to take that as well?” Her soft aqua blue eyes turned to Pablo compelling him.
“That? My sister brought it to me just before you arrived. I’ll open it later.” His eyes scanned the package briefly, a flicker of something akin to fear reflected in their dark depths.
Over the years, Pablo had seen packages like this one before, each one containing a Christmas ornament. His sister-in-law had received a paintbrush before meeting his brother, his little sister had received a Christmas teddy bear, before meeting her husband, and he had received a yellow low-rider truck the year his nephew had been born. If Pablo’s suspicions were correct, each of the ornaments was an omen, an indication that life was going to change. He had negated his gift by passing the tiny toy on to his nephew, adding it to the pretty mobile that hung over his crib.
If he could ignore this package, perhaps what he suspected could be avoided once more.
“Well, at least put it in your box,” Portia insisted, grabbing the little present with fingers that burned. “You might get curious.”
Pablo laughed but didn’t stop her from plopping the gift into his milk crate. “Come on, we need to get you settled before it gets dark. The days are long here in the summer, but they do end.”
Chapter 4
Quaint, elegant, cheerful, kitschy, the words floated through Portia’s head as her new mechanic trundled down the long drive toward a stately Victorian house on the edge of Lake Michigan.
The beautiful, pale green home, highlighted with deep sienna, cream, and beige paint, sat like a Cameo at the end of a bejeweled chain, offset by the Caribbean blue hues of the lake water that stretched as far as the eye could see.
Portia leaned forward, peering out the window as she tried to take everything in. Along the road on the near side of the house stood a building declaring arts and crafts for sale from what appeared to have been a large carriage house.
“What are those?” the young woman asked as she spied a row of brightly painted buildings ringing the lakeshore, flowing away from the house like a brightly colored wedding train.
“Those are the holiday cabins,” Pablo smiled. “People from all over the country, came to stay in the cabins throughout the year or to rent a room in the Old Inn for a quiet stay at Lake Michigan. They’re rentals, and they stay full most of the year. Jamie, that’s my sister-in-law, and her family has owned this place for years, and when she took over, she had the whole place renovated and modernized.”
“Modernized? They look as if they have always been here, like the train of the painted ladies gown.” She nodded toward the house as Pablo turned down the opposite side of the drive.
“I wouldn’t know,” Pablo said. “I only know what Gram says, and she tells some tales. Here’s your spot,” he finished pulling forward and preparing to back the trailer onto a concrete slab that faced the lake.
“This is where I’m going to stay?”
“That’s what Jamie says.”
“It’s perfect! This place is exactly what I was hoping for when I booked my stay at the state park.” The smile on her face made Pablo’s heart do something funny, and he turned away from the distraction focusing his mind on the job at hand.
“Hop out and help me get this thing situated,” Pablo chimed, avoiding meeting the beautiful woman’s eyes. For some reason, Portia Princeton did strange things to his head as well as his heart.
Fifteen minutes later, they had the trailer parked, leveled, and hooked up. The vintage red and white camper looked like a pretty bauble as the light from the water reflected off its metal skin.
“Let me know if you need anything,” Pablo said, heading back to his SUV. “You can also call over at the house or come to the office if you need anything. We serve dinner from five to seven if you need food, but Gram or Jamie can help you with pretty much whatever you need. ”
“Thanks,” Portia nodded absently as she opened a little door under the trailer. “I think I’ll get things set up here and then go from there.” She was practically thrumming with excitement as she began to pull items out of the storage compartment. Perhaps her lakeshore summer wasn’t over before it began.
Pablo chuckled as the woman grabbed a long metal rod and pulled a tiny awning out from above the door. In a matter of moments, she was hanging little lights along the edge of the awning. The rig wasn’t’ very big, but it sure was cute, just like its owner.
Pablo hurried back to his white SUV, jumping in and driving back toward the house. He still lived in the room he had been given when his brother had married Jamie all those years earlier, and though already twenty-six, he didn’t see himself leaving anytime soon. Why waste money, better used in building his business, on rent, if he didn’t have to. Besides, he enjoyed being with family, especially Gram and little Chris.
Although Gram was technically Jamie’s grandmother, and the original owner of the Old Inn, the woman had adopted all of the Jimenez children as her own almost immediately.
Besides, he couldn’t just leave Carlos to maintain the old place on his own. Not only had Pablo been working with his brother from a very young age, but he credited Carlos with keeping him out of any real trouble as a youth. His big brother had always been there, and he would do the same.
When the family had lost their parents one stormy Christmas Eve, Carlos had become mother, father, and guardian all in one go. He had never shirked his obligation, never complained about all of the dreams he had given up to care for his younger brother and sister.
Instead, Carlos had taken on the best job he could find as a house painter and managed to provide for them all. His chance encounter with Jamie right here at the Old Inn where he had been working changed everything for the family. Pablo was still grateful to his brother and would do whatever he could to help.
Additionally, Carlos and Jamie had both helped Pablo realize his dream of becoming a licensed mechanic, putting up with his crazy hours as he worked for his old boss and for the crazy cars he drove all over Michigan. When Pablo had decided to set up a garage of his own, everyone had pitched in to turn the old barn into the perfect workspace. As a one-time gas station, the space had been easily outfitted as a full-time garage and was now keeping him busy as he grew his business.
Yes, Pablo’s life was perfect just the way it was. He didn’t need or want any changes. He was content.
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The last rays of the evening sun slipped through the passenger side window of the Tahoe, spilling over the small package nestled in the box on the backseat. The red wrapping sparkled with a ruby’s glow, a touch of fire on a cold night.
Pablo flicked his sunglasses down over his eyes, trying to shut out the draw of the pretty present, and its irresistible glint. He had been able to ignore that draw before, perhaps if he focused, he could do so again.
Chapter 5
Portia spent a happy hour setting up her tiny home. She fussed with rolling out the outdoor mat and placing her two red and white folding chairs where they had a view of the sparkling water.
Once she was satisfied with the outside, she turned to the interior, checking that nothing had broken, come loose, or popped open during her wild ride. Checking the Coca Cola clock above the sink and noting the time, Portia hurried to her closet and pulled out clean clothes then hopped in the minuscule shower.
She would have plenty of time to tidy up her rig while she waited for her truck to be repaired, but right now, she was hungry and curious about the old house.