“Someday I’m sure things will change but right now I have to stay focused on the repair shop.”
“You sound like you’ve made up your mind already.”
“I’m leaning towards yes more and more.” I smile and look out the window again watching the scenery change from Tulsa to the middle of nowhere the closer we come to Colvin.
I think the slow lifestyle would be a much needed change. I can start a new chapter with new people and be close by for Mom.
And hopefully be too busy to let that blond keep popping into my head. And heart. Dangit! There’s no chance of ever seeing her again so why can’t I forget her? Get a grip Maysen.
13
“Amelia, there’s a new guy taking over Sam’s Garage. He’s actually Sam’s nephew. Ingrid’s sister, Martha’s boy. Pretty boy type but he knows his stuff it seems. Sam’s excited to get him in there so he can finally retire. It’s about time he does that. Ingrid’s been nagging him for years to retire.” I can hear Dad say when he walks into the kitchen the next morning.
“That is wonderful to hear. I’ll have to drop by and see Ingrid and Martha sometime this week. He’s a handsome fellow huh? Maybe we should introduce him to Audrey.”
“Mom no. I do not need a fix up. Especially now.” I growl, turn around and stomp towards the door. I do not need my parents setting me up with a man just because I’m pregnant. But as I think of going on a date with a man I feel like I would be cheating on Maysen. I can’t imagine another man touching me either. I have lost it now for sure. Get a grip on yourself Audrey! You’re going to be a mother in a few months. I need to worry about the baby and getting things ready not worrying about men. Ugh!
*************
“Ready for your first day on the job?” Uncle Sam asks me as we head out the door Monday morning and towards the shop.
“You know, I’m very ready. What’s on the agenda?”
“First we need to get on Ella Mae Doone’s car. It needs diagnosed first. I’ll let you do that while I get the rest of the day scheduled.”
“I can do that. Um, which one’s her car?”
“The one we picked up in Tulsa for AJ. Ella Mae is Aiden’s mother in law.”
“Ah I see. This town is small; I need to remember that fact.” I smile and walk away to get started. Everyone seems to know or be related to everyone here.
After working on the little blue car that belongs to one of the shop’s best customers, I walk back up to the office where Uncle Sam said he would be. As I am ready to enter the office door something else grabs my attention.
Just outside the door I see a white car pull up and a dark haired young lady get out of the passenger side. As I see her say something to the driver and laugh, I glance at the driver and my heart stops. Before I can get my wits about me the car drives away. I have to shake my head and open and close my eyes a few times to come back to reality. I could have sworn I just saw Audrey in the driver’s seat of that car. I am really losing it if I’m hallucinating her being around here now too.
Before I can get too into what I’m feeling the brunette walks into the shop and straight for the office door I’m currently stopped in front of.
“Hi, I’m here to see Sam.” She says and all I can do is step aside and let her enter his office.
“Hey Karlie, you here to check on your Mama’s car? I think it’s about done. Isn’t it son?”
“Um, yes sir. I was just coming up to let you know it was done. It was the fuel pump. It’s good to go and parked out front.” I hand the lady the keys and walk out the door knowing I just looked like a total dummy.
“Maysen, you did a great job on Karlie’s mom’s car. She’s Aiden’s wife.” Uncle Sam finds me a few minutes later in the back of the shop cleaning up my mess.
“Thank you. It was nothing. So, that was Aiden’s wife huh? No wonder he’s okay with the old ball and chain.” I smile and wink at Uncle Sam.
“Yeah, she’s a beauty for sure.” And he walks away leaving me to continue on with the scheduled vehicles. I am still pretty shook up over the hallucination of Audrey in that car though. This is what it’s come to? It was bad enough when I thought about her all the time, now I’m seeing her too. Great.
**************
“All set? I bet your mom’s relieved to have her car back.” I ask Karlie as she gets into my car again after picking up and dropping off her mom’s car.
“Yes, thanks for the ride over there and for picking me up now.”
“Sure. I was headed to town anyway so it’s all good. You’re not in a hurry to get home are you? I need to go get groceries for Mom.”
“Nope. Aiden has Aleah and I’m not sure she’s feeling well. She might be teething. I need to get some of that gel for the gums in case she is.”
“That doesn’t sound fun. I need to fill my prescription for prenatal vitamins too so let’s head for the pharmacy first.”
“Works for me. Man, your Dad was right about the guy working for Sam now. Holy buckets he’s hot. If I wasn’t married I might have stuck around to stare and drool.”
“That good huh?”
“Yes and seemed really nice too but shy. Like someone else I know.” She smiles and wiggles her eye brows at me.
“I don’t want set up Karlie. I’ve already said that to all of you. No match making please.”
“Got it but he really was hot with a capital H.”
I shake my head and roll my eyes knowing he probably was hot but I really don’t need set up. If only they would realize I was serious.
“So, when’s the next doctor appointment? You’ll get to see the baby then right? And hear the heartbeat?”
“Yes. It’s tomorrow actually. I’m getting really excited.”
“Kinda? I’m ecstatic! Can I go with you?”
“Sure. Leah and Mom had asked me too. It’s at 3 o’clock. Just meet me there. I’m going straight from class.”
“I’ll catch a ride with Leah. You’ll get to see your little one for the first time and then it’ll be more real for you. I promise.”
“I know it will, still wish Maysen were here to experience it with me. I know that’s crazy since I only saw him twice but I feel bad that he’s out there somewhere missing out on his child’s development.”
“Audrey you really can’t think about that. You went to Omaha to find him but he was gone. There’s nothing else you can do but take the best care of yourself and this baby.”
“I know. I’m so emotional right now and I can’t think straight, it’s ridiculous.” I roll my eyes and she giggles knowing exactly what I’m talking about.
“Get used to it. The baby takes over your body and it’s never the same again. I’d give anything to be able to hold my pee in longer than two seconds!” We both laugh and head into the pharmacy.
I hear my phone sing the tone I had set for my best friend Tracey. But she’s in rehab and not in town. I haven’t heard from her in a very long time. I look up for Karlie but she’s left me and starting her shopping farther down the aisle.
“Hello?”
“Audrey? It’s Tracey. I hope it’s okay that I’m calling.”
“Of course it is! How’re you doing?”
“I’m doing great actually. I’m getting out of here tomorrow morning. I was hoping I could come see you sometime? Or have you not forgiven me yet? I would totally understand if you haven’t.”
“Oh Tracey, I forgave you before it happened. You’ve been my best friend for so long I wouldn’t know what to do without you. Please come see me whenever you come to town.”
“Are you sure? I wouldn’t want to hurt anyone. I’ve done that enough.”
“No no no. I would be so happy to see you. Please come see me. I’ve thought about you every single day but we were told we couldn’t contact you. I am so pleased to know you’re doing so well!”
“I’ll call you when I know a little more about when I’ll be up that way.”
“Deal. I can’t wait to see you. Tak
e care and congrats!”
“Ok bye my friend. See you soon.”
I hang up my phone and smile because she sounds so much more like the old Tracey. She got mixed up with some bad people and bad stuff. We got her into rehab and she’s been there for a long time. Seems like forever without her. I am so happy she’s going to be released and doing so well. I can’t wait to see her.
“Hey what’s got you smiling so big? Baby move for the first time?”
“No, I just got a call from Tracey. She’s being released tomorrow and wanted to know if she could come see me.”
“Oh that’s so great to hear. I’m glad she’s doing better.”
“Are you? She’s afraid she’ll upset people if she comes back to town after what happened.”
“Of course she’s welcome back here. We all know she was going through such a hard time. Heroine is a nasty thing and to know she got healthy is a very big deal.”
“You are so amazing Karlie. You know that? She almost came between you and Aiden but you’re still supportive. Amazing.”
“Hey, it’s not a big deal. He married me remember? And had the baby with me. Nothing for me to be upset about.”
“Let’s get going. I need to help Mom fix dinner tonight.”
*************
“Hey Maysen, I was looking for you.” I wheel out from under the pickup I’m working under and see Aiden standing next to me.
“What for? Did the tractor break down again?”
“No nothing like that. I wanted to invite you out to our house for dinner tonight.”
“I would love to but my Mom’s cooking tonight. She’s finally feeling better and wants to cook for us. I could do a drink after if you’re interested.”
“A drink would be good.”
“When and where?”
“There’s only one place in town you can get a beer. It’s a little place around the corner from here. Does eight work for you?”
“That’s perfect. I’ll catch ya then.”
“See you then.” I watch him walk away and feel happy to know that I have my first friend here in Colvin.
14
“Hey Leah, what’re you doing here? Don’t you and Austin have plans?” I ask as I open the door for her to come in.
“Nope. He went with Aiden to town to meet the new guy at the repair shop for a beer. Aiden seems to really like him for some reason. Austin wanted to go check him out.”
“Men. They seem to be chummy pretty fast. Well, I don’t really know how long the new guy’s been here. Dad and Karlie swear he’s hot. Well, Dad didn’t say hot!” We both laugh.
“So, when do you have the ultrasound?”
“Tomorrow morning at ten; I’m getting excited.”
“Your Mother is over the moon because you’re letting her go with you. And I can’t wait to do the flowers for your baby shower. You will have one right?”
“I know she’s excited. She won’t stop confirming the time with me. I don’t know if she’s afraid I’ll change my mind or what. She’s kinda driving me nuts about it. And yes of course I’ll let you two throw me a baby shower.”
“Better get used to it. We’re all very excited about the baby!”
“You’re really starting to get a bump. You’re the cutest pregnant blonde I have ever seen!”
“Nice way to not discriminate against Karlie! You’re so wise Leah!” I pat her on the shoulder and laugh.
“Well, in this big of a family it’s hard to tell everyone the same thing at the same time. Everyone is always going in different directions. I can’t even imagine how your parents felt when you were all growing up!”
“I know. I think this baby’s the only one in my future. I can’t imagine four.”
“Three boys to boot!”
“Wanna watch a movie until Austin gets home? I have the newest one we talked about the other day.”
“It’s a date. I’ll get the popcorn.”
*************
“Hey man, glad you could make it. This is my older brother Austin. This is the guy from the garage I’ve been telling you about. What’ll you have?”
“Nice to meet you Austin, I’ll have whatever’s on tap.”
“Nice to finally meet the mechanic God that Aiden’s been bragging about. Oh and thanks for helping Sam get Ella Mae’s car from Tulsa. Those girls find trouble wherever they go.”
“It was no problem. I just fix them, no special powers involved.”
“The way Aiden has talked about you you’d think you were a super hero.”
“Shut up man. He’s going to think I want to ditch my wife for him.” Aiden says slapping me on the back as I take the first drink of my beer.
“Nah, we’re good. I’ve seen your wife and no man would turn away from a woman that looks like her. Congrats man.”
“She is great isn’t she? I take it she picked up her mom’s car today?”
“Yes. Are you married too Austin?”
“Not yet. We haven’t set a date yet.”
“You ever heard of Leah Frankle?”
“The model? The one in all the expensive purse and perfume ads?”
“That’s the one. She’s not doing that anymore though. She and I own the nursery here in town.”
“Nice. I thought she was married to a baseball player though? I take it not anymore?”
I see Austin and Aiden freeze and try to figure out how to answer so I say, “Hey sorry for prying. None of my business. Next subject.”
“Nah, it’s ok just don’t know where to begin. No, they’re not married anymore. I guess that’s the short answer.”
“Good enough for me. So, you two are gonna get hitched too huh?”
“Yes. I asked her to marry me a while back. We’ve been so busy with the nursery and remodeling her Grandparents’’ old house we haven’t had time to even talk about a date, let alone the whole wedding. We’re not in a big hurry, our family on the other hand, are.”
“I can understand that. I’m taking one day at a time. Thankful for the opportunity to start this new venture and thankful for new friends. Cheers.”
We clink our drinks together and then all get silent.
“Well, Sam tells me you have a big ranch outside of town?”
“Yep, the 6AB Ranch. You should come out sometime. Ever ridden a horse?”
“Um can’t say that I have. I could come out to watch though. Not sure my pride is sound enough for horse riding lessons at my age.”
“Deal. We have a lot going on most of the time. Austin here isn’t around the ranch much but I’m always there. Karlie and I live not far from the main homestead.”
“Nice. So, there’s four of you right, three boys and a girl?”
“Yep, there’s a brother older than me and our baby sister. Of course Aiden’s wife Karlie and my fiancée Leah now too.”
“Only you two are married or close to it?”
“You’ve seen this town. It’s small and not much to choose from.”
“Our older brother lives in the big city and as far as we know doesn’t have time for the ladies. And our sister, well we thought she didn’t have a man but now she’s been knocked up by some jerk that left town and never looked back.”
“Wow, that’s rough. No man should do that to a woman or child.”
“Do you have any siblings?”
“Nope. Just Mom and I. Dad left before I was born. Now we have Aunt Ingrid and Uncle Sam around.”
“They’re great people. Welcome to town, we’re glad you’re here.”
“Thanks, I’m beginning to like it here too. Starting to kinda feel like home.”
“Don’t look now but there’s lady down there with her eyes all over you.”
“Ah no thanks. I have enough on my plate right now. No time for a woman.”
“Still getting over someone are you?”
“That obvious huh? I can’t quit thinking about her or seeing her everywhere. That’s the main reason I moved here. Simpler life and new
start. Mom really needs me right now too. No time for a woman. None.”
“That’s what I thought too until Karlie came back. When you find the right one you’ll change your mind.”
“That seems to be the consensus. Thanks for the company guys but I need to get home. Take care.”
“We need to get back too. I left Leah at the ranch so I’m sure we’re staying at your house tonight man.”
“I’m sure the girls are all watching chick flicks. See ya.”
************
“Ok well I had better go now and let you get some rest. I think we’re staying with Aiden and Karlie tonight unless Austin decides he wants to drive home. See you at breakfast, maybe.”
“See you then. Love you. Thanks for the company.”
“Maybe next time we’ll go with the guys and find you a man.”
“No thank you. Not at the bar for sure.”
“Deal. Talk soon.” She kisses my cheek and walks away into the dark night.
I feel a small twitch of jealousy that she has my brother to go home to. Even if it’s just my other brother’s house. She still has someone who loves her and will never leave her. But with what she has been through, it makes my problems seem minuscule. I need to quit feeling sorry for myself. Enough. No more. Yeah right if only it were that easy. Ugh!
**********
“Hey Ma, what’re you doing awake? It’s late. You need your rest.”
“Did you have a good time son?”
“Yes it was good. Why are you awake?”
“I wanted to hear about your night. Did you meet a nice young lady?”
“No Ma, I had a few beers with the Blake boys Austin and Aiden.”
“Their sister is really pretty and sweet. Maybe they can introduce you.”
“No Ma. I’m good. You need to go to bed.”
“You need to go find the girl that’s stolen your heart Maysen.”
“What are you talking about Ma?”
“I can tell by the way you’re shutting yourself off that you’re hiding from something or someone.”
Third Time's a Charm- Book 3 of the Colvin Series Page 8