Hope(less)

by Melissa Haag

  * * * *

  My hunch had been right. He pulled into a small auto body shop on South Mitchell. The street name tickled a memory. I couldn’t place it until the mechanic currently working looked up at our approach. Cleaning his hands on a rag, he smiled at us.

  “Dale from the parking lot?” I whispered, looking at Clay questioningly. He just nodded. It explained his secret smile and his interest in books about auto mechanics.

  Clay exited the car and moved to open my door. I’d thought I would get a drive by tour, not a walking one. Wide eyed, I stepped out.

  Dale walked toward us. “Hi there, Gabby. Glad Clay finally brought you around.” He held out his freshly wiped hand. I clasped it briefly. “I have to tell you that I was surprised when Clay showed up and was as good as you boasted.” I didn’t recall actually boasting. “Although, it doesn’t look like he’s been taking care of your car.”

  Clay said nothing in his defense—of course—leaving the talking to me.

  “I’m always running back and forth to my classes. It’s hard to give it up for any amount of time.” I shrugged away his question. “Speaking of which...” I looked at Clay. “I really need to get going, or I’ll be late.” I turned back to Dale. “It was nice seeing you again, Dale. I hope stopping in was okay. I really wanted to see where Clay was working.”

  “Stop by anytime.” He waved as we walked out and got back in our car.

  “I’m sure there was some type of logic to picking that place,” I said to Clay as he drove us home. “Someday you’ll have to tell me about it.”