Fifteen minutes later we pulled into the big paved area in front of the repair shop. Moments later, the driver had my car off and pushed up into one of the bays with the help of a man in overalls.
I went in and spoke to the woman at reception while this took place.
“Hey there, looks like you’ve had a bit of trouble,” the woman greeted in a cheery voice. She looked to be around fifty, but her hair was still dark and she had a really kind, open face.
A mother.
That’s what she looked like—somebody that relished the role.
“You could say that. I was coming down the highway and the engine just cut out. I’m guessing it’s some sort of electrical problem because I lost all the lights on the dashboard.”
She nodded her agreement. “Sure sounds like it. Though until the boys can take a look, I guess we won’t know. You’ve been in here before if I remember right. A few months back to get a service.”
That surprised me. “You’ve got a great memory. I’m sure you see lots of people.”
“Oh I do. You had your little guy with you last time.”
And Arianne immediately understood. People often remembered Isaac because he would do things that were out of the normal.
“A lot of people remember my son.”
“Actually I remember you. I’ve got a thing for faces. Plus you’ve got a very unusual name.”
That set me back a little and I giggled. “Definitely on the name bit. Not too many Le Flegg’s in Logan I would think.”
“Nope. Can’t say I’ve come across another one. I’m Cathy by the way. I’ll just get the paperwork sorted out so the boys can make a start on it.”
I nodded and Cathy returned her attention to the computer and tapped a few keys. “Arianne Le Flegg. That’s right, isn’t it?”
“It is.” I confirmed for her.
A few seconds later the printer started to spit out paper. Cathy grabbed it from the printer tray, stapled it and then slipped the pages under the fastener on the clipboard.
“Right, that’s my bit done. Now it’s up to the boys.” Cathy glanced at the clock. “I can’t see this being resolved this afternoon, Arianne. Can I get one of the boys to drop you somewhere?”
That’s what I’d been afraid of. I needed to get Isaac from school and then get him over to chess club. My only option was going to be a cab.
“Um I’ll just call a taxi…” I was mid-sentence when Cathy put her hand up as if to stop me.
“My Son has just pulled up. I’ll see if he can drop you home.” Cathy had already picked up the phone and was calling.
“Oh really it’s no problem. I can just call a cab.” I protested as I heard her say hello, then “I need you in here.”
She put the phone down and gave me a big smile. “All sorted. Here he is now.” She said peering past me through the glass windows behind my shoulders.
The door opened and instantaneously I got a tingle down my spine and I couldn’t resist the urge to turn around.
It was Dane.
“Hey Mum. Ari, what are you doing here?” he said in surprise.
Cathy was quicker on the draw than I was. “Oh, you know Arianne, Dane?”
We looked between each other and he gave me a soft smile that seemed to warm me to the core. “We sure do. I helped Arianne out of a little jam last week and we caught up for lunch the other day.”
“Excellent. Then you won’t have a problem dropping the poor girl home. Her car broke down on the highway and ended up here with the help of a tow.” Cathy beamed in her cheery disposition.
I hadn’t been able to get a word in, much less comprehend that somehow I’d managed to land myself accidentally smack bang in the middle of Dane’s family.
What were the chances?
And of course, I couldn’t stop my brain from trying to figure the probability all the while trying to keep up with the conversation.
Dane’s face had taken on a concerned look. “What happened?”
“Like your mum said, I was just driving down the highway and the engine cut out. I’m guessing electrical because I lost all the dashboard as well.”
He nodded. “You okay?”
I was pretty sure what he was actually asking me was, had this been something to do with Marcel.
“I’m fine.”
“Good. Where’s Isaac?” That surprised me and just added to the warm feeling that having him standing there had given me—he was concerned for my son.
“He’s at school.” I glanced down at my watch. “But I need to be there to collect him in another half an hour. Then I’m supposed to get him over to chess club. I guess it won’t matter so much if he misses one day.”
“I’ll drive you over to get him from school then I can take you over to chess club,” he stated as if it was no problem at all for him, to have his afternoon tipped upside down—to come to my rescue yet again.
“Seriously, it’s fine. I’ll just grab a cab. You’ve done more than enough for me already.”
“It’s not a problem.” Then he turned his attention to his mum. “When can dad or the boys get started on it?”
Cathy glanced out to the workshop through the glassed wall of the office. “Well it looks like Dion is just starting the service on that Commodore. He can take a look after that. So it won’t be for another hour or so.”
Dane turned back to me. “Short answer, you’re not going to have your wheels back this afternoon, Ari. Okay let’s go get Isaac.” He reached over and took my elbow to guide me out.
“I’ll give you a buzz when I know something Arianne.” Cathy called as Dane hustled me out of the service centre office and around to the side.
That was the first time I really looked around and I noticed the service station right on the edge to the road. And I realised how unobservant I’d been. Maybe it was the fact that the driveway to the garage/service centre was off the side street, whereas the service station sat on the main road.
“Is the garage yours as well?”
Dane shook his head and laughed. “God no! Fixing cars isn’t my bag. I’m handy enough but not all the time thanks. The auto shop is dad’s. Well he’s had it there for the last thirty odd years. When Grandad set up this place he leased the auto shop part out to my dad. That’s how he met my mum and the rest as they say, is history.”
All that seemed to make a lot more sense now. Dane guided me over to a large 4x4 utility that was big, a dark gun metal grey and imposing. He popped the doors open and helped me up into the passenger’s side.
“Use the running board, it makes it easier,” he suggested pointing to the matt black tubing that ran along the side of the vehicle as he steadied me to get in. I was very glad I’d worn jeans and not a tight skirt today!
A few seconds later, Dane was in and reversing out of the garage. “Was there anything in your car you needed before we head out?”
“No, I’ve got everything in here.” I patted my ever present handbag.
“I should have known—the Tardis!”
I had to giggle at his Dr Who reference. I was a fan of The Dr also. The Tardis was an incredibly apt description of my handbag.
“I guess I’d better ask where Isaac goes to school.” Dane grinned with an ease that came of being very sure of himself.
“He goes to Xavier College.”
Dane whistled and raised his eyebrows. I knew it was because of the fees, which were very steep for this area.
“Yeah, tell me about it. But they offer the best program for kids with his needs. I figure it’s my job to come up with the cash. It was also one of the reasons why I chose this area to move to. I wanted to give Isaac the best opportunity I could.”
He just nodded and pulled out on to the road. “It can’t be easy doing it all yourself.”
“It’s not but, I don’t have any choices in that. I just have to make the best of it and well, when it’s your child’s welfare, happiness and education at stake you just tend to do whatever you need to do,
to make it work. Other things become much lesser priorities.”
“So you don’t have any other family around or friends that you can lean on occasionally?” He glanced briefly across at me before focusing on the road again.
“No. It’s just Isaac and I now.” As much as I tried, the element of hurt in my voice still slipped through. I guess that stood to reason—I got a stabbing pain in the chest when I thought about how alone we really were, so it made sense for it to come out in my voice as well.
“Well as you just discovered, I haven’t managed to rid myself of my family,” he joked. “Can’t say I’m unhappy about it though.”
I smiled at that. “You seem to be close and your mum’s lovely. She really looked after me last time. It’s not something you usually find in the car racket.”
He smirked. “Racket is a great description. But my family are all about providing old fashioned service.”
“Nothing wrong with that. Do you have any other brothers or sisters?” I was curious to know. Dane was an easy guy to be around and the fact that he was not at all hard on the eyes was just an added bonus.
“I have two younger sisters. Macey and Maddie. Macey is just about to finish up a nursing degree and Maddie is in her last year at high school.”
“So there’s a decent amount of time between you?”
“Yeah, I shouldn’t be saying this.” He shrugged his shoulders. “Women and ages and all of that. Mum was twenty-five when she had me then there’s roughly four years between each of us. She said she wanted time to spend with each of us individually before we went to school.”
“You were lucky to have that. Many kids don’t get it. I was still finishing up uni when Isaac was born.” Those days had been tough. I was trying to study and manage a new born at the same time, but I’d done it.
“So how old were you when you had him?” His face was filled with curiosity.
“Hey!” I protested. “I thought you just told me that it wasn’t right to ask a woman her age?”
Dane winced. “I did, didn’t I? Sorry I got curious.”
I giggled. “Its hardly a state secret. I was nineteen. I’m almost twenty-nine now.”
The traffic stopped as we approached the bridge over the Logan River. There was some sort of road works ahead.
“What time did you need to pick up Isaac?” Dane asked as he eased to a stop.
“Ten past three.” We both glanced at the digital clock on the dashboard. It had just gone three.
“It should clear soon.”
I nodded and relaxed back into the seat. “Surely they wouldn’t hold up the traffic too much at school pick up time?”
Dane chuckled sarcastically. “You’d hope not, but since when has the Council given a rats about inconveniencing anyone?”
“Good point. Well made,” I agreed.
We sat in silence for a few more moments, before Dane turned to look at me. “I promised myself I wasn’t going to ask this but I have to know. Has your ex given you any further trouble?”
Was it possible to feel both touched and embarrassed at the same time? Because that was how I felt. Touched that he’d been interested enough to ask, but embarrassed that my life was so screwed up.
“No I haven’t seen or heard from him. Which probably worries me more than if I had heard from him again.” I let out a sigh. “At least then I’d know what he was up to. The not knowing is the hardest bit.”
He nodded his understanding then did something that surprised the hell out of me. Dane reached over and took my hand and squeezed it gently in his much larger one. I looked at our joined hands and I felt the sensations running through me once again.
Surely he couldn’t be feeling the same?
When my eyes met his after looking up from our hands, I tried to read his expression. All I picked up was sincerity.
“If you hear from him or see him or whatever, I want you to call me. I don’t care what time of the day or night. Do you understand?” His voice was deep and commanding, more so than his normal voice tone. It sent shivers down my spine, but it also held me locked in place as well. There was something in his tone that neutralised any need I had to argue and I found myself nodding acceptance to his request.
It was so weird. I wasn’t the meek and mild type. Well, at least, that’s what I thought.
“Good I’m glad that’s sorted.” His eyes lightened a little in mood. “By the way…feel free to call or text me anytime just because. I enjoy your company. Which is kind of weird seeing you’re a woman.” The last bit he said more to himself than to me. More as if he’d been thinking and spoken out loud instead.
I tried for a lady like snort. “I’m not sure whether to be flattered or offended.”
“Definitely flattered. It was meant as both the truth and a compliment. We’re friends. I don’t normally hang out with women unless you know…” He shrugged his left shoulder rather than finishing the sentence.
Well that put me in my place, in case I’d been confused.
I was firmly in the friend zone—apparently.
Wasn’t that what I wanted?
He was a man that studied and embraced violence.
Well then why did it feel like I’d been judged and somehow fallen short and hadn’t made the cut? Or that the sexy lace panties I was wearing should have definitely been the granny type? Nope—no woman wanted to feel like that.
Dane
Arianne stiffened and stared ahead then at the clock on the dash. It was just going three. The school was another five or so minutes up the road if the traffic cooperated. We were going to be late and I figured that would cause her stress. I guessed no parent liked to be late to get their kid.
“Sorry but I think we’re going to be late. I’d turn around but there’s no way across this river except this bridge.”
She wriggled in her seat. “I know. Nothing you can do. We’re stuck here until they decide to let us through.”
“Surely it can’t be more than ten or fifteen minutes. It’s been almost twelve now.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“If it’s any consolation I’m sure we’re not the only ones delayed,” I added trying to offer some level of support.
“It’ll be fine I’m sure. The teachers should be still supervising. He just doesn’t have many friends and I worry about him when he’s by himself with kids that don’t really understand about why he’s different.”
I nodded not quite knowing what to say. “Where do we have to go to then?”
Arianne pushed the hair back from her forehead impatiently. “I think we’ll just give it a miss. The planets seem to be conspiring to make things difficult today. I don’t want to put you out anymore. I’m sure you had much better plans than to chauffeur Isaac and me around.”
I chuckled at that and she glared at me. “Oh quit it, will you? It’s no big deal. Sure I had a few things to do, but nothing that’s so urgent it won’t wait until tomorrow. So just let me know where he needs to go and we’ll get there. Look the traffic is starting to move.”
Her eyes were boring into me. We were moving now in heavy traffic so I couldn’t really look away. But I knew she was looking at me none the less.
“What? Spit it out,” I said a little frustrated by her turn in mood.
“Why are you being so nice to me? Us? I don’t get it. What’s in it for you? You’re obviously not interested in me as a woman, woman. Oh you know what I mean.” She threw her hands up in frustration.
“I’m a nice guy. I try to do the right thing by people. And what makes you think I’m not interested in you as a woman, woman? I glanced over at her as I emphasised the woman, woman bit.
“You said before I was a friend and that you don’t hang out with woman unless you’re…um well…” she snapped at me stumbling over the end bit. The wind was definitely leaving her sails fast.
“Sleeping with, having relations, fucking even? Any of those fit the description you’re looking for?” I offered helpfully.
“Exactly. So you knew what I meant. I…”
“You told me you didn’t condone violence. I can hardly see you agreeing to try the woman, woman role with me if you don’t like the fact I’m involved in a violent activity. Even though for the record, I would never hurt you or Isaac.” That silenced her and her attention was now focused on the front playground of the school.
Arianne was scanning the playground for Isaac just as I saw something else that concerned me and I certainly recognised a couple of the kids involved. There was some sort of standoff going on over by the hall.
I slammed the gear shifter into park and shut off the engine. It didn’t take me more than a few seconds to be out of the truck and crossing the distance to the kids. There was a group of six boys who I’d guess to be about thirteen in a standoff with a couple of our kids from Onigashima. And if I wasn’t mistaken, it was Isaac hunched against the wall with his hat pulled down over his face.
“Right boys what’s going on?” I demanded as I strode up in my best Sensei voice. Just as I expected, I immediately had all eight sets of eyes on me.
“Who are you?” a larger kid with a smart arse smirk asked. He looked to be the ringleader.
Before I could answer Caleb spoke up, “That’s Sensei Dane.”
I watched that sink in as I came to a stop in front of the kids.
“I asked before what’s going on. Caleb you want to explain?”
“We had it under control Sensei. These guys just thought it was funny to tease the little guy over by the wall when his friend left.”
I turned and glared at the six boys. “Why would you do that?”
A sandy haired kid at the back piped up, “Because he’s weird.”
“Really and that’s a good reason to tease and bully him?”
They started to look nervous as I moved my eyes from one to another. I knew exactly what I looked like in this mode. I’d seen this face enough in the dojo mirrors to know I was an imposing prick. I could see Arianne rushing towards Isaac to comfort him.
The best I got was a few shrugs. “So you guys make it a habit of doing stuff for no reason? Is that what you’re trying to tell me?” Again silence was the stern reply.
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