9. Lennon
Chapter nine
Lennon
I almost told Hayes no when he reached out stating that he needed help at his shop. I thought either my brother or Shelby put him up to it, that is until I went there for myself. He needed help at least a month ago, now everything is in disarray. I got a feeling that the office side of things is not his favorite, the cars are. I knew he restored vehicles, the Bronco I’ve been driving around is a testament to his skills, but I didn’t know that is a whole other business. How he runs two businesses and is a present, single dad, I have no idea.
Excited to start the first day of figuring out who I am now, I wake up early for my first day at Crew’s Auto. I’m nervous someone is going to ask a basic car related question, and I am going to sound like a bumbling idiot. I wasn’t kidding when I told Hayes I didn’t know how to change a tire or my oil. I know how to get from point A to point B. That’s it.
Good thing Google exists.
I leave with enough time to stop at the diner and still get to work early. I text Shelby my order, and she is going to have a tray of pancakes ready for me to pick up. I’m aware that this may come off as sucking up to the other employees, but I look at it as an employee pick me up. When I was getting the tour, I could tell how busy everyone has been and I don’t know the last time Hayes has been able to show his appreciation. Not that he doesn’t appreciate them, just that he is so busy I don’t think he slows down for anyone other than Rosie.
I pull into the packed Roxanne’s parking lot with thirty minutes before I need to be at work. I’m hoping Shelby has everything ready so I can be in and out. Don’t get me wrong; I love Pine Creek and everyone that lives here, but I know everyone will want to stop me and ask how I am and where I’ve been and I’m not ready to get into my life just yet.
Roxanne’s has been a Pine Creek staple for generations. Shelby’s great grandpa opened the diner in hopes to woo the woman who later became his wife. When people hear the diner’s origin story, they think that the woman’s name was Roxanne, but they would be wrong. Her name was my best friend’s namesake. Roxanne was a stray dog that the man found behind the diner after he bought it. The story goes that he set a plate of chicken next to the dumpster and at the end of the day, Roxanne hopped in the truck with him and was by his side for another ten years.
A bell jingles, alerting a diner full of busy bodies to my entrance. I paste on a wide smile as I make my way to the kitchen. It probably seems rude that I’m not stopping to talk to anyone, but I know if I do it for one person, I am going to have to do it to the whole dining room. I’m so proud of my friend, she has completely transformed the diner. Where once there were booths with cracked vinyl, are now replaced with dark stained table tops and new deep green booths. The tables in the middle are now high-top seating, perfect for two people. There are trendy pendant lights hanging over each table, and the walls are decorated with vintage black and white photos of Pine Creek.
I let out a sigh of relief when I make it through the kitchen doors, finding Shelby having a stern sounding conversation with a kid that looks like he may still be asleep, about getting to work on time. I clear my throat to let her know that I’m here. I don’t feel right about interrupting, but I am on a time crunch.
“Hey, Lennon! You look nice for your first day!” I stared at my closet for a good twenty minutes before deciding what to wear today. Most of the clothes in my possession came from Shelby, but I picked out a new outfit that I bought with her the other day. I decided on a floral maxi skirt and a cream sweater. Pine Creek is still holding onto warmer weather, but I tend to get cold in air conditioning. I figured that I would be sitting up front so I should look somewhat put together.
“Thanks so much for doing this, Shelby. How much do I owe you?” With the scowl she is sending my way, that was the wrong question. “I know you did not just ask that question. Now, let’s get everything boxed up for you and your coffee. Jake here will help you get everything loaded up.”
Ten minutes later I am on my way to work. Luckily, I was able to go out the back door, so I didn’t have to worry about the dining room full of nosy people that are just waiting to hear about why I am back.
Not today, Pine Creek.
After driving for a couple minutes down Main Street, I pull into the lot of Crew’s Auto Body. I take a few minutes of deep breathing before I grab the breakfast spread Shelby sent me with and head inside. I can do this. Hayes needs my help.
Not finding anyone at the receptionist’s desk, I make my way to the break room. On my way there, I try to calm my nerves. Realistically I know that I don’t need to be this nervous. If I make a mistake, Hayes isn’t going to yell at me. Or worse.
No, I don’t know anything about cars.
No, I have barely worked since graduating college.
Yes, I may be in over my head.
I come to an abrupt stop when I reach the break room and fine it full of large and some of them intimidating looking men. One of them being Hayes. I quickly look away from his six-foot-three body, because if I don’t, there is a good possibility that I’ll start drooling. But standing next to him is a cute little red head.
“Ms. Lennon! My daddy said that you were going to be here today, but I didn’t believe him. But you are here!” Rosie rushes over to me and collides with my legs, wrapping her arms around them. She looks adorable in her pink leggings and a T-shirt with a puppy and hearts on it. Her red hair in crooked pig tails makes my smile wider somehow.
“Hi, Rosie!” I set everything on the table and kneel down in front of the small girl so I can give her my undivided attention. “I’m so happy that you are here. I brought breakfast for everyone; would you like some pancakes?” I momentarily freak out about maybe I shouldn’t have asked someone else’s kid if they wanted food. I don’t know what etiquette is, but when I look over at Hayes, he has a small smile on his face.
“Pancakes are my favorite!” After saying hi to everyone else in the room, I let them know that breakfast is for everyone and to dig in. That earns me a chorus of thank-yous before everyone starts loading up their plates.
“You didn’t have to do this, Lennon.” Hayes just got done cutting up the pancakes for Rosie and comes to stand next to me. He leaves no room, so we are standing shoulder to shoulder, close enough that I can get a faint smell that is always there when he is around. Pine and oil. Strangely, those smells calm my nervousness.
“I just wanted to do something nice for you and your employees for taking a chance on me. It means a lot, Hayes.”
Everyone finishes their food quickly, so Hayes, Rosie, and I clean up the breakroom until Tess arrives to pick up her niece. Before Rosie would leave with her aunt, she made me promise that I would come to her house soon so she could show me all her toys. I quickly agreed, I have only seen her a couple of times, but I can without a doubt say that I would give her anything she asked for.
How do parents do it?