Chapter 13
Thursday morning, Carter looked up from the 2013 Honda Accord he was working on just as Glenda approached the doorway. Smoky
scampered in and disappeared behind the row of toolboxes before she closed the door behind her.
Carter swiped his hand over his sweaty forehead and once again wished they had air-conditioning in the shop. The late-May
air was humid and heavy.
“Mrs.Deese is here and says she hears a noise in her car again,” Glenda announced.
Carter shook his head and focused on the Honda. “I’m in the middle of changing these spark plugs.”
“Can’t Dad take a look at it?” Gage came around from the side of a green Ford pickup truck. He’d been changing the CV joints.
“He ran to the pharmacy to pick up his prescription.” Glenda held up her arms. “Look, I know she’s a lot, but I need one of
you to help her.”
Gage pointed at Carter. “It’s your turn.”
“Please, no,” Carter groused. “The last time she came in, she insisted her wiper blades were off-center by one-sixteenth of
an inch. I spent thirty minutes trying to convince her they were just fine.”
“It’s because she has a crush on you, Carter.” Gage waggled his eyebrows. “She finds any excuse to bring her car in just so
she can lay eyes on you.”
“She’s at least seventy-five, Gage,” Carter retorted.
Glenda moved to stand in the middle of the shop. “Look, I need one of you to help her, okay?” She turned toward Carter. “Please.”
Pouting, Carter wiped his hands on a red shop rag and followed Glenda out to the storefront. Mrs.Deese stood in front of
the counter wearing what looked to be her Sunday best. She was a petite woman with gray hair cut in a bob and thick glasses
in purple cat-shaped frames sitting on her little nose, magnifying her golden-brown eyes. Her bright-red lipstick seemed to
clash with her purple hat and pink dress. She had been a widow for as long as Carter could remember. The older woman looked
up approvingly at him, and he shifted his weight on his feet.
“Good morning, Mrs.Deese. How can I help you?” he asked.
“Why, Carter, aren’t you a sight for sore eyes?”
He swallowed back his frown. Maybe she did have a crush on him. Oh boy. “Glenda mentioned your car is making a noise.”
“That’s true, honey. Would you please take a look at it?”
He forced his reluctant lips into a smile. “Of course, ma’am.”
“Thank you, Carter.” Glenda patted him on the back before he followed Mrs.Deese out to her blue 2018 Ford Focus.
She handed him the keys, and he started the car. Then he popped the hood and listened to the engine for several moments.
“Ma’am,” he finally said, “I don’t hear anything unusual.”
Mrs.Deese pointed to the driver’s side. “Why don’t we take it for a ride then?”
He didn’t have time for this. His eyes scanned the line of cars waiting for his and Gage’s attention. The shop had been so
busy all week that he’d come in early every day and worked late every night.
He’d been so exhausted by work that he’d shared only a few texts each day with Darcy, even though she’d been a constant thought in his mind since he’d left her house Saturday night. He couldn’t wait for the weekend when he could finally see her again.
“Yes, ma’am,” he agreed before closing the hood and climbing into the driver’s seat.
Carter steered out onto Main Street and drove toward the Barbecue Pit. He kept his eyes on the road while concentrating on
the engine, which sounded completely normal. “I don’t hear anything unusual, Mrs.Deese.”
“It’s a knocking sound.” She pointed toward the hood. “Just listen, honey. I know it will do it again.”
For the next five minutes Carter drove around town, hearing only perfectly normal engine and road noises.
“Ma’am, I’m sorry, but I don’t hear a knocking noise. It sounds just fine to me.” He steered into the parking lot of the shop.
“Why don’t you bring it back when it starts acting like there’s something wrong.”
Mrs.Deese shook her head. “I’m telling you, sweetheart, something’s wrong with my car. I’ll leave it with you and call my
sister to pick me up. You can take another look at it when you have time.” She patted Carter’s thigh.
Carter’s eyebrows shot up at the intimate touch.
She pulled her flip phone out of her humongous purse and started dialing.
Carter sucked in air, pulling all of his patience up from his toes. He was taught to respect his elders no matter what, but
he was struggling to keep his frustration in check.
“Hi, Mildred?” Mrs.Deese spoke loudly into her phone. “Can you pick me up at Barton Automotive? I’m having car trouble again.”
When he spotted Ernie crossing the parking lot, he jumped out of the car. “Ernie!” He trotted after him. “Hey, Ernie!”
Gage’s father pivoted to face him. “Carter. Good morning.”
“Mrs. Deese is back. She insists her car is making a noise, but I don’t hear anything. Can you help? Gage and I are loaded up. I need to get four tune-ups done today.”
Ernie nodded. “Sure thing, son.”
“I can help!”
Carter and Ernie turned just as Old Man Dwyer strode across the parking lot. At the age of eighty-seven, he was known for
his fedora and dungarees, along with his bushy white handlebar mustache. Wilford was a retired mechanic who enjoyed spending
his days chatting with Ernie and giving advice, even though he hadn’t worked in a mechanic’s shop for at least twenty years.
More often than not, he just got in the way.
Ernie muttered something under his breath while Carter bit back a laugh.
“Good morning, Wilford!” Ernie called. “So good to see you.”
“I figured you missed me. Last week I went to Raleigh to see my sister, but I’m back and ready to help.” He pointed to Mrs.Deese’s
car. “Would you like me to look at Rowena’s car for you?”
“Absolutely. Thank you, Mr.Dwyer.” Carter grinned at Ernie and then hotfooted it to the shop—back to the spark plugs in the
Honda.
“Hey, Carter,” Gage called as he walked over. “How did it go with Mrs.Deese?”
Carter rolled his eyes. “You know how it went. There’s nothing wrong with her car, but she’s insisting on leaving it here.
Old Man Dwyer showed up, and he says he’ll take a look at it.”
Gage snorted, then returned to the Ford pickup in his stall.
Carter pulled out his phone and glanced at it. So far he hadn’t officially planned a date with Darcy yet, though he couldn’t
wait to see her again. It felt good to get out and have some fun. And he couldn’t think of anyone he’d rather be with more
than her.
***
Later that afternoon Haven joined Darcy in her office at the bank. “I’m so surprised you got out early today and actually
felt like driving to Uptown to see me.”
“Thank goodness for an early dismissal day. Plus I didn’t have any meetings, so it worked out perfectly,” Haven said. “Now,
tell me everything about your dates with Carter.”
Darcy couldn’t stop her smile. “We went to a car show Friday night, and then he took me on a picnic at Flowering Grove Park
on Saturday.”
“A picnic?” Haven gushed. “That’s so romantic.”
“It was fun.” She smiled at the memory of the hug they’d shared, and a shudder rippled through her.
Haven crossed her legs. “I talked to Derek, and he really likes Carter. He said he’s always been such a great guy. I’m glad
you two are hitting it off.”
“I am too.” Darcy twirled a pen in her hand and considered their short text messages all week.
“Have you made plans with him for the weekend yet?”
Darcy shook her head. “Not yet. We’ve texted back and forth, but that’s it.” She rested her elbows on her desk. “Are you and
Derek still painting rooms in his house?”
Haven brightened. “We finished the bathrooms last weekend. He’s talking about changing the flooring in the laundry room, but
I don’t think it needs replacing yet.”
Darcy nodded while Haven talked on about Derek’s plans for his house. She was sure they would be engaged soon, and Haven would
begin making wedding plans. Darcy smiled, imagining her beautiful friend as a stunning bride walking down the aisle.
When Darcy’s phone suddenly pinged with a text message, she jumped and lifted it from her desk. Excitement sizzled through her when she found Carter’s name on the screen. She opened the message and found a photo of the Flowering Grove Movie Theater marquee. It read: “Totally ’80s Series— Pretty in Pink .”
Then came Carter’s message: Any chance you’re free tomorrow night?
Darcy grinned.
Haven leaned forward on Darcy’s desk. “Is it him? What’s he saying?”
“He invited me to a movie tomorrow night.” She angled the phone toward Haven so she could see the photo of the marquee. “My
favorite movie is playing in Flowering Grove.”
“Tell him yes.”
Darcy held her hand up. “Calm down. I’m going to.” She poised her thumbs over the phone: Let me check my planner.
Carter:
Darcy: Looks like I’m free.
Carter: Great. I’ll check the times and let you know when I’ll pick you up.
Darcy: Can’t wait.
Carter: Me either. Talk to you soon.
“Has he kissed you?”
Darcy met her best friend’s curious gaze. “No, but we’ve hugged twice now.”
Haven’s expression became mischievous. “Are you going to kiss him ?”
Darcy shook her head. “We agreed to take things slow. Remember, this isn’t easy for me.”
“I’m sorry, Darce.” Haven frowned. “That was really thoughtless of me. I’m just glad to see you smiling again.”
Darcy nodded. “I am too.”
***
“Do you like barbecue?” Carter asked from the driver’s seat of his Suburban Friday night.
Darcy smiled over at him while they drove toward Flowering Grove. Country music played through his speakers, and he drummed
his fingers on the steering wheel along with the beat. “Sure do,” she said.
“Have you been to the Barbecue Pit?”
“Yes, I have, and I like it.” She pushed a lock of her hair behind her ear.
“Did you know there’s a Wall of Fame in the restaurant with photos of celebrities who’ve eaten there?”
“I noticed it, but I didn’t pay much attention to it.”
“It’s mostly photos of NASCAR drivers and other athletes, but of course there’s an autographed photo of the band Kirwan since
the owners’ daughter married one of the lead singers.”
“I’ll have to check that out.”
“I thought we’d get something to eat there and then go to the movie. Sound good?”
“Absolutely,” she said. His bright smile sent her heart beating in a staccato rhythm.
“Have you heard anything from the website?”
She shook her head. “Nothing yet.” She moved her fingers down her jean shorts. “I also haven’t told my parents about it. I
figure there’s nothing to tell until I find her—if I ever do. So why get them upset?”
“I agree.” He took her hand in his. “And if and when it happens, I’ll be here for you.”
Appreciation for this wonderful man expanded in her chest. “Thank you, Carter.”
***
“You haven’t been very talkative on text this week. How’s work?” Darcy asked Carter at the Barbecue Pit. They had already
given the server their order and received their drinks.
He rubbed his clean-shaven chin. “ Crazy busy. Our parking lot is full of cars that need attention.”
“That’s good, right?” She moved her straw around in her Diet Coke.
“Yes, but it’s stressful.” He shook his head. “And we had our usuals stop by too.”
“Usuals?”
“There’s an older woman named Mrs.Deese who comes by at least twice a month insisting there’s something wrong with her car.
But there’s never anything wrong.” He explained how he’d once spent thirty minutes trying to fix her windshield wipers, but
they weren’t broken.
Darcy laughed. “That’s crazy. What was it this time?”
“She told me her engine was making a noise, but it wasn’t. She ended up leaving her car with us. Thankfully Old Man Dwyer
showed up and said he’d help. He doesn’t work at our shop, but he likes to hang around. I think he just wants something to
do since his wife passed away a few years ago.”
She frowned. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Yeah, I feel bad for him too.” Carter unwrapped a straw and dropped it into his glass of Coke. “Mr. Dwyer worked as a mechanic for a long time, but cars have really changed in the past twenty years. Anyway, he comes by and talks to Ernie all day, and sometimes he likes to help. When he offered to look at Mrs. Deese’s car, I was relieved.”
“Did he fix her car?”
Carter shook his head. “He convinced her there was nothing wrong with it, but I’m sure she’ll be back next week with another
complaint.”
“It sounds like you have a lot of interesting characters who come by your shop.”
“That’s true.” Carter took a sip of his Coke and then grinned. “One time Mrs.Deese insisted that her blinker was too slow,
and she wanted me to speed it up.”
Darcy studied him. “Is that an issue that a car can have?”
“Not exactly.” He rolled his eyes. “Gage says she has a crush on me since she often asks for my opinion.”
“Well, I can’t blame her there.” The words rushed out of Darcy’s mouth, and her cheeks began to flush.
Carter’s eyes widened. “Is that right?”
Just then the server arrived with their food—and Darcy had never been more grateful to be interrupted by a barbecue sandwich.