5. Charlotte #3
Interested? Definitely. Terrified? Even more so.
An idea bloomed. Maybe if she had a reason to see Henry, rejection wouldn’t be as scary.
Or likely. “You said he’s a mechanic? I have been having issues with my car starting in the morning,” Charlotte admitted, dreading what could be wrong with her ‘69 Tempest, a classic car originally owned by her father.
Jacob Sherk had carefully maintained it after purchasing it brand new, leaving it in pristine condition for her after he died.
The tangible link to her father meant the world to her, and the vehicle was so precious to her that she only drove it around town; she used a Jeep as her general workhorse.
“Perfect! This is better than I could have planned. Take your car over to his garage. It’s on Main Street, right across from the coffee shop, and ask for Henry.”
Charlotte admitted, “I know where it is. The first time I was in Beverley, I saw him sitting on the bench outside the shop, reading a book.”
“Really? Henry the workaholic? He barely gives himself a day off.” As if Charlotte needed one more reason to be intrigued by him, Trixie sweetened the pot with, “You know, he built that bench with his own two hands.”
Biting her lip, she imagined what else he could be good at with his hands and fanned herself with her napkin. Not wanting to appear too eager, she said, “I guess I could swing by there after school tomorrow...”
“Excellent! Listen, Lottie, Henry is worth it, I promise. He’s been single a long time. Many women have been interested; I just think he’s been waiting for the right person to appreciate all he has to offer.”
Quietly, she told Trixie, “I admit that I find him attractive; I just don’t know how ready I am for anything.”
“I know your divorce is recent and meeting someone might be overwhelming, but just keep an open mind, okay? I’ve gotta go, but let me know how it goes. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
Sissy refilled her coffee. “Did I hear you mention you were having car trouble?” Charlotte confirmed with a nod, pushing her glasses up her nose.
“You should take it to Henry at Check Care Auto. He’s really nice.
” She blew a bubble with her gum. “Once he changed my tire for free, when he found me by the side of the road coming home from band practice. My mom has, like, a huge crush on him.”
She couldn’t keep the latest development to herself. “Amy, you will never believe what I just found out.”
“God, I can’t even begin to imagine. Ooh, I know! Mr. Gorgeous from the auto shop is your next-door neighbor, but you only just found out because he’s been away for the past three months on some secret mission.”
Charlotte burst out laughing. “Close. Kind of. Peripherally.”
“Well, don’t keep me in suspense.”
“Mr. Gorgeous, as you call him—”
Amy squealed. “Ooh, I knew it had to do with him. And don’t pretend like you don’t agree he’s gorgeous, Lottie. That man is fine!”
“More importantly,” Charlotte signaled Sissy for her check, “I just got off the phone with Trixie. Turns out that he is her brother!”
“What! Why has she been holding out on this information for so long? Like, hello, you have a beautiful new friend who’s recently divorced and a hot brother—why wasn’t she trying to set you two up this entire time? Oh, no, is he married? Tell me he’s not married, Lottie. I’ll be crushed.”
“He’s not married,” she assured Amy. “He’s divorced, too, and I guess Trixie was waiting for the right time to bring it up. Some people aren’t as pushy as others, you know.”
“That sounds like a personal problem, if you ask me, and I hate to say that because I like Trixie,” Amy giggled. “So, what else did she say?”
“Well, he also happens to own the auto shop.”
“No! Did I not suggest that possibility?” She had, more than once. Charlotte had to give Amy credit. “So when are you taking your car in? This is so perfect because you have been having those issues with the Tempest!”
Some of the elation wore off and doubt crept in again. “I don’t know…is this desperate? Popping in with my car? It seems kind of…cheesy.”
“You’re overthinking it, Lottie. Do you want to meet him or not?
” Her best friend paused. “It’s not easy, at any age, taking a chance on someone, but if you want a relationship or even just a date, take the opportunity.
Go and talk to him. If he’s a jerk or uninterested, you call it a day and move on. ”
Every nerve ending in her body tingled as she stepped out of her car at Henry’s shop the next day.
Crisp autumn air tickled her nose, and she caught a leaf drifting on the wind in her hands.
Cautiously stepping inside an open garage bay, she called out softly, “Hello?” No one answered, and she worried the shop was closed, despite the open door.
As an Eagles song serenaded her, Charlotte rounded the front end of an aging maroon Chevy truck. “Hello? Is anyone here?”
“Can I help you?” The deep timbre of his voice shook her, tantalizing in a uniquely masculine way. Ready or not, the time had come for her to meet Henry.