Chapter 43
Sid wheeled the grill out of the garage and started it up. As it warmed, he helped Grace with the folding tables.
”What do you think we should do with the tables, line them up?” he asked.
Grace shook her head. ”I think we set them up in the driveway and parking area so it looks full, but is still easy to navigate. We can do them in rows of three with space between.”
”Great idea.”
He set the tables up, Grace put plastic tablecloths on each table.
He began lining up the hamburgers on the grill and the smell began filtering out, filling the air with the most delicious aroma. His stomach growled, despite having just eaten breakfast.
Quinn pulled up and parked on the street. ”Put me to work,” he called out.
Sid laughed. ”You can either take over here at the grill or help Grace set up the tables.”
Quinn shrugged. ”Since you”ve got that smelling fantastic, I”ll set up tables for Grace.” He set up a few tables, ”What”s with the sign?”
Sid glanced up at the sign placed high on the garage, with a cover over it. ”It”s Grace”s grand opening present to me.”
”Have you seen it?”
”Nope. She refused to show me and said she wanted it to be a surprise. And, before you ask, no I didn”t snoop. I wanted it to be a surprise too.”
Jace came next, ”What can I do?”
”How about hauling the box of buns sitting on the checkout counter out for Grace? She”s setting up the food table.” He nodded toward Grace, who happily set out paper plates, plastic forks, napkins, miniature bags of chips, and more. He”d asked that this be a simple, down-home-type event, to celebrate his purchase of the Garage, and let the town know he was the new owner. But, in truth, very little would change here at the Garage.
People began to filter into the garage, Quinn”s workers all came for lunch. They worked Saturdays when they had jobs to do, but Quinn told them to come on over and grab a bite to eat.
Sid shook more hands than he ever had. Between today and the petition signing party last week, he felt he must have met everyone who lived here. Grace was also hostessing, making sure everyone had a water because it was incredibly hot outside.
All in all, his little grand opening seemed to be a success. Grace made her way to him. He stopped and watched her draw near. The smile on her face was one he always wanted to see. She was radiant.
She stopped before him. ”Want to see your new sign?”
”I do.”
She inhaled deeply. ”Sid. I had a logo designed. I want you to know if you don”t like it, we can redo it. I went with my gut on this. It doesn”t look like your typical garage logo. But, it truly speaks to your vision of Miracle Garage. At least I think so.”
She turned him around so he faced the garage and more importantly, the sign above it.
Grace nodded to Quinn”s workers, who each held a rope in their hands to tug the cover off the sign. They each tugged and the cloth covering the sign floated down to the ground around them.
He stood staring at a purple and teal sign with starbursts around it. Two wrenches crossed the starbursts and the outline of a heart stood in the center. Miracle Garage was in white letters. He stood staring at it. It was official.
Grace stood silently beside him. He put his arm around her shoulders. They stared at it together, people behind them clapped their hands. ”It”s beautiful, Grace.”
She turned in his arms and wrapped her arms around his waist. ”Do you mean it?”
”I do. It”s not at all what I envisioned, but I love it. It”s perfect. It”s us. Don”t you think?”
”Yes, I do think so. And your tongue-in-cheek marketing.”
Someone behind them called out, ”Speech. Speech.”
He chuckled and turned to face his guests. ”Thank you all for coming. All I”ll say is that if you see something awesome coming from this garage, it”s a miracle.”
His guests laughed and clapped. Happiness rolled over him in waves.
Then, the sound of motorcycles filled the air and his stomach twisted. Ten bikes rolled to a stop on the street and the bikers slowly sauntered toward the garage. He whispered to Grace. ”Get your phone ready, just in case.”
”Okay.”
He moved through the crowd toward the bikers, hoping to stop them before they entered his property.
The leader of the group looked into his eyes and grinned.
”Looks like it”s official.”
Sid only nodded.
”We”re here to celebrate this new endeavor in your life.”
Sid shook his head. ”Nope. You”re not allowed.”
”Why not. Your sign over there...” He pointed to a handmade sign out front. ”Public welcome.”
”Except for you. Your shenanigans here in town make you not welcome.”
He barked out a laugh. ”Shenanigans?”
”You know what I mean.”
”No, I don”t.” He turned and nodded to his biker friends and they all walked onto the property and began tipping tables over. People scrambled and food was tossed on the ground. One of the bikers pulled out a gun and fired it in the air. The townspeople screamed and scrambled for cover. Not Sid. He was truly enraged and sick of these assholes creating this fear and havoc. He stepped closer to the leader of the gang and looked him in the eye. ”Get the fuck off my property.”
The man simply laughed at him. ”I”m not going anywhere. I heard your woman over there got the city council to make things tough for us. But, guess what, we ain”t going anywhere.”
Sirens sounded and Sid”s lips spread into a smile. ”We”ll see.”
Two squad cars pulled to a stop and the two officers got out of their squads and began arresting the bikers. Quinn and Jace helped officers handcuff the bikers, each forcing the bikers to the ground on their knees until officers could read them their rights and get them transported. More sirens sounded as police from the neighboring town of Brookstown pulled to a stop.
Sid turned to find Grace, but what caught his attention was one of Quinn”s guys sitting on the ground, shaking, the blank stare in his eyes. He was having a PTSD attack. Sid called Chiefy over to him. He petted her coat and whispered to her to calm her down. ”I need your help, girl.” He crooned.
Sid and Chiefy slowly approached the man on the ground. Sid sat next to him and Chiefy did what she did. She laid across his legs, hoping her weight would make him better.
After a few moments, Sid spoke evenly and softly to the young man. ”Chiefy here has helped me through a few episodes like you”re having now. She”s very good at it. And, frankly a source of pride to her.”
The man swallowed and sniffed. ”I”m weak.”
”No, you aren”t. You”ve been through trauma and have seen things many don”t have to see. You”ve served your country honorably and sadly, that takes a toll many will never understand. But I do. And Chiefy here does too.”
Slowly the man lifted his hand and started slowly petting Chiefy. Sid sat quietly, making sure Chiefy was safe and the man was beginning to come through his PTSD attack.
Sid swallowed and glanced up to see Grace standing a few yards away watching them. She nodded and smiled at him and he nodded in return. The chaos around them had begun to subside. The police were hauling the bikers away and the area was cleared to ensure no one was injured. A couple people had tripped running away, one woman had a scraped elbow. But generally, other than being scared, folks were fine.
As the young man shook off his attack, Sid held his hand out to him. ”Sid Hoffman.”
The man smiled and shook his hand. ”Hayes Brooks.”
Sid made sure Hayes was good before he released Chiefy from her work. He petted her and gave her a couple of snacks. ”You”re the best girl, Chiefy. I sure do love you,” he praised.
Grace neared and chuckled. ”I”m getting jealous.”
Sid laughed. ”I can”t help it, she”s just that good.”
Grace stared into his eyes. ”That was a great thing you just did, Sid.”
He swallowed. ”Thanks. He needed my help. And Chiefy”s.”
She smiled sweetly. ”And did you also notice you didn”t need Chiefy”s help?”
He stared into her blue eyes. They were clear and beautiful, his new favorite color. ”I guess I didn”t notice it at the time but now that you mention it, I do.”
”I”m proud of you, Sid.”
He fished in his pocket for the most precious chunk of gold and diamond he”d ever carried. He got down on one knee and held it out to Grace. ”Grace. Will you do me the honor of marrying me?”
He saw a tear slide down her cheek. Her tongue swept out and licked her lips and she swallowed. ”Yes. I”d be honored to be your wife.”
The few remaining people clapped their hands as he slipped the ring on her finger, then stood to kiss her lips and make it official.
His friends, Quinn and Jace congratulated them. Chiefy jumped around like she understood what was happening.
He looked at Grace. ”I”m only going to hire veterans here at the Garage when I need to. I can help others too. It”s something I never dreamed I”d be able to do, but you”ve loved me so much, you”ve healed me.”
She chuckled and took a deep breath. ”I do love you. But, honey, it was you who healed yourself. I”ve only been honored to witness it.”
”We”re going to need to set a wedding date. I say next month.”
She laughed. ”I can”t think of a better month to marry.”
He turned his head to Quinn and Jace. ”You guys hear that. We”re getting married next month.”
Quinn laughed. ”We heard. We”ll spread the word you”re off the market.”
Jace chuckled. ”Let me offer you this engagement gift. Officer Moody told me they weren”t letting the bikers out of jail until they each paid a five thousand dollar fine. Since a firearm was discharged, it escalated the fines. Afterwards, the police are going to highly recommend they leave town.”
Sid squeezed Grace. ”That”s a great engagement gift.”
Quinn slapped Sid on the back and leaned over and hugged Grace. “Thank you for loving my friend.”
Grace smiled. “I thank you for all the years you’ve had his six.”
Quinn grinned. “Always.”
Sid glanced over and saw Coop sitting at a table. He tugged Grace’s hand and pulled her over to him.
“Are you alright, Coop?” He asked.
His old wrinkled eyes looked between him and Grace. “Yep. I’m proud of you Sid. You stood up to those bikers and you’re finally making this woman your wife.”
“Yep. That’s the best part of today.”
Coop nodded. His old blue eyes looked at Grace, a crooked grin lifted one side of his lips. Coop nodded at Grace. “You’re a great partner for Sid. You two will do well together.”
Grace smiled at Coop. “Thank you. I think he’s a great partner for me.”
Coop shrugged. “It doesn’t make a difference. What matters is you always work together like you’ve done with these bastards here today.”
Grace looked into his eyes. “I will. I promise.”
Sid kissed her forehead. “I promise as well.”
Grace wrapped her arm around his waist. “Why don’t we get married here in the parking lot of Miracle Garage?”
“What?” He pulled his head back and looked into her eyes. “Why?”
Grace chuckled. “It’s where we met. You were sitting right there.” She pointed to the Knucklehead.
“But, I wasn’t exactly at my best.”
“You were real.”
He swallowed the hot lump that formed in his throat and took a deep breath. He didn’t think he could say anything so he stared into her eyes and nodded.