I swallowed my pride and fear then called my brother to ask if he needed help organizing Lexa’s funeral. He didn’t answer at first. I should have walked away then. I dialed his number again. A drunk version of Andrin answered, a version no better than a sober Andrin.
He called me a murderer and told me never to show my face in front of him again. He even fired me, I never got the chance to tell him I quit. I was also to never lay eyes on his daughter. I called Mama and told her Andrin wasn’t doing well. My brother was a dick fortunately for him he had a daughter I loved.
I bought three different newspapers on my way to Rebel Ways. I had to find a job ASAP!
‘Oh, look at this one! Good pay too.’ Rebel pointed at the newspaper.
I frowned. ‘The Society would never hire me!’
Rebel sighed. ‘Right… try your luck online Addie. Might be a couple ads there.’
I closed the last newspaper. The only other writing job I found was for the local paper. I had every intention of dropping my application. I feared they wouldn’t give it a second glance once they realized who I was. I wanted to put my faith in their professionalism, but they were the same people that ran stories about me for a whole week.
A man walked out from the door that I assumed led to the kitchen and back offices. He was a medium height man with a little pot belly and a balled head. He smiled at Penny Douglas, grabbed her hand and claimed her full attention. He certainly wasn’t Mr. Douglas.
‘Who’s that?’ I asked.
Rebel turned. Her cheeks blushed slightly, she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
‘No one, just Rodger… my business partner.’
‘Oh, I didn’t know you had a business partner.’
He said something that made Penny throw her head back and laugh. Another lady came up to them and joined their conversation.
‘Yeah… Rodger put in the money that breathed life into my business. He handles the business side and I handle the food and the counter.’
I nodded. He seemed familiar I likely had seem him somewhere.
‘How’d you meet him?’
Rebel rubbed her shoulders. ‘Why do you ask?’
‘Oh, I’m just curious. It’s really generous of him to help you run this place and all.’
‘Yeah well it’s just business. Rodger's an old friend of the family.’
I felt my cheeks burn a little. I pressed my lips together and considered Rodger off topic for now. Rebel turned back to me, she kept her head down until Rodger went back into his office.
‘So what were you and Matthias doing yesterday?’ Her face brightened and the dark cloud that hang over her head a moment ago was gone.
I glanced at the door leading to the back then at Rebel. I’d let it go for the moment.
‘He said we had to talk. He apologized for what happened three years ago. I accepted his apology, but we’ve got nothing left between us. I don’t want to be friends.’
Rebel raised her brow. A young man walked up to the counter and ordered a doughnut. Rebel took care of him before returning to me.
‘He’s sorry? So then what? He’s engaged.’
I puffed then chuckled. I totally forgot about that.
‘You won’t believe it.’ I said.
Rebel leaned in. ‘What?’
‘Matthias told me himself that he and Amber weren’t getting married.’
Rebel leaned back and her mouth made a big ‘O'
‘Why’d she lie?’
I shrugged. ‘You should have seen her when she asked me to be her maid of honor. I was convinced the wedding was right around the corner.’
Rebel shook her head. ‘Like I said she wants to be you and looks like a proposal from Matthias is all she’s missing.’
***
On my way home to get started on my application I spotted Kenny Hampton with a brown bag tucked under his arm. He stood outside his silver truck looking left and right.
‘Hey Mr. Hampton, something wrong with your car?’
Kenny turned around and smiled, his pale blue eyes gleamed at me. I couldn’t deny him a tiny smile.
‘No, Addie the car’s working fine. Well, I seemed to have locked the keys in the car.’
I had to hold my laugh in. ‘I’m sorry. I can run home and find something to unlock the car.’ If only I could go back to the shop, but Andrin would have my head.
I didn’t want to mention I’d been fired to Kenny. He shook his head.
‘Oh, don’t worry I’ve already called a mechanic to help me. I would have called Andrin, but he must be overwhelmed with the loss of his wife. I’m sorry to hear about that by the way.’ His brows burrowed.
I sighed and rubbed my foot in the dirt. Heat rushed to my face when at the thought of Lexa being killed because of me. I hid the gun Comrade had given me under the floorboard under my bed. I really hoped I would never have to use it.
‘Thanks Mr. Hampton. Yeah, Andrin's pretty upset.’
He nodded. ‘Hey, looks like my mechanic's here.’
A short man with a medium pot belly jumped out of a red truck with a black tool box. He smiled at me and shook Kenny’s hand. Carl's Mechanic’s, he was Jay’s (the owner of Uncle Jay’s beer hole) cousin. He was Daddy’s friend, maybe not close friend, rivals too since they were in the same business and equally as good as each other.
‘Thanks for keeping me company kid.’ Kenny smiled.
I nodded. ‘Pleasure Mr. Hampton.’ I turned to start down the road again. I had to get started on that application.
‘Wait Adele. I was wondering…’
I turned and crossed all my fingers Kenny wasn’t about to ask me on a date. ‘Yes… Mr. Hampton?’
‘Oh, call me Kenny, everyone else does.’
I laughed nervously. ‘Yes, Kenny?’
He chuckled. ‘You see my son’s back in town and he’s hell-bent on using his old high school truck while he’s back.’
I placed a hand on my chest and sighed. ‘Oh… Holden’s back.’ Everyone knew Kenny’s son. He was a star basketball player in high school, but he went on to become a successful businessman like his Father and Uncle.
‘Yeah… anyway the damn thing won’t start, can’t say I’m surprised. Will you come by and take a look at it? I know you work for Andrin, but I’ll pay you better than he does to get it fixed. If you got my rust bucket to work I have faith you can get Holden’s to work too.’
I chuckled. It was a paying job. I scratched my head thinking why he didn’t just ask Carl, but he trusted me. Goodness it was a paying job too. What would Andrin think when he found out, he would instantly cry betrayal that’s what.
‘I’d love to Kenny, but Andrin fired me and he has all the tools. I would have been glad—’
‘Tools ain’t a problem Addie. Come by this afternoon and you’ll have everything you need.’
Carl had the door open and handed the keys back to Kenny. Kenny placed his groceries in the car and returned to me. I had no reason to say no to him.
‘Sure then… I’ll see you this afternoon.’
Kenny’s face lit up like a Christmas tree in someone’s front yard. He shook my hand. ‘Thanks a lot.’
I sucked in a breath and continued in the direction of home. Maybe Kenny needed a private mechanic and that could be my new gig. Who else would give me a job with a murder dangling over my head? Thank the heavens for kind souls like Kenny.
***
Over excitement made me arrive a good thirty minutes early at the Hampton home. I made sure Comrade had everything he needed and made him swear not to dare pick up a tool. I should have hidden them to be sure. I had my navy blue overalls on, tamed my hair into a ponytail. I waited outside the golden bars of the Hampton mansion.
‘Do you have an appointment?’ The invisible gateman asked.
I bent and spoke into the little speaker. ‘Kenny asked me to fix a car, didn’t know I needed to make an appointment.’
A buzzing sound followed by the gate clicking open made my heart relax. I felt kind of awkward with my hands flapping, what kind of mechanic didn’t have tools? The Hampton property was a prim and proper place it even smelled fancy. Three sprinklers watered the front lawn. The two story historical family home loomed large.
‘I hope Kenny’s home,’ I said, walking to the front door.
I eyed two garage doors. This better not be an impossible job, Kenny’s car wasn’t as bad despite the fact it was over a decade old. There was a possibility Holden’s car was older. He had all the money buying a new car wouldn’t hurt anyone. I took a deep breath and knocked on the door. It was okay, I needed a job. Still open to being a private family mechanic.
The door swung open and a lady in a black and white uniform. She tilted her head at me.
‘Are you here for the Mrs?’ She asked.
‘Uh, no I’m here to fix a car. Can someone show me where it is?’
‘Lucy, who’s at the door?’
I cringed. Ada Hampton appeared on the other side. Blood rushed to my face.
‘What on earth is this scoundrel doing here? Come to rob me too now? Worse? Bash my head in like you did your in law?!’
‘No, No Mrs. Hampton I’m just fixing the car.’
How’d I forget she lived here?
‘Hm, call the police Lucy. We have a thief and murderer on our doorstep!’
‘No, please don’t. I’ll go,’ I said, tears burned the back of my head.
Ada marched back inside, her red flowy dress dragging behind her. I turned to leave, I didn’t need to be arrested by Swine again. Lucy lingered by the door unaware what to do. I heard Kenny’s booming voice in the foyer. I stopped when I should have continued walking.
‘What’s going on here?’
‘You’ll never believe the audacity of that Winchester girl! Came to kill us all, do away with the entire family.’
‘There’s got to be something wrong with you Ada. I asked her to fix Holden’s car.’ Kenny appeared outside, his face slightly blushed.
I scratched the back of my head. I was already down the set of stairs.
‘I can come back another time, Sir.’
Kenny’s face fell. He shook his head as Holden appeared behind him. He crossed his legs at the bottom, hands shoved in his pants. Ada pushed passed him and stepped in front of her husband.
‘I will not stand for this! I won’t have that monster in my house.’
Kenny rubbed his face. ‘Golden show Addie the truck.’
Holden nodded for me to follow. Ada’s face burst into flames. I scurried after Holden. He pushed back his honey blond hair.
‘So, you’re the magician Dad’s can’t stop talking about.’
‘I don’t know about magician.’ I rubbed the side of my ear.
‘Can’t wait to see the disappointment on his face when you can’t get it stutter.’
My mouth fell open, ‘What makes you think I can’t?’
‘Carl couldn’t and he’s the best mechanic in town.’
‘I’m not Carl.’ I frowned. ‘Just open up and let me work.’
He smirked and pulled a tiny remote from his pocket. The first garage door rattled open.
‘Geez, was it your Grandfather’s truck?’
No wonder no one could get it to start. It was as dead as the next truck in a junkyard. The body was dented and scarred. I bit the inside of my cheek. Rust bucket was a compliment. The back tires were slumped. Geez, could I do it?
‘Was that for doubting your skills?’ Holden leaned against the wall.
‘It’s a genuine question. How many times did you crash it?’
He grinned, ‘A couple times. Give up?’
I narrowed my eyes and yanked on the door handle. I frowned and yanked again.
‘The damn this won’t even open.’
Holden tossed me a set of keys. Right those.
The orange sun seeped in the garage. I wiped the sweat off my brow. I found remains of a birds next under the hood. I’d inhaled enough dust to grant me a cough tomorrow. After tightening a few things, loosening a few and taking note of what needed to be replaced I closed the hood. This thing was a pocket breaker.
‘Feeling confident?’ Holden strolled in.
‘Would you?’
He chuckled. ‘Not at all.’
I got behind the wheel, my heart slamming against my chest I put my hand on the key in the ignition. ‘Please breathe,’ I whispered.
I looked at Holden who looked just as nervous as me. I shut my eyes and turned the keys. The car stuttered, I shut it off and turned it back on. It resisted but it sputtered to life in the end. I jumped out of the car and placed an bridge between us.
‘You… did it.’ Holden chuckled. ‘I can’t believe you fixed it.’ He laughed.
I held my head in my hands. It wouldn’t last. Kenny came jogging in. He looked between the car and me. He clapped his hands and grabbed his son to his chest.
‘I told you she’d get it to work!’ Kenny barked a laugh.
Holden nodded, ‘she did, didn’t she?’
I exhaled. The rust bucket breathed. I turned off the engine, but kept the keys.
‘You can’t drive this thing Holden it’s not safe.’ I said.
‘I’m not going to drive it now. Obviously it needs new parts.’
‘Yes, a lot of new parts. You need a new battery obviously, a new engine. Wheels, breaks, a body too. It’ll cost a fortune.’
Kenny looked at his son. His hand landed on his shoulder.
‘Son, I know it means a lot to you, but maybe we should just clean it up and keep it parked.’
Holden ran a hand through his hair, ‘It’s kicking Dad, that’s got to count for something.’
‘Think about it Holden. It’s not worth…’ Kenny cleared his throat. I felt like the elephant in the room. I looked at the red piece of metal. It carried something deeper with it.
‘Well, you can come by and get your check tomorrow kid. Your old man would be proud. Heck, he’d be real proud.’ Kenny said, it sent emotions bubbling in my bones. I felt his pride from where here he was.
Kenny left and I cleaned up the tools I messed up. I wouldn’t mind doing it for a living, but I wanted to write too at least for a little while.
‘Hey, need a ride home?’ Holden asked.
‘Does it look like I want to die?’
He laughed, ‘I have another car Adele.’
‘Then why’d you— I guess yes it is pretty late.’
Cars carried ghosts as much as memories and the red truck carried a few. I felt it when I left the garage.