Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 49348 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 247(@200wpm)___ 197(@250wpm)___ 164(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49348 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 247(@200wpm)___ 197(@250wpm)___ 164(@300wpm)
“You got a young filly that has your heart pitter-pattering?” I ask, shaking my head as I climb into the truck, throwing my phone in the cup holder once I hit the speaker button. The tow truck is older and doesn’t have Bluetooth. A pain in my ass with all the time I’ve been on the road lately.
“As a matter of fact, I do. For you.” Luckily, I hooked the car up, strapped it down, and am ready to put my truck in Drive while rolling my damn eyes.
“Not this again, Gramps.” He’s been on a tangent ever since a new girl landed in town and he took her under his wing. At first, I was worried. A quick call to Travis, then to Sheriff Sanders, and everything was put to bed. Denny and Nikki wouldn’t have hired the woman if she were shit. And seeing as how she sat on the front porch the first time she spent a few hours with my Gramps, it eased the tension in my gut.
“Oh, this again. Get your ass home boyo. Someone else is going to snap Carsynn up, and then you’ll have to fight to get her back.” He’s been telling me this since two days after I left, not about Carsynn. That didn’t come up until recently, but he’s been annoying about describing her, telling me every detail about her. Going so far as to say how she reminded him of his wife, my grandma when they were young and in love.
“I’ll be home tomorrow night. Does Carsynn know you’re trying to hook her up with your grandson, old man?” I ask him, starting my commute. Our conversation can last as little as a few minutes to a few hours. It doesn’t matter what he talks about. It could be about the Farmer’s Almanac and their prediction, and I’d still give him the time of day and day of the week. The man gave a lot his whole life. Bernie and his wife, Grandma Winnie, married young. She was from Canada and immigrated via a work visa. Once they were happily in love, they were married and had one child, my mother, Naomi. I shake my head, really not wanting to go down memory lane, not when the anniversary of her death is right around the corner.
“About damn time. Now tell me. Did you make enough to keep your ass home for a good long while? It’s about time you quit taking these jobs here and there. Surely, you’ve got enough money in the bank now to do what you want and not have to take another job for three weeks next year?” He’s asking a pile of questions he already knows the answers to. When I left this round, I told him it would be the last time. I’d take the equity out of the shop if need be. The place is paid off, and I could have taken a loan from the bank, except I’ve got a penchant for being a tight ass when it comes to money. I can’t imagine where I got that from. Thank you, Bernie McCoy.
“Yep, I’m too damn tired for this shit. I’m not getting any younger. The shop will be in good working order after this check, and we’re staying steadier now that the other place closed down six months ago.”
“You bet your ass they closed down, because they were shady little shits,” he grunts out his response. He’s not wrong. We were getting all of their fuckups, and I had to charge half price because my conscience couldn’t handle new clients losing their ass even more.
“Alright, Gramps. I’m going to drop this car off and move on to the next. You need me, you know how to get ahold of me.” I’d stay on the phone longer, except I’m going to have to do some paperwork and figure out where the next vehicle is located. Seeing as how half the damn town was an eight-foot-deep river, it’s anyone’s guess if the car is in a ditch, on top of another car, or sitting in a tree.
“That’s fine. I’ve got to get ready myself. Carsynn is coming over this afternoon, and I’m going to make my famous potato soup. The girl doesn’t eat nearly enough and works herself to the bone. Did I mention she reminds me of my Winnie?” Only about a million times. I bite my tongue and hum my response.
“Save me some of your soup with a healthy dose of bacon. I sure do miss real food.” Eating fast food or hotel continental breakfast has me ready to crawl out of my skin.
“You got it. Love you, boyo. Be safe.” One thing Gramps has never been shy about is telling anyone he cares about exactly how he feels.
“Thanks, Gramps, love you, too. Talk later.” I wait for his response. Ain’t no way I’ll hang up first without him saying goodbye. I did that once when I was younger and got a damn earful. Never again.