The Chance (Thunder Point #4)(43)

“Isn’t it strange? The way he just ambles around, picking up jobs here and there?”

“No,” Eric said. “Not in a business like mine. It’s good work. Requires skill. And if he was a problem around the shop, I wouldn’t welcome him back. All right?”

“I hope you keep an eye on things,” she advised.

He pulled her against him. “Laine, it’s my store. I keep an eye on everything, everyone. Even you.”

“Hmm,” she said, stiffening. “Well, that’s good, I guess.”

“What’s good comes next. Let’s see how fast I can do the dishes and get you into bed.”

“Okay, I’ll help with the dishes.”

“You’re on the insatiable side,” he said.

“That’s true, yet another thing I didn’t know about myself. Coming home to you is still the best part of my day even if you only barely took your last personal item out of your backup motel room.”

* * *

Al Michel’s life wasn’t as uncomplicated as he let on, though he worked hard at making it appear so. He’d had troubles just like anyone else. Like Eric, who had that old wild-youth thing to live with. It didn’t take him long to get the lay of the land. And, as he got to know some of the folks in town, it was as he expected—there were other folks who looked as though they were holding life together real well, when in fact they had their own issues. That Cooper, very nice guy, found out he had a son by an old girlfriend just a year or so ago. Gina and Mac, they’d gone through a lot before getting to a place where they could combine families and enjoy a peaceful existence—as peaceful as a house full of teenagers would allow. The young town doctor—he’d lost his wife with the birth of his second child. And Devon? Pretty, young Devon—she’d gotten herself involved in some cult. Of course as a rule folks didn’t tell a newcomer like Al their life stories—they told other people’s stories. Whether it was at the pump, in the diner, out at the beach bar, it didn’t matter. All he had to do was answer the question “Who have you met so far?” and the next tale had something to do with one of his new acquaintances.

There was a cute little real estate agent who liked to have a glass of wine at Cliffhanger’s bar. Apparently she didn’t have much of a story except that her clothes were too sexy and she was a flirt, two qualities that Al found completely desirable. Her name was Ray Anne and she made him laugh so two Friday nights in a row he financed her wine. Then while he was at work, he heard the little ping that announced a customer at the pump and he looked out the window to see her BMW. “I’ve got this one,” he told Justin.

“She must sure do a lot of driving. Isn’t that her fourth time here this week?”

“Might be,” Al said. “I’m not keeping track. Are you?”

Justin laughed and shook his head. “Yeah,” he said. “And so are you.”

He was, in fact. He enjoyed Ray Anne’s company and looked forward to every encounter.

In no time at all he could tell he was well-liked in town. Probably because he was a real friendly sort. He’d look over the menu at the diner and ask Gina, “What’s good today?” And she’d tell him exactly what to order. He was never unhappy and always left a generous tip. The same applied at the deli and again at Cooper’s place on the beach. All his change went into a big jar that he would soon begin taking to the local bank every month to have added to his new account. It was so simple and tidy.

He found there was much about Thunder Point to suit him. That ordinary little motel room worked just fine. He tended to like boarding houses. He only had to be concerned about himself and one room yet there was a sense of family, even if it was usually a haphazardly thrown together and odd family, but no attachment required. Boarding houses were almost a thing of the past and pretty hard to find. He thought the demise of the boarding house was a great loss to society.

This town, with its clinic, diner, beach bar, deli and garage, it was like a big boarding house. He got used to seeing the same people over and over and before very long they were not just cordial, but connected, making him feel like a new friend. And that was really all Al was looking for.

Al had known Manny for a long time. Manny had been with Eric for a good eight years and helped to manage a lot of the business. He was good under the hood and with restoration and body repair—he could really do it all. Al was good at engines and priceless at keeping things spotless. And Manny liked paperwork, which Al hated.

He’d been in Thunder Point and back in Eric’s shop for a few weeks when Eric said, “I’m putting Justin with you. He wants to learn a few things about engine repair and I figured when things are running a little slow at night, maybe you can show him a thing or two.”

“If that’s what you want,” Al said.

“Try to soften him up a little, will you? He’s prickly as a cactus. I don’t know if it’s because he’s seventeen or if he has other problems. I’d like the kid to have a chance.”

“What makes you think he doesn’t have a chance?” Al asked.

Eric shook his head. “He reminds me of me. Except Justin hasn’t figured out cool yet. I had too much cool for my own good. This kid, he just doesn’t add up.”

“I’ll pay attention,” Al said. “I’ll ask him if he wants me to show him a few things.” But, he thought, most of us probably don’t add up.