She didn’t know where to start.
Nora could meet for lunch, but until then, Emma wasn’t sure where to go. Driving around, she coasted through the streets, making a note of the various places that were hiring.
A lot of fast-food joints were looking for new employees. The factory that made bubble gum was looking for line workers. A daycare was hiring. None of those options inspired her. If she was going to take a minimum wage job that she was guaranteed to hate, she might as well take the part-time sales associate position Liam had offered her. At least she’d get to work with a friend.
When she ended up at the local college, she figured it was worth a try. She talked to a receptionist in the main office, who redirected her to the recruitment office.
Heather was the name of the lady who weighted her down with catalogs. She also had a lot of valuable information, some of which was a repeat of things Nora had told her, but a lot of it was new. The apprenticeship program sounded appealing. She could earn credits toward a certification in any number of trades while working and earning money, which was perfect because she was nearly broke with six hundred fifty-two dollars and thirteen cents in the bank.
The hard part would be finding someone to hire her. The military offered multiple programs to help ex-soldiers find civilian jobs, but Emma had been stubborn and didn’t want to linger looking for a job she wasn’t ready to have. She’d wanted out as fast as possible. If she failed today, she’d go back and take advantage of the programs available to her.
This time, when they met for lunch, Nora managed to keep her soup down. Anxious to find a job, Emma wolfed down a meatball sub. She’d managed to drum up some excitement over the idea of an apprenticeship. And she knew just what trade she wanted to work in.
When Nora prompted Emma to return to the employment office, Emma was hesitant at first. She wanted to get back onto the road and find an employer, but Nora explained she could print off a list of all the garages in the area that were looking for temps.
That afternoon, she felt prepared when she drove to the first place on the list. She’d explained her situation to the manager. Immediately, she knew she didn’t want to work for him. He was too slick. It wouldn’t come as a surprise to her if he regularly ripped off his customers. She didn’t want to work for a man she couldn’t trust. If that wasn’t bad enough, he kept looking at her as though sleeping with him would be a requirement of the job. She could forget about respect.
She crossed that garage off her list.
Three o’clock approached, and she’d crossed off four more places on the list. Her hopes dashed, she pulled into a small brake, tire, and muffler shop—the last garage on Nora’s list.
If this didn’t work out, she’d have to return to Ed as unemployed as when she’d left that morning, and as stupid as it was, she didn’t want to break her promise. She didn’t want to disappoint him.
With the temperature near twenty-six degrees Celsius, unseasonably warm for September, the shop’s door was propped open. Walking inside, she was welcomed by the scent of rubber and diesel. She took a deep breath, drawing comfort from the familiar odors.
Two men occupied the waiting room, both seated. One played on his phone, and the other read a fishing magazine. Bypassing the stacks of tires and rims on display, Emma headed straight for the service counter.
The lady behind the desk didn’t glance up from her paperwork. Emma waited thirty seconds. It became clear the woman had no intention of starting a dialogue. After rolling her eyes, Emma rested her arm on the glass counter and began drumming her fingers.
Rapidly growing annoyed, the lady finally looked up. Emma was greeted by a not-so-friendly face, severely weathered by what was probably a combination of cigarettes and alcohol. The woman still didn’t speak. Instead, she glared at Emma’s still drumming fingers. At least she had her attention.
Not fazed in the least, Emma spoke her mind, “I’d like to speak to the owner.”
The lady’s eyes narrowed in response. Emma refused to back down, and after a moment, the woman slipped from her stool and left the customer area, heading for the shop. When the door closed, Emma heard the woman’s splintered shout, “Gary!”
It took a good five minutes before anyone came or went through the door, but finally, a gruff-looking older man shoved open the door. His gaze fell on Emma. He looked her over from head to toe, mumbled, “Be with you in a minute,” then hollered into the waiting room.
Both men glanced up. The one with the magazine returned it to the chaotic stack on the table and headed for the counter.
The man, who Emma assumed was Gary, went over what the shop had done to the client’s car. The customer asked a few questions and paid his bill. Throughout their interaction, Gary kept sneaking glances at Emma.
As the customer punched in his credit card information, Gary turned that curt stare on her once more.
“What’s wrong with your car? Here to drop it off?” He glanced at a piece of paper next to the computer, his finger following his gaze as he skimmed a list. “Got an appointment?”
“No. No appointment. No car trouble.”
“What are you here for then?”
The customer turned the machine back to Gary. A white piece of paper covered in black ink surged from the payment terminal.
“A job,” Emma blurted out.
Again, the owner turned that stern stare on her before stapling the receipt to the shop’s invoice and handing it to the customer.
The customer took the invoice and his keys. “Thanks, Gary.”
Gary grunted, and Emma assumed the customer took that to mean, “You’re welcome.”
Emma assumed it was the best that anyone got from the old man. She expected his praise was hard to come by. It wouldn’t surprise her if accomplishing a difficult task was rewarded by a mere head nod.
Emma felt a flicker of hope.
The customer walked out of the shop, leaving Emma alone with the owner and the guy in the waiting room who was too absorbed in his digital world to notice much else.
They stared each other down, each examining the other.
The tan lines around his eyes and his weathered, taut skin suggested he liked spending time in the sun. His mouth was outlined by a well-trimmed, gray goatee, which nearly hid the cold sore in the crook of his lips. Long hair flowed past his shoulders, much of which retained its dark color, but the roots at his scalp revealed his age. His collared shirt was open at the neck, displaying a thin gold chain, at the bottom of which dangled a small cross.
As his gaze roamed over her, she wondered if she should have taken Nora’s advice and dressed to impress. She’d worn leggings and one of the few shirts she owned that didn’t have some type of logo or writing scribbled across the chest. Her attire might not scream I’m a professional but at least she’d covered her tattoos as Nora had advised. However, looking at the colorful lines that decorated Gary’s thick forearms, she probably didn’t need to worry about them. Regardless, he didn’t seem all that impressed with her. Unwilling to cave, she steadied herself against his scrutiny.
“I’ve already got a receptionist.”
Emma looked to the door the lady had exited through. “How’s that working out for you?”
“Marlene is just filling in. We’re short-staffed, and Trevor is out sick today.”
“Trevor?”
“The kid I hired to work the front desk. This is the first day he’s missed since I hired him after he graduated high school. My wife is just filling in for the day.”
Her eyes widened. “That was your wife?”
“Is that a problem?” Gary grumbled.
“Sorry, man.” Her tone suggested she’d meant it as sympathetic support for Gary, not as an apology for her interaction with the wife. Emma knew she was on the right track when Gary’s lip trembled, the corner flashing upward for a millisecond. “I’m not interested in working a desk. I want to work in the back.”
Gary’s laugh was a bark.
She’d expected that response.
When Emma refused to back down, Gary said, “I don’t hire high school students.”
“That’s not a problem. I’m twenty-two.”
“The fuck you are.”
Emma didn’t flinch at his rough language. She grinned instead. “The fuck I am.”
Gary’s eyes narrowed. “You ain’t even old enough to vote, much less drive. I can’t have you working on cars.”
“Do I need to show you my license?”
“A fake ID ain’t gonna do you no good.”
“Do you object to me because of my youth or my gender?”
He leaned his muscular forearms on the counter. “Neither. I have a problem hiring someone who won’t be able to pull their own weight. How big are you, girl? Five-three? Five-four?”
“Five-two, actually.”
“And probably a hundred pounds soaking wet.” He wasn’t far off with that guess.
She was willing to admit she was a tiny thing, as her mom often said, but she could be a powerhouse when the occasion called for it. Uncle Cain would have accepted nothing less. She had been brought up to be capable. To be a survivor.
“I can’t constantly stop what I’m doing to save you from a broken nail or to help you jack up a car.”
Emma wanted to gag at his stupid stereotypes. Even though he hadn’t asked, she decided to give him a rundown of her resume, and hopefully, that would open his mind a smidgen. “Look, I’ve been hunting and fishing with my uncle since I could hold a pole or a gun. He’s had me fixing everything under the sun, from cars to ATVs to snowmobiles. I did my first oil change on my mom’s car when I was ten. Stranded on the side of the road, I changed a flat tire on my car at seventeen. Not a lot of women know how to do that. If it’s got a motor, I can drive it.”
“Standard?”
“What is this, pre-school?” Emma scoffed. “I’m not big into reading, and I wasn’t good at school, and yeah, it’s taken me a long time to figure out what I want to do. I love cars and enjoy working on them, so this is it. I’m applying for an apprenticeship, and I want it to be for mechanics.”
His tongue flicked to the corner of his lips, drawing attention to the cold sore he had there. Perching on the empty stool, he crossed his arms over his chest and asked, “Preferred weapon?”
“I like a Ruger American. Great aim, good price. That’s for deer, though. In Afghanistan, I preferred the C8A3 Carbine Rifle.”
Gary came out of his seat. “Afghanistan?”
Emma didn’t bat an eye. “My contract’s been up for several months. I was just released about four months ago.” She let him chew that over for a bit before again trying to sell him on hiring her. “My friend gave me a list of hiring garages or, at least ones looking for temps. I’ve come up empty so far. I’m just looking for someone to give me a shot.”
She laid a piece of printer paper on the desk. She’d crossed out all the ones but Gary’s shop. He took the sheet and looked it over.
“I promise I’m a hard worker. I’m not book-smart, but I’m good with my hands. I’ll always be on time. I can—”
“Why’d you write, no way in hell beside Johnny’s Auto Repair?”
“Because he’s a sexist asshole just looking to get laid, and I think he rips off his customers. And I’d never work for him in a million, trillion years.”
Gary’s lip twitched again. Turning to the computer, he studied the screen and clicked on something.
His wife, Marlene, came back in from the garage, this time with a large fluffy dog following her. She veered left toward the unisex bathroom. The dog gave a deep woof and ran to Emma.
She braced for impact, and still, the big dog nearly bowled her over. Not a good thing when she was arguing that her size didn’t matter. Bending, she accommodated the dog, giving his face a rub.
“Frankie! Down!” Gary yelled.
The dog, tail still wagging, obediently sat on its haunches. His brown-eyed gaze was pointed in her direction, seeking attention.
“He’s yours?” Emma asked, surprised that he’d bring a pet to work.
“Yep. Frank goes everywhere with me. Name?”
“What?”
Gary’s tongue licked over that cold sore again. “Your name, girl.”
“Oh. Emma.”
He typed something into the computer, then flipped a few pages on the book that sat open on the desk. He scribbled down her name and a time. “I have four guys that work out back, plus Trevor, my nephew, who works the front end. With the seasons changing, everyone will want their tires switched over, so I’m looking to hire at least two new guys. It’ll be temporary to start. After that, we’ll see.”
Hopeful, Emma nodded. “Okay.”
“Come back on Friday around eleven. I’ll interview you then.”
“Sounds great.”
Gary whistled, and the dog ran around the counter. Absently, he patted the animal’s head. “Wear something you can work in. I might put you to the test. See what this five-foot-two little girl can do.”
Emma couldn’t contain her grin. “I’ll be ready.”
“Devon!” The guy on the sofa looked up when Gary called him. “Your car should be ready in about ten minutes.” Obviously done with their conversation, Gary returned to the shop without as much as a goodbye.
Emma waited until she was in the driver’s seat of her car before she celebrated. Gary wasn’t the friendliest of fellows; he doubted her physical strength and ability to do the job, but he’d been open-minded enough to give her a try.
She started up the truck.
Big changes were taking place. If everything went well on Friday, she’d have a job. She’d apply for the apprenticeship and start working toward a career.
The only issue now was Ed. She didn’t know what was happening between them. She wasn’t even sure if he wanted her to come by the house tonight. She’d stayed over again last night, but this morning, over breakfast, neither of them had mentioned their expectations for tonight.
She should return to her apartment and wait for his call—if it ever came.
But when had she ever done what she should do?
He’d want to know how her job hunt went. After taking off Monday as part of the bargain, he’d want to know whether she’d been successful today or not. He was invested now.
She pulled into traffic and headed across town to her apartment. She would pack a bag of clothing before heading over to Ed’s. If he wanted her to leave, she’d respect his wishes, but in case he didn’t, she wanted to be prepared with a few of her possessions. She’d already left a toothbrush and some essential personal hygiene products, but it wouldn’t hurt to have some spare undies. Maybe she’d pack the condoms from her nightstand, too.
Construction sent her on a detour. Traffic slowed immensely as it neared the time most schools were letting out. While stopped for a school bus, she was momentarily distracted by the sight of balloons outside an old house. The old building had been converted into an animal shelter, where a group of people assembled.
Still riding her high from her meeting with Gary, Emma pulled into the animal shelter’s parking lot. Apparently, the local high school was hosting a BBQ fundraiser to help raise money for the shelter. Emma was drawn into the excitement of the small crowd.
Curiosity got the better of her, prompting her to peek inside the building. The shelter had recently acquired a litter of Chihuahua puppies, but they weren’t what grabbed her attention.
The German shepherd did.
He jumped at the cage when she walked by. Stopping, she watched as he pawed at the floor, trying to get out. She crouched down and talked gently to him through the cage.
Golden fur was enhanced by the black on his back, tail, and muzzle. The dog stopped digging. Looking at her, he cocked his head to the side. Emma pursed her lips to keep from laughing at the size of his enormous ears. He whined and licked his snout.
Emma tipped her head the opposite way, and the dog followed suit. This time, she did giggle.
“That’s Rufus,” a male voice said from behind her. Glancing up, Emma took in the cute young man that worked at the shelter. “He’s been here a couple of weeks now.”
Emma plunked her butt on the ground. “I guess a lot of people want puppies instead of full-grown dogs.”
“Well, he’s still very much a puppy. He’s only seven months old, but he’s a big fellow. He’s got tons of energy and is very excitable. But trainable. It’s a good breed. Are you looking for a dog?”
“No, my apartment doesn’t allow pets.” Behind her, the dog pawed the ground near where she was seated. His whine drew her attention, and this time, he barked. “Is he friendly?”
The employee smiled. “Do you want me to take him out? Have a little visit?”
Emma brightened. “That’d be great.”
It turned out he was friendly and energetic. Most of the time, he did as instructed, but he loved attention more than being praised for good behavior. He was adorable.
The only problem was that her apartment didn’t allow pets.