5
It was weird to look out her living room window and see Marty in the driveway. He was under the hood of Mom’s car, and Emma made a point of walking away from the window before he found her watching. Especially when all she could currently see was the bottom of his shirt and his pants. She could only imagine what kind of comment he’d make about her checking him out. Which she totally wasn’t doing.
Mom had been busy in the kitchen making a pitcher of lemonade. She insisted on offering a glass to Marty when he first came inside. Now she was standing next to Emma. “It was nice of him to come take a look at it.” She grimaced. “I know the whole thing probably needs an overhaul. Or a junkyard.”
Emma slipped an arm around Mom and gave her a squeeze. “Let’s not have the old girl melted down just yet.”
They watched as Marty tried to jump the battery using Emma’s car. When that didn’t work, he unhooked the battery and pulled it out of the car. He set it on the walkway before approaching their front door. He’d barely rapped on the window of the screen door with his knuckles before Mom pulled it open and ushered him inside.
Marty’s gaze took in their small living room.
Emma didn’t usually care about stuff. But she wondered what impression their threadbare furniture, torn carpet, and dull paint gave.
It didn’t matter. This was what she and Mom could afford, and it provided a roof over their heads.
To his credit, if Marty had any negative opinions about their living conditions, he didn’t reveal them. Instead, he turned his attention to Mom.
“Mrs. Laughlin, I’m going to run your battery over to the auto supply store and have it tested. It looks like it’s dead as a doornail. If that’s the case, I’ll get a new one, and we’ll see if that gets your car running for a while.” He hesitated, clearly trying to decide whether he should say something else or not.
Mom reassured him with a pat on the arm. “I’m under no illusion that my car is in good shape.”
Marty gave a single nod. He glanced at Emma and then back at Mom. “I do think the battery is your primary issue right now. However, your car needs a lot of work. I’m not going to lie. It’d probably be easier—and cheaper—if you traded it in on something new.”
“I appreciate your candor. And your willingness to help.” Mom’s shoulders were back, a genuine smile on her face, but Emma recognized the lines of worry around her eyes. Mom turned. “Em, why don’t you drive the two of you over. That way you can pay for the battery.” She slipped Emma her bank card.
Emma knew even a new battery was going to be stretching things, but it was better than paying to have the car towed and whatever else a mechanic might come up with on Friday. She took the card and put it in her pocket. “Sure, Mom.” She followed Marty back outside.
He loaded the battery in the trunk of her car before sliding into the passenger seat. Emma started her car and turned the air conditioner on high, not that the air expelled was any cooler than the stifling interior. It would be soon, though. “Which auto supply store are we going to?”
Marty gave her directions, and Emma nodded as they headed out. “Thanks again for doing this. I know my mom appreciates it. The car seriously stresses her out.” She motioned to her own. “Not that mine makes anyone jealous.”
He chuckled. “Yours at least sounds like it’s running well. I personally wish your mom would find something else. It makes me nervous thinking about her driving it.”
Emma was surprised to hear him say something so thoughtful about someone he’d just met. She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. The air vents blew his hair around as it began to cool. His blue eyes shifted to hers.
She nodded. “I know. I’m going to trade cars with her. At least I work closer to home than she does.” He winced and then rubbed his forehead with his pointer finger. “What?”
“It makes me more nervous to think about you driving it.”
The comment warmed Emma. What could she say, though? They didn’t have a lot of options. And if he asked her to carpool on his motorcycle, that wasn’t going to happen. She nearly laughed aloud and pressed her lips together as she turned on Main Street. Apparently, Marty had hoped for some kind of response because he cleared his throat. “Emma?”
“Yeah?”
“Let me call around and see if I can find a mechanic friend who could give your mom a good deal on some of the repairs.”
Emma immediately shook her head. “She can’t afford it. We can’t afford it.” He didn’t reply, but when she glanced at him, he was studying her. She sighed. “We’re struggling financially. I’m sure you could tell by the cars. Or the crappy furniture. Or the way the place needs to be painted.” A catch in her throat had her cutting that last word off more quickly than she’d intended. She pulled into the auto supply parking lot, stopped the car, and turned to face Marty. “Look, most of it is because of all my medical bills. After years and years, they pile up. Then she was my caretaker while I was sick before the transplant. If that means letting Mom drive the better car so she doesn’t have to deal with it breaking down on her, it’s a small price to pay.”
Thinking about all the sacrifices Mom had made for her had Emma’s eyes filling with tears. Which she hated, because the last thing she wanted to do was cry in front of Marty. He’d already learned way more about her and her family than she wanted him to.
“What about your dad?”
“He died in an accident right after I was born.”
Instead of the pity Emma expected, respect flickered in Marty’s eyes. “Your mom is one tough lady.”
“That she is.” She released a lungful of air and blinked several times as she got her emotions under control. “She’s used to doing everything on her own.”
“It seems like it might be a family trait.” Marty gave her a pointed look. “You know, there’s no shame in asking for help.”
