Bailey sat up straighter, his forehead creased. “What do you mean ‘the driveway’?”
Tom tilted his head to the left. “The driveway that runs next to this building. It goes from the street to the back of the cafe. I’ve got a couple of parking spaces behind the building. The drive continues right the way through to the laneway that runs parallel to this street. That’s where the bins are kept. It’s my driveway and only services this building, so no-one else uses it, and my car is usually parked out in the back all day and because I’m working I don’t need access very often to get in or out. You could park the van there, in the driveway, just off the street.”
“I could?”
Tom smiled at Bailey’s hopeful expression. “I don’t see why not. It’s private property so if I give permission it should be fine. I mean, I’m not likely to evict you, am I?” Bailey looked unsure, making Tom wonder if he wasn’t used to getting good news, or if there was a problem with his plan. “Are there issues being on private property? I’m not sure what the legal requirements are when you run a service like you do.”
Bailey looked away, focusing on his hands instead of meeting Tom’s eyes. He eventually looked up. “I’m not exactly registered or insured with what I do.”
“Not exactly?”
“Not at all. I just started one day without really planning what I was doing. I had a box of books I was going to take to Vinnies but saw some people sitting in the park and gave them the option to take a look. It was done on a whim, not something with forethought, and I guess things just took off from there. I was so excited I just ran with it.”
Tom placed a reassuring hand on Bailey’s thigh, stopping the nervous shaking of his leg. “Hey, just relax. One step at a time, eh? Let’s get you out of the predicament with the parking situation, then we can worry about the rest.”
“We?”
“Well, you, really. But I want to help where I can.”
“Why?” Tom was taken aback by Bailey’s question and not sure how to answer. Why did he feel the need to protect Bailey? Why did he want to lighten Bailey’s load?
“I guess I admire what you do. You give so much of your time to helping others. Maybe this is my small way of being part of that.”
This time Bailey’s smile was warm. “Thank you. It’s nice knowing I’ve got someone to back me up.”
Bailey deserved so muchmorethan someone backing him up every now and then. He deserved to have someone by his side, someone to love and support him, and someone to give him everything that he gave to others. Bailey deserved to be put first, not to be the one sacrificing everything to give others a little bit of happiness and hope.
The thought came out of the blue.And I want to be the one to do that.
He cleared his throat.When did I get so emotional?“So, if you started parking here, how would you let your clients know?”
“I’d do a round of the usual haunts and give them this address. Plus I can post on social media. It’s a few kilometres from the places I regularly stop but it shouldn’t be too far out of the way, especially for the keen ones.”
“Excellent. So we have a deal?”
“A deal?” Bailey raised a brow.
“Sure. That you’ll park here instead of taking your luck on the street.”
“How’s that a deal?” Bailey gave him a questioning look. “You get nothing from it. You’re doingmea favour and getting nothing back.”
Tom chuckled. “It’s not exactly an altruistic act. I’m getting the joy of doing a good deed.”
“You are.” Bailey grinned, then caught himself. “I mean it is very generous of you, youaredoing a good deed.”
“But if it makes you feel any better, how about you join me for dinner on the nights you park here? You’d be doing me a favour, as I’d have some company.”
“I’d be doing you a favour?” Bailey snorted. “That’s a good one.”
Tom lowered his voice. “Maybe I have ulterior motives.”
“You do?”
Tom winked. “You’ll just have to wait and find out.”
