Over the next week I bring coffee every morning—one for Angie and one for Laura, who tells me I’m a smart man and a good listener. I drop off dinner a few times when I come to walk Angie to her car. We text and call and we sit on the phone every night after the boys are in bed.
Friday morning, my phone rings before I’ve even left for the station.
Laura doesn’t even say hello. She barrels forward, her words coming out quickly and at the volume she’s known for when she means business. “EJ. Angie just called me. She’s stranded. Her van battery died.”
Laura’s calling me?
Coffee runs for the win.
“Where is she?” I ask.
“At home. And, yes. This is me throwing you a bone.” She pauses. “I’ve seen you putting in the effort. I like you two together. Go prove me right.”
She doesn’t have to tell me twice. I’m already grabbing my keys and running out to my truck.
I call Weber on my way to Angie’s. “I’m going to be late. Angie’s battery died.”
“Do you have a replacement with you?”
“Uh. No.”
“Maybe pick one up before you show up empty-handed.”
I chuckle. “Yeah. I will.”
My next call is to Duke. “You don’t happen to have a battery on hand?”
“Car battery?”
“You do own a service garage.”
“Right. Yeah. Of course.” He laughs. “We’ve got batteries. Why?”
“Angie’s battery died this morning.”
“Want me to bring it over to her?”
“No. I’m on my way to you.”
“Sounds good. See you in a few.”
I drive to Satterson’s to pick up the battery and five minutes later, I’m pulling up in front of Angie’s house.
I hop out of my truck and jog up to the door. When I knock, the twins are at Angie’s side.
“Hi, Mister EJ!” Jack says. “Did you bring fireman things?”
“Jack,” Angie says. “Don’t ask people to bring you things.”
“I drewed you a picture,” Levi says.
“I drewed you one too,” Jack says.
“Drew,” Angie says under her breath.
“That’s great,” I tell the boys. “I can’t wait to see them. Let me help your mom with the van, okay?”
“You gonna fix it?” Levi asks.
