Angie turns off the engine and joins us in front of the van.
“Thank you, again,” she says. “You’re really going above and beyond, EJ.”
“Just serving my community,” I say.
“Is that all this is?”
“Not even close,” I say with a wink. “And this isn’t above and beyond. It’s bare minimum. You needed a battery. I wanted to be the one to help you out. And I got to see the boys.”
“We got to see you too,” Jack says.
“I see you right now!” Levi says.
“Boys, tell Mister EJ thank you and go inside, okay?”
The boys do as Angie asks. When the screen door clatters shut behind them, Angie turns toward me. She steps near and kisses me softly on the cheek.
“Thank you.”
“It really was no problem. I was glad to do it.”
She crosses her arms and shakes her head, that same smile on her face. “You’re too much.”
Jack shouts from the doorway, “Mommy, Levi said I can’t go to our bedroom.”
“I’d better go,” she says.
“Me too,” I tell her. “I’ll see you after work.”
“I’ve got a girls’ night.”
“I’ll still come walk you to your car … If you want me to.”
When she says, “That would be nice,” I know.
Angie’s not only allowing me to escort her out of the salon to her car. She’s opening the door to our future another inch.
I walk backwards a few steps toward my pickup, not wanting to let her out of my sight. Then I wave and turn toward my truck, replaying that new smile Angie gave me all the way to work.
Chapter 14
Angie
And suddenly you know:
It’s time to start something new
and trust the magic of beginnings.
~ Meister Eckhart
Thanks to EJ, I made it to work before my first customer.
My last customer is under the dryer right now.
I’m sitting in my chair, waiting for her color to set.
“Are you sure the girls don’t mind if I crash tonight?” I ask Laura.
