Page 6 of Discovering Daisy

“Well, they might get you there. But they might not.” The mechanic had a very serious expression on his face when he added, “Ma’am, if you were my daughter, I wouldn’t let you drive on these tires. You’ve got one on the back that’s so bald you can almost see the threads. And the other two aren’t much better. And of course that shredded one is no good, but you already knew that.”

She looked pained as she rubbed the back of her neck. “How much would a new set cost?”

“I have some used ones that’ll save you some money,” he said. “They’re not like new, but they’ll get you down the road for another year or so. That’ll be—”

“Just put some new ones on,” Wyatt said. “Charge it to me.”

“Sir! I can’t—” Daisy started.

Wyatt put a hand up, stopping more protest, saying, “Hey, my farm does so much business here. Between tires and farm trucksand even fixing our tractors, we keep ol’ Vern so busy that he gives us a special rate. Just makes sense for us to do it this way and save you the money.”

“He’s right, ma’am,” the mechanic said. “We’ll have you fixed up in no time. Just give me about forty-five minutes or so.”

“That’s enough time for us to step across the street to the diner and grab something to eat,” Wyatt said. “Do you like burgers?”

“Yes, sir!” Daisy said.

“Well, then you’re going to love the diner. They have the best burgers in Georgia.”

“Does the place have a name?” she asked.

He shook his head with a grin. “Nope. We all just call it the diner.”

She laughed and walked side-by-side with him toward the street. She was about to step off the curb when he stopped her. “Whoa there, little lady. I don’t think you looked both ways. You were going to just dart right out into the street.”

“There isn’t anyone coming,” she said.

“But you didn’t stop to make sure of that. You see that little hill,” he said, pointing his eyes in the direction of the street’s low rise.

“Yes, sir.”

“Cars dart over that thing awfully fast. That’s why it’s important to stop and check. Now, hold my hand while we cross. I’ll show you how it’s done.”

Daisy’s whole body was tingling with excitement as she grabbed Wyatt’s strong hand. He looked left, right, and then left again before they strolled briskly across. She was disappointed when they stepped up onto the opposite curb and he let go.

It was over now, but for a few moments, she’d been able to experience his big hand engulfing hers, making her feel safer than she ever had before.

Inside, Daisy found that the diner was clearly old but well-maintained. Just like that Coke machine, it was a throwback to a bygone era. There was a stool-lined counter that ran nearly the length of the restaurant’s back wall. Behind it was an older man moving down the line of customers—about every other stool was occupied—refilling coffee cups and checking on folks.

He looked up and smiled, “Hey, Wyatt. You want the usual?”

Wyatt led Daisy to a booth and they both slid in, sitting across from each other. “You bet, Sam.” In a quieter tone, he said to Daisy, “How do you want your burger?”

“However it comes.”

He nodded. “Two, please,” he called out.

“Comin’ right up,” Sam hollered back.

They were about to start talking when Sam approached and dropped two sweet teas off. Apparently, that was included in Wyatt’s regular meal.

Daisy had already had plenty of sugar with that Coke, but she wasn’t going to pass up a tall glass of iced tea. She took a sip to find that true to the drink’s southern roots, it lived up to the sweet part of its name.

Once it was just the two of them again, Daisy said, “Thank you for everything. You’re being so kind to me.”

He studied her a moment and then said, “You say that as if not everyone has been.”

A torrent of memories flooded over her mind. She did her best to push them aside, but she still felt some of the sadness they always brought. She managed a smile and said, “Not everyone has been.”

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