Page 33 of Double Take

After several tries, she got the tech-tab to connect to Terra Com and searched for a repair shop willing to retrieve the vehicle and pick them up and drop them off in Willow Wood. There were only three shops within striking distance. The first two only did repairs; they didn’t tow. She crossed her fingers as she contacted the third.

“Yeah, we can do that,” said the mechanic.

“Oh, thank goodness!”

“Provided you don’t need it right away.”

“When can you come?”

“Tomorrow sometime.”

“Tomorrow!”

“We’re swamped. Lotta folks had accidents due to the wet roads.”

“All right. Tomorrow will work.” What other option did they have? “Can you lock onto my device for the geo-location? I’m not in a village.”

“Got you right here.”

“Any idea when you’ll arrive tomorrow?”

“Some...be...sun…do…” The connection started to cut out. The Terra Nova Communication Network was often spotty.

“What was that?” She scooted higher up the hill, hoping to improve the connection.

“Sometime between sunup and sundown.”

They’d have to sit out by the wrecked vehicle all day. “All right. Thank you.” At least she’d gotten somebody. And they could spend another night in their love nest!

While she still had a decent connection, she pinged Amity at the shop to give her the news.

“How’s the craft fair?” Amity asked right away.

“That’s why I called. We never got there. A deer ran across the road, and I, um, crashed the vehicle.”

“Oh my gosh? Were you hurt? Are you all right?”

“I’m fine. But I’m afraid the vehicle may be totaled. I’m sorry,” she said. Her friend had put up half the money. Now Amity didn’t have transportation either.

“Vehicles can be replaced. You can’t. I’m glad you’re all right. John is fine?”

“He’s fine.”

Faith heard a bell ring. Someone had entered the shop.

“Welcome to All Fired Up. Can I help you find something?” Amity beamed a bright smile at a customer Faith couldn’t see.

“Just browsing. Thought I’d pop in and take a look around,” a smooth baritone voice said.

“Let me know if you need help.” Amity smiled again, tucked her hair behind her ear, and then addressed Faith. “How are you two getting along? Is it weird?”

“Surprisingly…unweird.”Amazing.“I’ll fill you in when I get home. The earliest I could get a retrieval and a ride is tomorrow. I won’t get into Willow Wood until late.”

“The craft fair is a total no-go?”

“Yeah. No way to get there, and a lot of pottery got broken. Not sure how much yet.”

“Well, shit.”

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