Page 36 of Love, Lies and Sleigh Rides
“How’s your baby? Getting better, I hope?” No sign of weariness was on Sara’s face this time. Fallon hoped that was a good sign.
“Almost back to normal. My mom is visiting, so she’s been helping,” Sara said.
“That’s good to hear. Do your parents live close by?”
Sara shook her head. “Des Moines. My parents are divorced. They scattered and left me here.” She shrugged, sliding a yellow piece of paper onto the counter. Tidy handwriting detailed the prices of the parts and tax. “Not a biggie. I have friends.”
Fallon eyed the final charge. It was indeed a little over six hundred dollars. She couldn’t help herself, despite Kade warning her to not question Bart’s generosity.
“Is Bart here?”
Sara’s eyes widened. “Is there a problem?”
“Oh no. Not at all. I just want to thank Bart for his timeliness and all.” She punctuated the request with a quick smile.
“It’s not necessary.”
“I’d still like to see him.”
Sara swiveled around in her seat and went through the door into the shop without another word.
While she waited, Fallon scanned the eclectic mixture of decor on the walls.
Several racks of antlers of various sizes.
A pair of snowshoes in an advanced stage of deterioration, its webbing frayed.
The movie poster fromStripeswith Bill Murray in uniform.
A still-life painting of a fruit bowl in a gaudy gold frame. Framed articles and team photos too.
Fallon jumped when the shop door banged open.
“Help ya?”
It was a bark more than a greeting from the man bursting through the door. Fallon might have drawn a breath or taken a step back or both at the sight of him. Flame-haired, all shoulders and barrel chest, a sleeve of tattoos covering his arms, Bart’s presence filled the tiny lobby.
“Hi, Bart. I’m Fallon. You fixed my car this week.” She thrust her hand forward.
He continued wiping his oil-stained hands on the dirty towel as he eyed hers but didn’t make an effort to shake. “Yeah?”
“I just want to thank you for the work, and honestly, I don’t think you charged me e—”
“Something wrong with my adding?” Bart thrust out his bottom lip as he gave her a hard stare.
“No, no. It’s just way lower than it should be. There’s no labor charge on the bill.” She tapped the bill that still sat on the counter. Maybe Kade was right. She should have accepted this guy’s generosity without question. Judging by his bearish demeanor, she’d interrupted his workday at the very least.
Bart lumbered over to the counter to look at the bill. Sara’s attention darted between the piece of paper, Bart’s face, and Fallon. She gave Fallon a discreet smile before it disappeared when Bart spoke again.
“Nope. Nothing wrong here,” he said, turning back to her. He waved it impatiently for her to take. “Therewillbe a labor charge if you make me rewrite this thing though.”
“Okay. Nope, not necessary.” She searched for a wrinkle of good humor or a twinkle in his eye, but Bart had a face of fire-forged steel. “Thanks again.”
He wasted no time in leaving.
“Merry Christmas!” he called gruffly before the door snapped shut again.
Fallon blinked.
