Page 2 of Seasons of Love
I stepped outside the office. Liam was in the garage working under a car and whistling a tune I didn't recognize.
The familiar smell of oil, grease, paint, and sweat calmed me down, and since there were no customers in the shop, I allowed myself the moment to enjoy the feeling of rightness whenever I was in my workspace. The garage, not the office. That was merely a necessary part of running a business.
When I'd seen this building only around the corner from the Chester Falls main square, I knew I'd found my perfect place.
The vintage bike shop with the adjacent garage had direct access from the main street, attracting curious passersby as well as my loyal customers.
Cars weren’t really my thing, so when Liam had walked in asking for a job, just a couple of months after I’d opened the shop, I hadn’t cared that I had no clue how to pay him.
As it turned out, he’d worked for the previous owners, and since there was no other garage in town, we had a captive audience. As much as I’d wanted to run an exclusive vintage bike repair and restoration shop, I knew it was smart to diversify.
I’d been dumb too many times in my life to not know when to smarten up.
The shop was exactly how I'd always wanted. Paved flooring, a few display cabinets, a leather couch, and several blown-up photos of vintage bikes on the walls.
It was big enough to have a good range of bikes on display, mostly Harleys, but it still felt cozy and personable. Most of all, the long glass wall behind the bikes gave my customers a direct view of the garage.
"Hey, boss," Liam said, sliding out from under the car. "I put the new alternator in Mrs. Mason's car. I'll just give it a quick once over and it'll be good to go."
"That's great. Thanks, Liam. You can head home when you finish."
“You sure? I can hang around," he said, wiping his greasy hands on a rag.
"I'm sure."
"You know Maggie will bring you coffee whether or not you let me off early."
Liam was a good ten years younger than me, and after losing his first wife at a young age, he’d found love again in the girl that seemed to come by a little too often for someone who didn’t own a car, bike, or even had a driver’s license.
Maggie was a sweet girl in her mid-twenties, and as long as she kept bringing us coffee from Spilled Beans, she could pop by to visit Liam any time. Or have him home early as the case may be.
"I have no ulterior motive. Just being nice," I said, raising my hands.
I wasn't kidding anyone. Indy's coffee was the best and, on most days, we were so busy that Maggie's treat was a lifesaver.
"All right, then. Will we see you at the book fair later?" he asked.
I'd almost forgotten about the fair. These days, reading was my only form of relaxation, usually before I fell asleep after a long day at the shop.
"Maybe," I said. "I want to catch up on some things, but I'll drop by."
I went over to the main shop while Liam finished up. Working with cars and bikes was a messy and smelly business. Just because the scent of oil got my engine running, it didn't mean the general public agreed with it, so I'd made sure that my staff facilities had a locker room with a shower and the best oil removing soap available.
Liam was my only employee, but the way things were going, I could see myself hiring a couple more people in the next year or so. Especially if it meant I wouldn’t need to get anywhere near a car.
I glanced at the corner of the garage where my passion project stood covered up and waiting for me to get my head out of my ass and start working on it.
"All right, boss. I'll see you later," Liam said, coming into the shop area looking fresh as a daisy.
I waved him off.
"Hey, Liam," I said, just as he reached the front door. "I don't suppose you'd want to pick up a few more hours?"
He grinned widely. "You serious, boss?"
I nodded.
"Hell yeah, I'll do it. I'm saving to get Maggie a nice ring. I know we haven't been going out long, but when you know, you know. Right?"
