Part 36 (1/2)
”I'd rather just make a phone call,” she said.
”Well, if you're going back in the mountains, your cell won't work. I think you're probably lucky your battery went dead here in Fortuna rather than out on a mountain road somewhere, although as long as your engine was running, you were safe.”
”But now I'm safer,” she said. ”I bet I can risk going to a florist before I get on my way.”
”A florist, a deli, a dress shop, whatever you feel like.” He tightened down the screw and said, ”Start her up.”
She got in the car, turned the ignition and the car roared to life. She left it running, but got out and faced him. ”Are you sure I can't pay you for your trouble?”
He smiled and shook his head. ”I'm overpaid already, seriously. I'm just glad I could help.”
”You're a very impressive young man. I just wish I could wrap you up and give you to my daughter for Christmas.”
He laughed and said, ”I'm afraid I'm taken.”
”Unsurprising.” She put out her hand. ”I'm Donna,” she said.
”Patrick,” he returned, shaking her hand. ”Drive safely.”
”I think I might look around Fortuna. I have plenty of time. It wouldn't hurt to grab a few things for my brother's children, since I'm surprising him.”
”Enjoy,” Paddy said, heading for his Jeep.
Patrick looked at his watch. That little adventure had only cost him forty minutes that he could certainly spare. Then it was home to set up his roast. Easily done. Then he peeled potatoes and got them underwater. He was cheating on the peas and carrots-frozen. But frozen was good. Angie, who loved everything, wasn't much of a cook. She was easy to impress. In fact, he couldn't think of a single thing he did that didn't wind her watch and he laughed to himself.
She was so good for his ego, an ego that had suffered the past year. He'd been feeling unsure of himself. A little lost, really. But Angie brought him back to life, made him smile. Laugh. Most important, with her he could revisit hopefulness. Optimism.
In record time, he was on his way to the bar. When he got there, he jumped up on a stool at the end, staying out of the way.
Jack slapped a napkin on the bar in front of him. ”How's it going, pardner?”
”Good, thanks. Beer?”
”You meeting Ange?”
”Yep.”
”Having dinner tonight?”
”I cooked,” he said. ”I'm a good cook.”
”I'm sure,” Jack said, placing the cold draft in front of Patrick. The bar hadn't filled up yet, giving Jack too much time to linger. ”And after dinner?” he asked.
”Scrabble,” Paddy said, lifting the icy mug.
”You two must be getting pretty good at Scrabble.”
”She annihilates me. Every time. And I can spell.”