With his bottle in his hand, Joseph nodded. “Thanks.” He sighed and motioned around the shop and asked, “How’s business? I take it that garage next door is yours?”
Nodding, Jason grinned, “When I first came out here, I had the idea that I would open the garage, get enough people to work in it and run it, and then I do nothing but oversee the garage but mostly work in the tattoo shop." Shrugging, he continued, “This town was so desperate for a garage that also had a tow truck that I was constantly working just to keep up with the demand. I’ve got two other mechanics who work for me, and we’re busy all the time."
“And this?”
“It didn’t take long being in Baytown to discover that there was a lot more mechanic business than tattoo business. I’m open on Thursday and Friday evenings and then on Saturdays. I prefer to have appointments but will take drop-ins. I’m busier during the summer when there’s a lot of vacationers in town, but definitely not enough work for it to be my full-time job.”
Joseph took a long swig of the water, then asked, “You okay with that?”
Chuckling, he replied, “You know what’s funny? Right before you came in, I was thinking about all of this. I love the artistic outlet that this business allows, but I don’t want to run it all by myself anymore." His thoughts traveled to Rose, and he explained, “I’ve met someone and am no longer willing to work all the time because now I’ve got something else to live for.”
Joseph remained quiet, and Jason observed him carefully but was unable to discern where his friend’s thoughts were. Joseph’s family had money, but his parents rejected his desire to enlist in the Navy, complaining that it was beneath him. They tried to cut him off, but his grandfather, a Navy Captain that had served in ‘Nam, put money in a trust for Joseph to have when he got out. Jason knew that Joseph might look like a vagrant, but he had more money in the bank than Jason could ever imagine. That never kept Joseph from working, though, saying he would rather earn his way. "If you’re thinking about hanging around Baytown for a while, are you looking for work?”
“I know Zac was the fire chief and is now the rescue captain, and I figured I could volunteer when needed since I have some experience from the Navy."
“He’d be glad to have you, I’m sure.”
Joseph’s gaze drifted around the shop, and he said, “Yeah, I’m gonna need to work to keep my sanity.” His green eyes landed back on Jason, and he asked, “You serious about wanting somebody to work here?”
Jason fought to keep the relieved grin off his face, as he replied, “Hell, yeah! It’s only part-time, but as far as I’m concerned you can take over most of the tattoos, and I’ll keep my hand in it just for fun.”
“Seriously?” Joseph asked, grinning in return.
“Look, man, here’s the reality. In the past couple of years, I’ve come to realize that the garage is the business that both pays my bills and gives something back to Baytown that the townspeople really need. This shop satisfies my artistic side, but it’s no longer my focus. So, if you’re looking for work, at least part-time, then you can take over as the tattooist, and I’ll fill in when the schedule needs or allows.”
Their water finished, both men stood and shook hands. Jason asked, “Have you got a place to stay?”
Jerking his head toward the street, he said, “I saw a campground a couple of miles down the road, so I figured I’d ask if they had a camper to rent.”
“Well, for tonight, why don’t you crash at my place? I got an apartment over the shop that needs to be rented.”
Brows lowered, Joseph said, “Are you sure?”
“Absolutely,” he replied. “I've finished for the night anyway, so let me show it to you, and then I’ll head across the street to see Rose.”
“Rose…pretty name.”
Grinning, he replied, “Pretty lady.”
Later that morning, Jason and Rose walked among the tombstones of the Baytown Cemetery, flower arrangements in their hands. Making their way to the older section first, they found the worn stone with the simple carving of ‘Millicent Carson’ next to one that had ‘Charles Carson’ on it.
She knelt and laid the flowers between them as she did each month, commemorating their early life as shopkeepers in Baytown. Thrilled that they had had a chance to grow old together, she looked up as Jason reached his hand out to her, hoping that the two of them would have many years together as well.
They then walked to a newer section of the cemetery, to a grave marker that had been placed where Charlotte Robinson had finally been laid to rest. She was not surprised to find that Corwin and Phyllis Banks paid for the plot and the marker and the burial. Kneeling once more, she laid the second bouquet of flowers on the marker, feeling as though Charlotte could finally rest in peace.
Allowing Jason to assist her to stand again, they walked back to his truck. Her thoughts a million miles away, she startled when he said, “Need to trade up.”
Scrunching her nose, she looked up at him and asked, “Trade up?”
“We need an SUV. Something big. Something safe. Something that’ll securely hold two car seats in the back.”
She grinned widely, knowing that as much respect as Jason paid to those who had passed, his thoughts were firmly on their growing family. “Well, I guess you’d better get on that.”
His smile matched hers, as he wrapped his arm tightly around her, leading her away from the past and toward the future.
Don’t miss other Maryann Jordan books!
Lots more Baytown stories to enjoy and more to come!
Baytown Boys (small town, military romantic suspense)
Coming Home
Just One More Chance
Clues of the Heart
Finding Peace
Picking Up the Pieces
Sunset Flames
Waiting for Sunrise
Hear My Heart
Guarding Your Heart
Sweet Rose
Our Time (Jan 2020)
For all of Miss Ethel’s boys:
Heroes at Heart (Military Romance)
Zander
Rafe
Cael
Zeke (coming 2019)
Lighthouse Security Investigations
Mace
Rank
Walker
Saints Protection & Investigations
(an elite group, assigned to the cases no one else wants…or can solve)
Serial Love
Healing Love
Revealing Love
Seeing Love
Honor Love
Sacrifice Love
Protecting Love
Remember Love
Discover Love
Surviving Love
Celebrating Love
Follow the exciting spin-off series:
Alvarez Security (military romantic suspense)
Gabe
Tony
Vinny
Jobe
Letters From Home (military romance)
Class of Love
Freedom of Love
Bond of Love
The Love’s Series (detectives)
Love’s Taming
Love’s Tempting
Love’s Trusting
The Fairfield Series (small town detectives)
Emma’s Home
Laurie’s Time
Carol’s Image
Fireworks Over Fairfield
Please take the time to leave a review of this book. Feel free to contact me, especially if you enjoyed my book. I love to hear from readers!
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