The Matchmakers of Minnow Bay by Kelly Harms

Author:Kelly Harms
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781466880948
Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Eleven

She’s right. My tire is flat. All the way, can’t even drive it to the service station flat. And I don’t have a spare. The car didn’t come with one when I bought it secondhand, and I figured if the point of a spare is to be able to put it on and drive to the tire store to get a real tire, then it was pointless to have one, since I have no idea how to change a tire.

“I think we better call Hutch,” says Colleen when she sees the extent of the situation.

“Wait,” I say. “Hutch, Ben’s dad Hutch? The guy with the bar?”

“That’s him,” she replies.

“Why?”

“To get you a new tire.”

“Does he sell tires?” I ask, mystified.

“No, but no one else does either. Not in Minnow Bay. However, Hutch goes to Duluth on Sunday to get stuff for the bar, and he can pick up a new tire for you at Sears. Lot faster than waiting for someone at Hutchinson Auto to order one.”

“Hutchinson Auto?” I ask, sort of sadly.

“Hutch’s brother’s place.”

“Ben’s uncle,” I say in defeat.

“Well, it used to be. Erick works there now, when he can be bothered to show up.”

“Let me guess. Erick Hutchinson.”

“Yep. Ben’s youngest brother.”

“I hate this town.”

Colleen just laughs. “Do you want me to call Hutch, or not?”

With a mighty sigh I confess. “I was hoping to just sneak out of town without having to face Ben again. After last night.”

Colleen looks a little hurt on Ben’s behalf. “You didn’t even want to say good-bye?”

“I very nearly cheated on my boyfriend of two years last night, Colleen. I made a mistake. A series of mistakes. I need to stop the hemorrhaging.”

Colleen locks eyes with me. I’m a little ashamed, but I try not to avert my gaze.

“Fine. Look, I’ll call the bar, tell Hutch it’s my car that needs the tire. Then, when he gets here, I’ll tell him the truth and persuade him to keep his lips zipped. Hutch isn’t a gossip, but his bar is … conducive to discussion. Even at nine A.M. on a Sunday, someone is usually coming and going.”

“Thank you, Colleen,” I tell her. “I really appreciate it.”

“You’re going to have to stay inside if you don’t want to run into Ben or someone who knows Ben.”

I nod gratefully. Any more cable TV might kill me, but it’s only an hour or two.

“It’s going to be at least half the day before he gets back.”

Or half a day. “That’s fine. I mean, it has to be, right?”

“Unless you want to pay for a tow to Duluth,” says Colleen. “How badly do you want to get out of town?”

I think that question over.

“I don’t know,” I finally answer. “Will the bistro deliver those steak frites?”

She smiles. “I can arrange that. And um, hey. Since you have to stay today anyway, I am wondering…”

“Yes?”

“I have a little favor to ask. Nothing big. Won’t take more than an hour, two at most. It would mean a lot to me.”

“Of course.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.