Trainer by Hope Stone

Author:Hope Stone [Stone, Hope]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-05-08T16:00:00+00:00

The Bonneville was coming along nicely. It was amazing what a few simple changes, like a new seat and tires, could do for a bike like this. I’d given the thing a full service and taken it out for a test ride at the end of last week. It was a smooth ride for the most part. The only issue I noticed was when I tried to downshift. The gear lever would move as if going to a lower gear, but it wouldn’t actually do it.

It was a simple enough fix, just requiring a new return spring, but I hadn’t gotten the part in until today. So, I was at the shop, swapping out the defective spring for a new one. I anticipated having this bike up for sale by the end of the day.

My phone rang, and I hurriedly wiped my greasy hands clean before digging it out of my pocket. Mama Tammy was calling, and I managed to answer after three rings.

“Hello?” My voice was tense. She had to be calling with news about the biopsy.

“Hello, Raul. How are you?”

I bit back a demand that she tell me her news as soon as possible.

“I’m fine. Working on your future bike right now.”

She let out an undignified sound that was half-grunt, half-chuckle. “Yeah, right.”

“What about you, Mama? Are you okay?”

“I am,” she said, and I could hear the smile in her voice. “I got a call from the doctor today. He said it’s not cancer. Just a cyst or something like that.”

“So… it’s nothing to worry about?”

“That’s right.”

I felt like I could finally breathe easily for the first time since she told me about the biopsy.

“Thank God.” I wasn’t a religious man, but I meant those words. If he was out there, then I appreciated the hell out of this miracle.

“I know you’re coming over in a few days, but I thought you’d want to know now.”

“I did. Thank you.” Her mention of our Sunday visit made something occur to me. “Hey, do you think it would be okay if I brought someone when I come to visit you on Sunday? Well, two people.”

“You know anyone is welcome. Two people? Are they friends of yours?”

“It’s a woman I’m seeing and her son.”

There was a beat of silence. Then, “Lordy, I had no idea you were even seeing a woman. How long has this been going on? What’s her name? You say she has a son? How old is the boy?”

“Whoa, slow down,” I said, but her enthusiasm made me smile. “Her name is Erica, and yes, she has a seven-year-old son named Dominic.”

“Seven, huh? I can work with that.”

“What’s that mean?”

“You know I fostered for many years. I still have tons of toys and games in storage. I’ll find some things for him to play with.”

“I still have to ask if she wants to come.”

“Don’t be silly. Of course, she will. If not, you’ll convince her. You can be very charming, you know.”

“I’m not so sure about that,” I said.

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