Page 107 of Two Wrongs

“I’m so sorry,” he apologizes. “Can I get you water? I can run out and grab you some crackers?”

I grunt, after all it is the language I’m most fluent in. Picking up her bag from the ground I pull out a bottle of water. “I can take care of my woman.”

Liam’s jaw ticks, but he doesn’t say anything and he doesn’t walk away. Wren doesn’t notice. Her eyes are glued to mine, and her smile is blinding.

Charlie clears his throat, and I realize I was lost staring at her beautiful face. An activity I plan to do for the rest of my life.

He reaches inside his coveralls and pulls out a check. I reach for it and he pulls it back. “I want my name added to the sign.”

My lip twitches. Wren starts to giggle.

“What’s so funny?” Charlie asks confused.

Liam groans. “First or last name?”

“Last name. Why is that so funny?” he asks as the three of us start laughing in earnest.

“It’s just that your name is Charles Storm,” Wren points out, with tears caused by laughing, running down her face.

Charlie crosses his arms. “I’m aware of what my name is.”

“Hale and Storm Automotive, uncle Charlie,” Liam adds.

Charlie’s eyes widen, and then he too starts laughing. “Well, shit. That’s the first time I put them together and heard it out loud.”

I smile. No one is screaming, and we were even able to laugh at Charlie. There’s hope still. Everything isn’t fixed right now, but maybe someday it will be.

“I like it. It’s a bit cheesy, but no one will forget us.” And I wouldn’t forget to hope.

I reach my hand out to Charlie and he shakes it. “Welcome to the business, partner.”

Liam nods his head at me, silently telling me he approves of the decision. There was a time he was supposed to be my partner in this business, but Charlie has more than earned it. Besides, I’ve got plans with his buy-in.

“Okay, baby bird, we’ve got places to be,” I tell her and drag her back to the truck.

The drive to Centralia is long, but that’s why I woke her up early. She has no idea what I’m up to, but she remains silent as we drive past the university she should have attended.

I pull up to a vacant building in the industrial part of town. A realtor stands out front with the keys. Wren waits in the truck as I sign my papers and take the keys.

When I come to grab her, I decide to answer the questions bouncing around in her head. I reach under the seat and pull out a fat envelope to Central Valley University. I already know it’s an acceptance and full-ride to attend starting the next term.

Her eyes light up, and then her hand flutters over her stomach. She sets the envelope on the seat next to her. “It was a lovely dream once.”

“It’s a lovely reality now,” I insist.

She shakes her head. “I can’t. We’ve got the baby coming, and for some reason you have a building.”

“You’re going to college.”

Her chin lifts and I brace myself for a dose of her stubbornness. “I don’t want to put the baby in daycare.”

“Come on, I want to show you something.” I lift her down from the truck and unlock the front door.

The building I picked has all the necessary features, and some extras. The previous owners decided to retire, so the lifts and large equipment they agreed to sell with the building. There’s a small office off the main business office that the owners’ kids used to hang out after school when they were young.

I flip on the lights and lead her into the room. “This room has some sound proofing because the previous owners had kids and they hung out here after school. They said the noise was too much for them to do their homework, so they fixed it. I’m going to turn it into a nursery for the peanut. We’ll have to hire someone who can help keep an eye on the little one, but I’ll be here to keep an eye on them.”

Wren sighs and looks up at me. “You’ve got it all figured out, don’t you?”

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