Page 31 of The Sweet Part
I barely hold back an eye roll.
Mason laughs. “Okay, well, let me show you around.” He opens the garage bay to show us a pink Cadillac.
“A pink car!” Sophie exclaims.
Itisbeautiful, shiny pink and chrome. I peer into the driver’s side window, admiring the pink leather interior with white trim and the old-fashioned dials on the dashboard.
Mason describes the restoration process they went through to get the car in shape. It’s almost like we’re watching his show.
“We even found a pink Cadillac keychain to surprise the client with.” He lifts it off the counter to show us. “This one’s ready to go. She’ll pick it up on Monday.” He walks to the next bay and gestures for us to follow.
The next car is up on a lift. It has no wheels, and the sides are gray and rusty. Mason gestures toward it. “Chevy Corvette. Not much to look at, but we’ll give it a new life.”
“Will it be pink?” Sophie asks.
“Cherry red.”
“I like cherries.”
Mason nods. “And over here is a Jaguar E-Type. It’s an awesome car, but always breaking down. Not easy to get the parts either.”
I want it. It’s a beautiful sky blue convertible. Probably too expensive, especially with a daughter in college. I’m practical about money, even in my fantasies for future me.
I notice an orange sign on the wall that says Road Machinery Ahead. “That’s the sign we always see on the show.”
Mason inclines his head. “Yeah. We usually film in that bay. We have to empty all three bays for the camera and crew with all their gear. We temporarily store cars in a garage in back.” He takes us all in. “Any questions?”
“Can I sit in the pink car?” Sophie asks.
I shake my head. “Sophie, no. That’s someone else’s car.”
“How about I give you a ride in it?” Mason asks. “If that’s okay with your mom.”
“Can I, Mom?”
“As long as you wear your seatbelt.”
She nods and smiles, running to the car.
“You’re both welcome too. The back seat’s nice and roomy,” Mason says.
“I’m okay,” I say. “Thanks.”
Mom nods. “I’ll stay with May.”
“Okay. I’ll just drive once around the building,” Mason says to me.
“Thank you for humoring her,” I say.
One corner of his mouth turns up. “Hard to turn down a car afficionado’s request.”
Mason presses a button to open the garage bay. Sophie’s already in the passenger seat, putting on her seatbelt. Mason gets in the driver’s side, starts it, and eases the car out of the bay.
As soon as they pull out, Mom says to me, “You didn’t mention he was a major hottie.”
“Mom, please don’t say hottie.”
“Why not?”
