Page 42 of Family Bonds: Carter & Avery

Doc trotted over to Avery, not even remembering the woman that gave his large puppy a shot.

“Avery has an outfit like that,” Josie said looking at him now in his coveralls. “But hers is black.”

Avery snorted and he lifted an eyebrow at her. “Not quite, Josie,” she said.

“I’m sure Avery’s is much more fashionable than my work wear.”

Avery giggled and winked at him. He’d been trying to figure out a way to see her again without it being obvious.

He wasn’t good at making things up. Nor was he going to say something was wrong with his dogs when there wasn’t.

He passed her last Saturday on the road, but he could have sworn she was crying and there was no way he was going to stop and find out why. He’d let her have her space. She didn’t wave, so it’s not like she noticed him.

The fact she had a problem with her tire and had to call him could be considered a good thing. Not for her but for him to see her again.

Maybe feel her out some.

“I’ve got your vehicle on the lift. I don’t see a nail or anything in it, but there is definitely something causing the leak. I should be able to see it soon and let you know.”

“Thanks,” she said.

He went back into the garage, and by then, Jason had shown up and was checking someone in. There wasn’t much scheduled today, a few oil changes and a brake job. Once Carter took care of Avery’s car, he’d get to work on the brake job that was scheduled. He could do it faster than Jason and maybe they’d be out of here on time for once. The brake job had been dropped off last night and he’d call the customer when it was completed.

He filled the low tire with air and then listened. He heard the air hissing out and was slowly spinning the tire to find the leak. This was faster than he thought it’d be. Once he got to the general area he put his hand over it but didn’t feel the exact spot.

He grabbed a water bottle with a soap mixture and sprayed and then saw the bubbles where the leak was.

No hole that he could see but rather a few cracks. The tires didn’t seem all worn when he looked at the other three, but this one was more.

He went to check out if there was a spare in there and there wasn’t. Interesting.

He wiped his hands off and went to talk to Avery. Josie was petting both of his dogs. Doc was sitting nicely and loving the attention but trotted toward him like she always did when she saw her Daddy.

“Got a minute to come back so I can show you what I found?” he asked Avery.

“Can Josie stay here?” she asked.

“Dopey will keep an eye on her,” he said. Nothing would happen to the little girl at his place. There wasn’t anyone else in the waiting room and he could move over fast enough to see in if he had to.

“I’ll be right back,” she said to Josie.

“She’ll be fine,” he said. “We’ll be a minute. Dopey won’t let her do anything. Josie seems like a good kid anyway. One that listens.”

“She is great,” she said. “Always listens. I’m sure at some point she’ll break that, but for now it’s a good thing. It’s been a rough year.”

He nodded. Nothing he could say to that, knowing what he did, however little it was.

They got to her SUV on the lift. “There are a few cracks in the same area on this tire. It’s worn more than the other three. Do you know why? Not worn in one spot, but it clearly has more miles on it.”

She frowned and then her face flushed. “I had a flat about nine months ago. My ex took care of it for me. He said he had a friend that worked at a garage. I feel like a fool for not paying attention.”

“Was it this tire?” he asked. He was going to ignore the ex comment. She moved here alone, no reason to worry about some guy not even on the island.

“Yes.”

“Looks to me like he put a used tire on it rather than a new one. You don’t have a spare in the back either. Did they say you needed a new one?”

“Kurt never said. Just that his friend took care of it. Kurt had put the spare on it to get it there. I assumed they’d put it back. It didn’t cost much that I can remember and I know people don’t always get a new tire when there is a flat but rather have the original one patched.”

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