That made her laugh.
A genuine laugh.
Luke returned to the tire.
“My son needs braces next year.”
“You have a son?”
“Eight.”
“What’s his name?”
“Noah.”
The woman repeated it softly.
“Noah.
Luke noticed.
“You have kids?”
She shook her head.
“No.”
Something in the answer suggested there was more behind it.
Luke did not ask.
He positioned the jack.
The rain intensified.
The woman moved closer with the umbrella.
“Hold this over yourself.”
“I need both hands.”
“I can hold it.”
“The wind is going to steal it.”
“I’m stronger than I look.”
“That sentence usually comes before property damage.”
She ignored him and positioned the umbrella.
For perhaps thirty seconds it helped.
Then a gust flipped it completely inside out.
Luke stared.
She stared.
He burst out laughing.
She looked at the ruined umbrella.
“I liked this umbrella.”
“You challenged weather.”
“I’m beginning to understand why people hire mechanics.”
She tossed the umbrella aside.
Rain soaked both of them now.
Luke raised the SUV.
His phone buzzed again.
The woman looked toward the sound.
“You should answer.”
“Hands are filthy.”
“Give me the phone.”
Luke hesitated.
Then removed it carefully and handed it over.
The screen showed:
CARTER AEROSPACE HR.
The woman’s expression changed again.
Luke was focused on the jack.
“Can you answer?”
She stared at the phone.
“Me?”
“Speaker.”
She swiped.
“Hello?”
A woman’s professional voice came through.
“Mr. Bennett?”
Luke raised his voice.
“Here.”
“This is Claire Morgan with Carter Aerospace recruitment. I wanted to confirm you’re still attending the five o’clock interview.”
Luke closed his eyes briefly.
“Yes.”
The recruiter continued.
“Our interview panel is assembled. The CEO requested to sit in personally, so we’re trying to keep the schedule exact.”
The woman holding Luke’s phone went completely still.
Luke looked at his watch.
4:43.
Seventeen minutes.
His stomach dropped.
“Tell them I’m on my way.”
Claire paused.
“Your application notes indicate you’re approximately forty minutes away.”
“I’m closer now.”
“How close?”
Luke looked at the disabled SUV.
He could not lie convincingly.
“Not close enough.”
The recruiter sighed gently.
“Mr. Bennett, this final interview has been rescheduled once already.”
“I know.”
“If you cannot arrive by five fifteen, we will likely need to proceed with another candidate.”
Luke looked toward the woman.
She shook her head.
Go.
Luke looked at the half-removed wheel.
He imagined leaving her with a vehicle balanced on a jack beside highway traffic.
No.
“I understand.”
“Will you make it?”
Luke swallowed.
“I’ll try.”
The call ended.
The woman handed back the phone.