Lily took Jared’s hand again and they both laughed, “It’s a long story.”
“And as much as I’m sure Travis would like to hear it,” Carl gave me a reproachful look, “We need to get her loaded up and get on our way if we are going to make our deadline.”
Lilly handed me the scrapbook and Jared handed me a thick manila envelope, “These go with the car,” Lily said. “If you drop the tailgate, Mr. Khan, I’d like to drive her in if you don’t mind,” Lily asked.
“As a matter of fact,” Carl started to say.
“I just want to drive, Grace,” said Lily tipping her head towards the car. “One more time,” she added and then batted her eyes at Carl. Little did she know she was not his type.
To my shock and amazement, Carl caved, “Very well miss.”
He dropped the loading gate and Lily started the engine. The car purred like a kitten as Lily expertly backed the car into the trailer. Carl set to strapping the car down with Lily’s help. I just stood back and watched with Jared, figuring too many cooks in the kitchen would spoil the soup. This gave Jared a chance to give me the abbreviated version of how he had fallen in love with his first wife, Ace, back in 1985. (For the longer version please read ACE.)
“Thank you so much for doing this for us,” Jared said. “I know it was a long drive for you but Judy says you are the best and so we knew you were the ones we wanted to deliver Grace, to the Thorns.”
Lily handed me a paper bag. “I packed you some PB and J’s and chips for the drive.”
“That was so nice of you, Lily,” I said taking the bag.
Lily slightly teary-eyed walked up and kissed one blue fender, “goodbye sweetheart.”
“We will take good care of her,” Carl said closing the tailgate on the trailer. He was back to his usual kindly nature for the first time all day. “Grace is in good hands. I promise.”
“Just get her there safe and on time, OK.” Lily sniffled, “From what Mr. Thorn says, Mrs. Thorn is a very nice woman and will take good care of her.”
“This is always the hardest part,” Jared said getting a little choked up himself, “You guys better get going or we will be standing here all day.”
“You heard the man Travis, load up,” Carl barked at me.
“Yes sir,” I said getting in the truck, “Nice to meet you, folks.”
Carl got in the truck and we started down the driveway. I leaned out the window and waved to the couple until they were out of sight. Lilly and Jared looked so happy together. Jason and Arthur looked like that. Judy and Riya did too. I could remember when Carl and I looked like that. It had been a while.
Five hours later we arrived at Mr. Thorn’s house. Mr. Thorn said he didn’t want to wait and so asked if we would mind a change of plan. Carl said we wouldn’t mind for an extra 100 dollars and Mr. Thorn agreed. Twenty minutes later Mr. Thorn sitting in my seat and me sitting in the back of the truck, we arrived at a small strip mall that was obviously on the decline. Only three of a dozen storefronts were filled. There was a clothing store but it had big signs on its windows that read “going out of business sale.” The other two businesses present were a nail salon and a Dollar General.
“Your wife works here?” I asked.
“Yep, for my best friend Margret,” responded Mr. Thorn pointing at the clothing store. “I told Grace when we first got married that she didn’t have to work. I make more than enough as a software designer but she said she was not some kind of lazy bones.” Travis couldn’t help but chuckle at the term, “Besides Margret needed the help, so she hired Grace.”
“Looks like Margret needs a different kind of help now,” I observed before I had a chance to stop myself.
“Yep. Darn Covid,” remarked Mr. Thorn.
“Covid?” I asked.
“Grace got Margret to switch to e-commerce and that helped for a while but then covid it.”
“Ah.”
“On top of that, then Greystone bought the property and raised everyone’s rents,” Explained Mr. Thorn. “They’re putting everything out of business around here.”
The three of us just sat in silence for several minutes.
“Oh well,” Mr. Thorn said sighing again, “I’ll go get Grace, Margret, Mary, and Jenny.”
“We’ll,” Carl looked at me and motioned me to open the rear trailer gate, “Unload and wait for you here, Mr. Thorn.”
Mr. Thorn went into the clothing store and we unloaded the Sunbeam in the parking lot. I then stood and guarded the car while Carl moved the truck and trailer out of sight. Mr. Thorn came out of the clothing shop leading a woman by the hand. A small group of women trailed close behind Grace as if she were a princess and they were her ladies in waiting.
There was no doubt this was Mrs. Thorn. Even with a blindfold on, her resemblance to the actress and princess was uncanny. Judy Class looked a lot like Sandra Bullock. Especially, at first glance or from a distance. Once you get to know her though, you noticed the subtle differences between her and Sandra Bullock. Mrs. Thorn was the same. Her face, body, and walk were the same as Grace Kelly’s but her hair was slightly different.
“OK, Grace,” said Mr. Thorn pulling the blindfold off, “Happy anniversary!”
Mrs. Thorn put her hands to her cheeks and screamed like one of those people on a game show who just won a trip to Hawaii. She jumped up and down and went over to her husband. She wrapped her arms around his neck and began to cover his face with kisses. Another perfect couple, I thought with envy.
When she was done with Mr. Thorn, she ran over to the cluster of women standing off to the side. There was one older woman, who I assumed was Margret, and two younger ladies who must be Mary and Jenny. She began to hug each one of them. “OH, you three are in so much trouble,” Mrs. Thorn said with a sly smile.
“It was all Daddy’s idea,” the youngest woman blurted out and pointed at Mr. Thorn.
“I just can’t believe you kept this from me,” Grace said sternly.
They all looked at the ground submissively. They then said something in unison but I couldn’t hear it. I had no trouble hearing Mrs. Thorn though, “You are all going to get such a spanking tonight.”
The three women kept looking down but smiles began to grow on their faces. She took the youngest of the ladies by the chin and tipped her face up. For a moment I thought they were going to kiss. “Especially, you Jenny. Tattle-tail,” said Mrs. Thorn.
Then to preview what was to come she patted the woman’s butt, playfully.
The girl stood as if rooted to the spot and Mrs. Thorn walked over to me. I opened the door for her and she got behind the wheel. She began to caress the leather of the seat and the lacquer of the wooden steering wheel. “I’m glad you like her ma’am,” I said a little nervous and very aroused after hearing how she would be giving out spankings later. “Miss Lily, the mechanic who restored the car, sent this,” I said handing Mrs. Thorn the scrapbook. Mrs. Thorn began to look through the book. “This way you can see all the stuff they did to restore the car.”
Mrs. Thorn’s hand touched mine and I felt a jolt. Then she smiled at me and I felt an even bigger shock. I’m gay. 100% gay. I have not so much as thought about a woman, sexually, since I started dating Carl. But when Grace looked at me, I began to doubt that choice. Her gaze was mesmerizing. Classical scholars would have us believe that one look from Helen of Troy was enough to get thousands of men to go to war for her. Grace and Helen of Troy must have been related.