Her Thirties Part 65 "It's Deja Vu All Over Again."
At one in the afternoon, Abe showed up at my door to drive me to the auto dealership. He was all smiles.
“Wow!” he yelped, “Dinner with Marilyn last night and breakfast with Cindy this morning—you’re quite a mover.”
“She told you about it?”
His eyes crinkled. He didn’t have to say more.
“Let’s go,” I sighed, and tossed him the keys.
As we were driving, he glanced over at me and said, “Cindy likes you—said she’d be all over you if you weren’t taken.”
“Really?”
He shook his head slowly. “ I don’t get it. She has her choice of about a hundred guys who’d give their right arm to go out with her and she’s got this thing for you—go figure.”
I felt warmth spread through me. I had no intention of pursuing anything, but knowing she had a thing for me—that was quite a kick in the head.
“Kind of makes up for all her teasing, eh Pal?”
I nodded. Abe knew. He drove on in a respectful silence letting me savor the moment.
A few minutes later, he muttered, “If I were single…” and his voice trailed off. I figured he was still thinking about Cindy—her gorgeous shiny red hair and sensual smile.
I finally had to force myself to block it out.
He had the final word. “That’s why she’s good at what she does, Pal—she’s damn good at what she does.”
Gal Reuben owned a high-end dealership. There were Porsches and Lamborghinis sitting under lights like polished apples of the sun.
My hand felt like crumpled metal after he shook it.
“So that’s your ZL1 out there? She’s a beaut. I’ll take her no problem.”
“Don’t you want your mechanic to check it out?”
“Naw—Abe told me all about it—I trust him—he knows cars.”
“Okay. So how are we going to do this?”
Gal’s eye’s twinkled. “You can go upstairs and Mirella, my cute little office manager will cut you a check for 150 grand—or, you can save 50 grand on a beauty I think will just gouge your eyes out.”
I doubted any car would gouge my eyes out, but I shrugged and played along. “Okay, show me what you’ve got.”
He smiled broadly and beckoned with a crooked finger for Abe and I to follow.
He led us through rows of gleaming autos that resembled sculptured metal artwork. When we arrived at the back service doors, he pushed a button.
Sitting in the sun was the most beautiful antique auto I had ever seen. Gal stood back, grinning in satisfaction, just watching my face.
“Holy shit!” Abe said under his breath.
It was love at first sight.
It was a gleaming black sedan with dual mounted tires, twin rear-view mirrors and paint that shone like glass.
“What model is it?” I asked.
“This is a 1940 Packard Custom Super 8.” Gal said it as proudly as if he built it himself. “It’s got a 356 V/8 and comes equipped with original air conditioning and the Packard radio.”
“What’s the interior like?”
“Showroom condition—bought from an old guy who drove it summers to dog races in Florida. It’s got 20,000 original miles and almost no wear at all on the gas or brake pedals. It’s a cream puff.”
“You want to take it out for a spin?”
I nodded. I was in a daze. I never wanted anything as much as I wanted that car—except Marilyn, of course—but I also knew she’d love it too.
“It was made in 1939 just before the War—in time for the 1940 model year. It was the first car with air conditioning.”
He handed me the keys and Abe and I got in. The inside actually smelled like 1939. There was this scent of a car sitting in the sun—all the leathers and fabrics giving off a mellow aged fragrance. I almost didn’t want to start it.
When I turned the key, I was glad I did. That V8 motor hummed and the ride felt so luxurious, I literally just circled the block and came back.
“I want it,” I told Abe matter-of-factly.
“I don’t blame you, Pal—I want it too.”
Gal hadn’t left—he was leaning up against the service doors smiling. He clapped me on the back when I handed him the keys.
“Keep them—it’s yours. Mirella’s almost finished the paperwork.”
“That fast?” I gasped.
“Fast? She’s been working on them all week. From what Abe told me, I knew this was a marriage made in heaven.”
Abe smiled at the older man. “He looks good in it, eh Gal?”
“Timeless,” he whispered. “They’re meant to make their own history.”
The remark seemed to impress even Gal himself—as if some genius inspired him to make a spontaneous prophetic utterance.
“Timeless,” he repeated again, proud of himself.
It was a gilded moment. None of us wanted to move to break the spell.
Scott does seem to be living in an odd dream world ... a fantasy past melding with the here and now.
it's a weird situation that began with a dream and now Scott is embracing it - he doesn't simply want occasional glimpses into this dream - he wants to live it
One feels there is nightmare waiting for him. Have to wait and see.
please teach about using steemit
Well, since I jumped in the middle of this story, I'll have to go back to the beginning....now that I'm hooked! Thanks for today's edition
Thank you! ....Welcome :)
You got a 2.49% upvote from @postpromoter courtesy of @johnjgeddes!
Want to promote your posts too? Check out the Steem Bot Tracker website for more info. If you would like to support the development of @postpromoter and the bot tracker please vote for @yabapmatt for witness!
It seems like a good story. I should check out the other parts. :) I am glad that they found a car that's match made in heaven :)
thanks, @bhabykat