"Fine," she replied. They were. . . really they were. No matter some of the hardships she had to endure for the past year or so. Things were slowly getting back to a sense of normalcy for her. Life was never easy for her but the past year had been especially hard. She lost her job and it took almost over a year to finally get the one she had. Her losing her job made her come dangerously close to her losing her apartment and possibly having to move back in with her parents. Thank God she had a patient landlord who genuinly liked her.
Now that she had a new job she felt like she was back! Like she had been in a coma for a while and now she was awake and starting over again. The only thing that remained dormant in her life was her love life or lack thereof. Not that her lack of a love life was a huge shock to her. It had been kind of dead for some time now. She was hoping though, that with the new job maybe her love life would pick up as well.
Today she was having Sunday lunch with her mother. Something they had made a regular thing since she moved out. They'd go to church together and then have lunch either at a restaurant or at her mother's house.
"Are you sure?" her mother asked as she took a bite out of her sandwhich. Today they were eating at her house.
"I'm fine. I got my new job and things are finally falling back into place. Everything is fine," she replied.
"Ok Kayla, you know how I am. I'm your mother I'm supposed to be worrisome where my children are concerned," she said taking a sip of her juice.
"I know, I know. I just don't want you to worry too much. I really think things are looking up."
Since they had gotten that out of the way they were able to move on to more lighter conversation. Kayla told her mom about her new job and some new decorating ideas she had for her apartment. Her mother told her about the cruise she was thinking about taking and whatever news she had about her little sister, Ashley who was away at school. They went on and on until Kayla looked down at her watch and noticed the time.
"Oh look at the time. I would love to sit here and talk the day away with you, mom, you know that. I really do have to go though," she said rising from her seat opposite her mother.
"Ok I understand sweetie. I don't want to hold you up," she said rising as well and preparing to walk her to the door. At the door they hugged. "Don't you be a stranger," her mother replied as she did at the end of every Sunday visit.
"I'll call you when I get home," Kayla replied. She headed out the door and hopped into her car, a black '94 Toyota Camry. Maybe if I save up from this new job I can get a new car, she thought as she put her key into the ignition and prayed that the engine would start. She used most of the money from her previous 'new car fund' to pay for her rent while she was jobless. Her prayer was answered. The car started and she pulled onto the street waving to her mother who she knew was watching.
She was driving along listening to the radio and singing along when she heard a horrible sound. It was almost like a very small explosion. She blew out her right front tire and momentarily lost control of the car. She gained control quick enough to pull over to the side of the road before she did any damage to herself or anyone else on the road. She sat there for a moment thinking, It's always something.
"I pray that you start and you do. Then what do you go and do? You blow a freakin' tire," she said to the car. Kayla looked down at herself. She was still in her church clothes. "How on earth am I going to be able to change a tire in my church clothes?" It was just too much, it was almost comical. She was sure she'd make a funny sight trying to get down and change the tire so she didn't get her clothes messed up. This made her laugh. She just couldn't help it. Instead of feeling hopeless she found her predicament hysterical. She was so busy laughing at herself that she didn't notice the car pull up behind her until the driver was knocking on her window. She was slightly startled as she rolled down the window.
"Are you ok? I saw you lose control back there. Do you need some help?" he asked.
"Uuuhh. . . yeah! I'm ok. . . no harm done. I blew out my tire. I'd change it myself but I'm not exactly dressed for it," she replied.
"I think I can help you with that," he said. She looked down at him and sure enough he was dressed in jeans, a t-shirt and sneakers. Kayla opened her door and stepped out into the street. She followed him to the blown tire.
"Do you have a spare?" he asked.
"Oh yeah. You're dealing with a former Girl Scout here. I'm always prepared. I know how to change it too just not in church clothes," she said in a rush. Stop rambling, she thought.
"Oh I believe you! I wasn't doubting your 'independent woman' abilities," he laughed following her to the trunk. She unlocked it and threw it open displaying the spare. He reached in and pulled it out throwing a smile at her when he realized that it was full of air.
"I see you keep your spare filled as well," he replied. She nodded with a satisfied smile. She noticed he had a really nice smile it reached his eyes. He went to work on her flat. Nice butt, she thought as he bent over. Ok stop looking at his butt. She continued to watch him, noting the shock of blonde hair that fell to his ears, pouty bottom lip and his blue. . . no gray eyes. He had very clear gray eyes. She had never remembered seeing anyone who had gray eyes. . . much less meeting someone with them. She had heard of them before, though. His seemed almost silver. He had a little 5 o'clock shadow making him look a little rough and rugged.
Kayla watched him work. She was quite surprised at how fast he had the old tire off and was now proceeding to put on the spare. Maybe she was just overly distracted. He had finished putting the spare on and was reagrding her now as he wipped his hands on his jeans.
"Wow thanks! I really appreciate this. So what is my knight in shining armor's name?" she asked.
"Andrew. . . Andrew Campbell," he replied standing and stretching out his hand. She took it and smiled greatfully at him. He was tall too, she loved tall guys. Not that it was hard to be taller than her. She was only 5'2", afterall.
"And you are?" he asked breaking her out of her thoughts.
"Oh! I'm Kayla Martin," she replied still shaking his hand.
"Nice to meet you Kayla."
"You too. . . Andrew. I better be going. I want to thank you again for helping me."
"No problem. It was nothing." Kayla went to get into her car Andrew followed close behind her. He opened the car door for her. Just as he was about to walk back over to his car he stopped. Kayla had already started her engine.
"Hey I was wondering would you like to go out sometime," he said in a rush.
"Uuuhh yeah! Of course I would. I mean. . . I'd love to," she replied. Andrew flashed a dazzling smile. They exchanged numbers.
"Ok. So are you sure you're going to be ok?" he asked. She looked up at him into his silvery eyes.
"Yeah I'm sure. I'm going to be. . . fine."
