The Color of a Memory (The Color of Heaven Series) Read Online Free Page B

replied.
    “Yep. Serves us right, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”
    “Me neither.”
    We gazed at each other across the table for a moment.
    Suddenly I worried that I had become too relaxed. As I was driving over here, I’d promised myself I would keep up my guard, not let him mesmerize me with his good looks and amusing conversation.
    But I liked him. I enjoyed talking with him and I wanted to know more about his life and his family and all the things that were important to him. There was an obvious connection between us and I wondered if he was simply one of those people who made everyone feel comfortable.
    “So are you going to show me those trash cans or what?” I asked when we finished eating.
    “Sure.” He pushed his chair back to rise. “And there’s something else I want to show you, too. Let’s clear the table first.”
    “Good idea. Can’t take any chances with those crazy Manchester raccoons.”
    As I followed him to the kitchen, I wondered what it was he wanted to show me.

 
    Chapter Seven
     
    “Wow,” I said as I ran my hand over the shiny black hood of the vintage car in the garage. “What year is it?”
    “It’s a 1948 Buick Street Rod. I thought you might like to see it because I noticed you pulled up in a ’76 Mustang. Is that yours?”
    “Yeah, I bought it a few years ago.” I bent to peer in the side window of the Buick. “It needs work but I don’t know anything about restoring old cars. I just liked it and it was cheap.”
    “You should let me take a look at it,” Alex said as he watched me move around the old car. “I’ve been working on this baby for a while and there’s not much else to do with her. I just come out here every once in a while…dust her off…polish her fender. Since I’m going to be off work for the next few weeks, I could use a new project.”
    I straightened and regarded him over the hood. “Yeah?”
    He nodded.
    “Only if you let me help you,” I said. “I’m interested. I’d like to learn.”
    “Sure.”
    I felt a sudden rush of excitement. Returning my attention to the Buick, I ran a finger along the shiny door handle. “Can I get in?” I asked.
    “Go ahead. It’s open.”
    Simultaneously, we opened both doors. Alex got into the driver’s seat and I got in beside him. We shut the doors and sat there. I checked out the vintage dash and looked up at the ceiling.
    “How long have you had it?” I asked.
    “Forever. It belonged to my dad. It was his first car. He bought it when he was seventeen and never parted with it. It’s my favorite memory of being with him as a kid. I remember how he used to take me and my sister to the race track on Saturdays. He’d bet on the horses while Sarah and I would run off to a creek on the far side of the track behind the stables. We used to catch frogs and tadpoles. When he died, Mom put the car in storage and I didn’t see it for nearly two decades. A few years ago, I finally went down to the facility and got it out, started to put some work into it. Garry was helpful. He taught me a lot. You should have seen it before.”
    “You did a great job. I wonder what it’s worth now. Probably a lot.”
    “I have no idea,” Alex said, “but it doesn’t really matter because I’ll never sell it. Someday I’ll give it to my son.”
    I narrowed my eyes at him. “What if you have a daughter?”
    He thought about that for a moment. “Then I suppose she’ll be the one to get the keys on her sixteenth birthday.”
    I laughed. “You’d trust a sixteen-year-old to drive this priceless heirloom?”
    He considered that as well. “You’re right. What am I thinking? Maybe I should just get a giant glass case to store it in.”
    We sat for a moment in silence, contemplating things.
    “Do you ever take it out on the road?” I asked.
    “I have, but not often,” he replied, palming the wheel. “I’ll tell you what—when I get this cast off, I’ll take you out cruising on a Friday night. We’ll