Saved by Silence

Chapter 8

                                                                                          Jackson

    Driving back from the grocery store, I was zoning out, and almost missed the woman over on the side of the road with her car up on a jack. Pulling in front of her, I get out, going to offer her my help to change her tire. She is muttering to herself and so lost in her process, she doesn’t even realize someone is standing next to her. I see a little girl in the back seat and she waves at me. “Excuse me Miss, do you need some help?” 

    With a loud clatter she drops the bolt tightener and scrambles back. That’s when I realize it is Kaley, the teacher from the school. “Hey, your Kaley. We met a few weeks ago at your school. I was with the fire department” and with that the confusion on her face disappears.

    “Jackson, right?” she asks, remembering my name.

    “Yeah, sorry to scare you, but I saw you trying to change your tire and figured I would see if you need any help” I point down at her back tire on the ground that is clearly flat. 

    Her cheeks pinken, “actually yes, normally I have no problem changing it on my own, but I am having trouble putting this spare tire on”. 

    “No problem” I say as I squat down and take the tools from her. Figuring this is a perfect opportunity,  I start some small talk with her. “So, is that your daughter in the car?”, I nod up while placing the spare tire on. 

    “Yeah, that is Everly. We were just on our way to my parents for dinner when my back tire blew.” she says a little frazzled. 

    “Well it is a good thing, I was driving by then.” with a pause I think about my next question carefully. “So...how old is your daughter?” 

    “She is eight, but sometimes she acts like she is 16”, she says giggling. 

    “She looks just like you” and I start tightening the tire on. “Okay...I know you don’t know me, but I really would like to get the chance to know you better.” I look up to see her gaping at me. Continuing quickly before she can say anything “would you please reconsider, possible going out with me?”. She is silent and I get lost in what I am doing waiting for the inevitable rejection.

    “Yes”, I hear her whisper. 

    Dang I knew it. Wait did she just say yes. “Really? You just said yes?”

    Hearing her giggle, I know I want to make her laugh more. “Yeah I will go out with you”, she says louder this time. 

    Releasing the jack, I grab all the equipment on the road and put it back in her trunk. Looking back at her, I pull my phone out of my pocket. Handing my phone to her, “Put your number in and I will call you with a plan”, I say, sounding too much like an excited teenager. Get it together Jackson!

    Handing me my phone back, I place it back in my pocket. “Okay, cool.”  and now I sound flustered. “I will call you tomorrow?” I question and she gives me a nod of approval. 

    “Thanks for your help, and I guess I will talk to you tomorrow” she says and gets back in her car. I wave to her daughter Everly and make my way back to my truck. Before I can even think twice about what I am doing I send Kaley a text. 

    Me: Hey, it’s Jackson. Just wanted to make sure you had my number. And I’m really hoping this is Kaley and not a fake number. 

    With that, I know I have embarrassed myself enough for one day and continue home.