It was mid-morning when Harold, the homeowner came back home. Brandi and Charley were walking around outside when they saw Harold pull up near the house. Harold got out of his 2002 Mercedes Benz and told Charley that the mechanic briefly looked over his SUV and thinks the problem is the alternator.
“The alternator? But I have the keys, how did he even get the hood open?” Charley asked.
“He’s a mechanic, he has his ways… If you want him to fix it here is his number,” Harold handed him the business card.
Charley took the card and looked at it.
“Bob did say though that he would have to drive to the city to pick up the alternator for your car. He doesn’t have it in stock at his shop,” Harold closed his car door.
“So what does that mean Charley? Are we not going to the cabin yet?” Brandi stared at him.
“Hold on, let me call this Bob and hear it from him,” Charley pulled his cell phone out of his back pocket.
Charley walked away from Harold and dialed the number. Feeling uncomfortable, Brandi smiled at Harold and then rushed over to Charley. Harold, locked his car and then walked up the front porch and into the house. The first attempt to call the mechanic, Charley heard a busy tone. He then hung up and dialed the number again. Brandi watched Charley as he paced back and forth until someone on the other end answered.
“Hi, yes, can I speak to Bob please?” Charley asked.
Bob told Charley that the alternator seems to be the problem and that if he wants it fixed he will have to go into the city tomorrow to get the part. Charley was not happy to hear about the tomorrow part of the conversation. He knew that Brandi will be furious. Charley walked further away from her and quietly asked Bob why he couldn’t go to the city today. Bob told him that he has a previous job to get done first. Charley understood and told Bob to do what he has to, to get his vehicle working again.
“Would it be okay if we came to get our luggage?” Charley asked him.
“Oh, sure. I’ll be here all day,” Bob said.
Brandi rushed up to Charley as he hung up, “well, what did he say?”
“Let me think for a minute,” Charley looked at Brandi.
Just then, Lou and Sandra walked out of the house and down the steps. They asked what was going on and if the car was going to be fixed. Charley told them that the alternator went out and that yes it will be fixed. He explained that the problem was that the mechanic won’t be able to get the part until tomorrow.
“Tomorrow? What are we supposed to do until then?” Brandi huffed.
Charley told them that they can either ask Mr. and Mrs. Holt if they can stay there for another night or two, or rent a car and head to the cabin. Brandi and Sandra were all for renting a car, but with the extra expense of fixing the SUV was going to make money tight for Charley.
“The only problem is, Lou, you and Sandra will have to pay for the car rental,” Charley said.
Lou looked at Sandra and Brandi, “I guess I could do that.”
Brandi and Sandra were excited to hear about leaving for the cabin soon but Charley was bummed about the estimated cost of fixing his car. Before Lou could look up car rentals on his phone, Mrs. Holt walked outside and asked if everything was alright. Lou walked up to the house and asked if she had a telephone book.
“Oh, yes, come in and I’ll get it for you,” Virginia smiled.
Charley walked up the steps of the front porch and followed Lou and Mrs. Holt into the parlor.
“What do you need the phone book for, a different mechanic?” Virginia asked.
“No, I want to rent a car so that we can go to the cabin we have rented,” Lou said.
“See, it’s going to take a couple of days to get my car fixed,” Charley said.
“Oh, well, why don’t you stay here until your vehicle is fixed,” Virginia took the phone book out of a desk drawer. “After all, you already have your own rooms.”
“I’m sure Charley and I would be fine with that but Sandra and Brandi want to leave,” Lou smiled at Virginia.
“Oh, I understand,” Virginia handed the phone book to Lou.
“You know, we are having a party later tonight and some of our friends are supposed to stop by. We already have a pig cooking, so you are more than welcome to join us,” Virginia smiled.
“That does sound tempting,” Charley smiled.
Lou looked through the phone book for car rental places while Virginia motioned Charley to follow her. Charley couldn’t help but follow this blonde beauty out onto the back patio. Her smile alone was very charming, not to mention the way the slinky summer dress hugged her body as she walked in front of him.
“Where are we going?” Charley walked alongside Virginia.
“I want to show you where I spend a lot of my time,” Virginia took Charley down a grassy path.
Back in the house Sandra and Brandi found Lou on the phone in the parlor/ family room. They heard as he asked the person if they have any kind of car as long as it fits four people.
“Okay, thank you anyways,” Lou hung up his phone.
“What did they say?” Sandra asked.
“They don’t have anything available and the next closest rental place is in the city,” Lou walked over and plopped on a chair.
“Maybe, Mr. and Mrs. Holt would be nice enough to take us to the cabin?” Brandi spoke up.
“And how are we going to pick up Charley’s car when it’s done?” Lou grumbled.
“Where is Charley anyways?” Sandra looked around.
“Um, I think he went off somewhere with Virginia,” Lou looked back at his phone.
Please join me again for chapter 6 of: The Guests.
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