Red Truck Rendezvous

need to know everything that is damaged and then find the parts. I can pull the engine this weekend if you’re in such a rush and start taking it apart, but I can’t tell you anything until I’m done checking it out.” His dark eyes glinted, pinning the pretty woman to the spot as he tried to make her understand.
“Oh.”
The young woman looked so sad and despondent that Pablo reached out to touch her arm, but pulled back as his work blackened fingers contrasted starkly with the pristine elegance of her dark blouse.
“Why don’t you go sit in my office while I finish up?” he finally asked a half-smile tugging at his lips. “I’ll come in, and we’ll go over the whole thing once I’m done.”
“If I must,” Portia felt her shoulders sag. She had taken a gamble and lost. Starting her journey with her vintage truck and trailer before they were ready had backfired as her father had said it would. This trip was not the jaunt she had planned, but she would have to deal with it.
Deep down, Portia had known starting like this was a bad plan, but together the truck and trailer were so dog-gone cute, she had given in to temptation. With visions of beachside campsites along the white sandy shores of Lake Michigan, dancing in her head, she had thrown caution to the wind.
“Come on,” Pablo motioned for her to follow him as they ducked through an old double door that led into what must have once been a former horse stall. The ceiling, its dark beams exposed, hung low over their heads, but bright sunshine pouring through the six-over-six window made the space seem large and welcoming.
“There’s coffee there, and soda in the fridge.” Pablo pointed at a small table and mini-fridge. “I’ll be back as soon as I’m done and will give you every detail.  Make yourself comfortable.”
Portia didn’t even have time to reply before the handsome mechanic had slipped back out the door, leaving her alone to examine her surroundings more closely.
The office was nothing like she might have expected, and to her surprise, bright paintings of old cars, in a variety of different mediums, hung on the walls. Although the desk was covered in papers, the office wasn’t cluttered with old auto parts or discarded tools. Instead, it boasted an old leather sofa, two comfortable chairs, and what must be a bathroom area through another closed door. In fact, the whole space was well ordered, neat, and welcoming.
Taking a turn around the room, Portia walked to the window pulling the latch and pushing it wide to let the fresh summer air inside. Leaning on the sill, she examined her surroundings and smiled. The land around the barn was verdant and green, and down the road, she could just make out an elegant old house near the shimmer of water. Perhaps her dream of a lakeside holiday wasn’t so far away after all.
Leaving the window open, Portia pushed her long blonde hair over her shoulder and headed for the coffee pot on a tall bench style table along the far wall. She had just reached for a mug when a sparkle of red glinted at the corner of her eye.
Placing the coffee pot back on its stand, she turned, spotting the beautifully wrapped packaged on the table. The small box shimmered like hundreds of diamonds in the bright sunlight, drawing her in. In all of her life, the young woman had never seen such a compelling package. It was simple, elegant, and brilliant all at the same time, and a warm glow seemed to radiate from it.
Lifting the present, it had to be a present, she turned it in her hands, wondering at the play of light along the bright red wrapping. The box was no bigger than a Rubik’s-cube and fit comfortably in her hand.  Looking around to see that she was still alone, Portia gave the box a light shake. Silence answered her inquisitive gesture.
What could come wrapped in such a perfect package? Who had sent it? Why was it sitting here in the office unopened? All these thoughts raced through Portia’s mind, and she desperately wanted each one answered. She needed to know what was in the box. She needed to see what prize rested within. Placing a pretty pink nail beneath one fold, she began to peel back the adhesive with a gentle tug.
“I think I’m done.” Pablo’s voice behind her made Portia jump, dropping the package to the table as she scurried back for her un-poured mug of coffee, guilt at almost being caught gurgling inside.
“Already?” Portia asked, lifting her empty mug to her lips and pretending to sip. She could feel her cheeks flaming, and she hid behind the oversized cup as the mechanic approached.
“As done as I’m going to be for now. You’d better sit down.” Pablo grabbed an extra chair, pulling it up to his desk before grabbing the coffee pot and pouring the dark brew into his cup. “Refill?”
“Uhm, yeah, sure,” Portia’s smile was sickly as she held out her mug for him. “So, what do we know?”
Pablo took his time adding cream and sugar to his coffee then indicated the seat once more as he slipped into his desk chair. “You really should be sitting,” his dark eyes raked over her knowing that his next words would not be welcome.
Portia eased into the chair offered, cradling the mug on her lap between suddenly icy hands.
“To start, you’ve blown a head gasket and overheated the engine that means I will probably need to rebuild the whole engine. It looks like it has been leaking for quite a while, and there’s coolant about everywhere. On top of that, the transmission needs a whole new rebuild as well. You’ve all but stripped the gears, and the synchronizers are bad. You’ll need new brakes, new drums, and if I were you, I’d replace all the hoses and lines as well.”
Portia sagged in her seat. She