Chapter 8: Fear the Rolling Dead

At the shop, the mechanic came out to greet them, “Let’s go into my office.” Nio was now expecting bad news from Lorena. He knew she would give them the unvarnished truth.

“Nio, you didn’t tell me your new girlfriend was so hot-looking. Ever considered a career in the mechanical arts, darlin’? Well, I fixed your a/c, but it’s kind of wasted effort. Your little four-banger has a crack in its engine block, allowing coolant into one of your pistons. In this situation, total failure is inevitable. I think you only have a few hundred miles left before you’re stranded on the freeway.”

Lorena continued, “The body and interior are fine, so I can ship it to Mexico to be rebuilt. So, I can offer you $800 to take it off your hands. What do you think?”

Kayla was teary. “I can’t do my two jobs without my car. And I can’t buy another car with only $800. I don’t know what to do!”

Nio: “Hey, don’t cry. Take the money. I know Lorena is being fair with you. I have an idea that will work for both of us. Trust me, please.”

“I haven’t even called Sheila yet!” Lorena reached for her office phone and dialed from memory. “Sheila, it’s Lorena at the shop. Yeah, I’m good. Listen, Nio’s got a new girlfriend, and I just had to tell her that her little car is kaput. Yeah. Could you please tell her that Nio and I are not only supremely good looking but also completely trustworthy? Yeah. Here’s Kayla.”

“Hello, Sheila. Yes. Yes, he’s here. He did? What about your husband? Really! So you think I should trust him? And Lorena? You are? When? Well, congratulations! Thank you. Bye.”

“Sheila’s pregnant, due in January. Yeah, and you’re going to be the godfather, Nio. Lorena, thank you for your offer, I’ll take it.”

About 45 minutes later, the old car was emptied and the paperwork completed with a check for $800. “Adiós, stupid car. Thank you for everything, Lorena. Take us back to your place, Nio. I need a hot bath and a little lunch, or dinner, or something.”

Back at Nio’s place, Kayla went straight to the bathroom and started filling the tub. She stripped off Janaína’s clothing and swimsuit and sank into the hot steamy bathwater. “Ahh!”

In the kitchen, Nio was making pão-de-queijo (Brazilian cheese bread). When Kayla emerged (wearing the bathrobe) he had prepared the dining table with candles and place settings. Taking her seat, she watched bring out her plate with steamed vegetables and the cheese bread. She also had a goblet of ice water and a wine glass.

Nio brought out his plate and sat down next to her. He explained the pão-de-queijo and poured the wine. “You spoil me, Brazil boy. I don’t deserve it.”

“Eat first, then dessert, then we’ll talk about what you deserve, sweetie.”

“OK, Nio, but you need to let me cook for us. I promise you’ll enjoy it.”

“Ready for dessert? It’s apple pie with ice cream.” “Yum!”

Afterwards, Kayla leaned over and kissed Nio fervently, asking, “Now, are you going to watch me clean up?” Once again, she left her robe on the chair and attacked the kitchen while Nio cleared the table and extinguished the candles. Scraping out the baking pan and mixing bowl required serious effort, which provided plenty of jiggling for his entertainment.