For a moment, both of them were quiet.
Daniel realized something strange.
A frightened teenager he had known for less than an hour now knew the central fact around which his entire life had reorganized.
Maybe it was easier telling strangers.
They had no memory of who you used to be.
Daniel continued.
"After she died, it was just Chloe and me."
"Was Chloe nine?"
"Nine."
"That's really young."
"Yeah."
"How did you do it?"
Daniel let out a quiet breath.
"I didn't know what I was doing."
Grace looked surprised.
"You seem like you know what you're doing."
"With engines."
"Everything."
He laughed.
"Absolutely not."
He wiped one hand on a rag.
"I messed up breakfast."
"How?"
"You'd be surprised."
"I forgot school picture day. Twice."
Grace smiled.
"I washed a red sweatshirt with Chloe's white soccer uniform."
"Oh no."
"Pink for the season."
"Did she hate you?"
"Temporarily."
Grace laughed.
Daniel smiled too.
Then became quieter.
"You just keep going."
He turned back toward the car.
"That's what people don't tell you. When something terrible happens, you think there should be some moment when life stops because yours did."
Grace listened.
"But morning still comes. School still starts. Bills still arrive. Kids still need lunch."
He tightened the new clamp.
"So you get up."
Grace looked at him for a long time.
"That's kind of what my mom does."
"I'm guessing it is."
Daniel refilled the coolant.
Then added oil.
He checked for further leakage.
Nothing.
"Let's test it."
Grace stood.
Daniel started the engine.
Smooth.
No clunk.
No smoke.
Temperature stable.
He watched for several minutes.
Then smiled.
"You're good."
Grace blinked.
"Really?"
"Really."
"That's it?"
"That's it."
She stared at the engine.
"I thought my car was dying."
"It was being dramatic."
Grace walked toward him.
"How much?"
Daniel shook his head.
"Nothing."
She stopped.
"No."
"Yes."
"You replaced something."
"A clamp."
"And coolant."
"I have coolant."
"And oil."
"Also have oil."
"I can't just not pay you."
Daniel turned off the engine.
"Sure you can."
Grace dug into her pocket.
She pulled out an old brown wallet.
Inside were a few bills.
She counted.
"Fifteen dollars."
Daniel looked at her.
"I can bring more tomorrow."
"Put it away."
"But—"
"Grace."
Her eyes filled again.
"Please don't make me feel worse."
That surprised him.
"How would I do that?"
"By making me feel like I'm taking advantage of you."
Daniel softened.
"You're not."
He reached for a business card from the desk.
He wrote something on the back.
Grace took it.
"What is this?"
"My number."
"Isn't it already on the front?"
"Shop number is on the front. My cell is on the back."
She stared.
"If the car acts weird again, pull over and call."
"You'd come?"
"Yes."
"Even at night?"
Daniel smiled.
"I'd complain."
Grace almost laughed.
"But yes."
She held the card carefully.
"Why?"
Daniel looked at her.
"Why what?"
"Why are you doing all this?"