Connected: Part 4 of the On The Edge Series

Chapter 47

"Present time," Tim's eyes eagerly gleamed.

"Timmy, you know you don't get presents," I teased.

"One, who says I don't get presents," he flashed his world's third-best dad watch. "And second, it's my present to you."

"You're far too excited, which makes me nervous," Billy let out a throaty laugh.

"Come on," Tim headed to the back of the barn.

"He's leading us away from people," I murmured to Billy.

"I hope he didn't get us a dead body. How would I explain that to our dinner guests?" Billy whispered back.

"I can hear you," Tim called over his shoulder.

When Billy stepped out the barn's back door, he stopped dead, blocking Tess and me.

"It's muddy back here," he cautioned. In one swift movement, he had me cradled in his arms.

"Hi," I smiled up at him, and he kissed my forehead.

"Hello," he added as he pulled away.

"Hi," I added again as I rested my head on his chest.

"Too many greetings, Lil," his chest lept with a chuckle.

"Tim," Tess called out.

"I told you not to wear those shoes," Tim barked back.

"Timmy!" I scolded.

"I'm coming; I'm coming." But he didn't cradle Tess; he slung her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. "This is what over fifteen years of marriage looks like." He added with a wink.

We trudged through the mud to the garage, where the boys set Tess and me down.

"Ready?" Timmy said as his hand hovered over a sheet on the wall.

"Is it something dead?" I asked with a wince.

"No, of course not," Tim's voice was filling with annoyance.

"Is it a picture of you; I see enough of you?" Bill guessed.

"No, but that is a great idea. I'll keep it in mind for next Christmas," Tim winked. "Here we go."

He pulled the sheet down to reveal a steel garage sign that said, Just A Mechanic from Duluth.

"My God, it's perfect," Billy's words filled with awe.

"And it's from Timmy," I agreed.

"You two have got to stop doing that when I do something right. It's not like it rarely happens," Tim whined.

"I love it, Timmy." I threw my arms around him.

"Great, because I got one more thing, and you may not find this as great." He pushed off me softly and pulled a card wallet from his coat pocket. He took one last glance down be for handing it to Billy.

Billy inspected it and then plucked out a card. "Really, man," He laughed as he turned the card to me.

It was a business card that read, Billy Collins, Just A Fucking Mechanic from Duluth.

I burst out in laughter. "I need one of those!"

"Oh, don't worry; I had to have about 200 of them printed up," Tim smiled, pleased with himself.

Billy slid an arm around me as we gazed over the business card. Suddenly, his proximity was overwhelming.

"Okay, I want a few minutes alone with my mechanic." I shooed Tim and Tess away.

"Tim, you carry that saint of a woman!" Billy called after Tim and Tess as they headed out.

"Hi," I smiled up at him.

"Hello," he leaned in close, so the whisper of his words floated over my neck.

"Hi," I said again.

"You do that on purpose," he laughed between kisses on my neck.

"I do," I said with the same breathy inflection I had less than an hour ago.

"Mmhmm, I do," he added.

"I love you, Billy."

"I love you, Mrs. Collins."