The Mechanic

Chapter 2

"Well what am I supposed to say to him when I see him again? It's not as if things will be normal between us - they might never be again! Father, I really need your advice now." I was back in the workshop pacing back and forth in front of the fire. Father was seated in his favorite chair, watching me worry with an amused look splayed across his face.

"Well do you want to marry the poor boy or not?" he asked. I shrugged and flopped down in the seat next to him.

"I don't know. I guess I don't really like the whole idea of marriage anyway. I mean, I don't want to tie myself down to somebody where they'll expect me to stay at home, raising children and baking bread. I want to spend my life building things and travelling the world. I want to be an adventurer. And I'm afraid that all marrying Auden will do is force me to forget my dream and settle down much earlier than I want to. Father, do you have anything to say at all?" Father frowned and tapped at his chin, studying the fireplace with a strange look on his face.

"You remind me of your mother, you know. She wasn't too keen on marriage either - wanted to travel just as you want to and build inventions all over the world." He stopped with a small smile directed at me.

"But you did all that! You travelled to France and Germany and Spain! You got to follow your dreams and do whatever it was you wanted to do. I just don't think it'll be the same with Auden. He's told me before that it's been his dream to start a shop of his own somewhere in town. He wants what everyone else here wants: to settle, marry, start a business, and have children."

"Well you don't know what he wants if you don't talk to him. Would you want to marry him even if he did agree to travel around the world?" I slouched down even further and watched as sparks spilled onto the carpet.

"I guess I'm not against the idea. I've never thought of him in that way, but I guess I wouldn't be completely opposed to spending the rest of my life with him." Father smiled and gave me a knowing look before glancing down at his pocket watch and hopping to his feet.

"I've got to get going before it gets too dark. Now Evie, I know that you'll make the right decision no matter what. Just don't think too hard on it and follow-"

"Follow my heart, Father? I know." I smiled and stood to kiss him on the cheek.

"Do you want anything from the festival?" he asked and buttoned up his large overcoat with slightly trembling fingers.

"Just something that doesn't cost you anything. Enjoy the festival." I followed him outside to where a horse stood ready by the gate, her coat gleaming magnificently. I helped him fasten his supplies to the saddle and then watched sadly as he pulled himself up.

"I love you, darling," he said and blew me a quick kiss before snapping at the reins and galloping off to the edge of town.

I watched him go with an empty feeling in my heart - just as I always did - and only returned back inside when the only remaining part of him that I could see was the horse's footprints in the snow.

I spent the second day of Father's trip slowly building up the nerve to speak to Auden. It was only after I had finished tinkering with a broken clock that I realized what I must say and how it should be confessed. I fixed my messy braid and took of my oil-stained apron before grabbing my hat and hurrying out the door of the workshop.

Auden's mother's bakery was located only a few blocks away from where Father and I both worked, and I had frequented the route on many occasions in order to see my friend in hopes of escaping boredom. But I found the walk to the bakery not as enjoyable as it usually was, as my stomach was all a jumble of knots and my hands were shaking for reasons other than the cold.

I hurried down the road, passing the other people bustling about with packages tucked under each arm as they made their own way through the shops lining the streets. It only took me a few short minutes to reach the bakery and as I stepped inside the deliciously scented room, I heard the bells on the door tinkle behind me, alerting the workers that a new customer had stepped into the shop.

Auden was working at the counter when I walked in and a grin split across his face when he caught sight of me. "Evie! I'm so glad you've come. Do you mind waiting a second? I'm just waiting on a customer here."

I nodded and clutched my gloves tightly in my hand, watching as a young woman handed a small bag of treats to the young girl that was holding her hand and dropped coins onto the counter. She smiled at me before walking out the door, her daughter munching softly on a couple of fresh caramels.

Auden was at my side in mere seconds, grabbing his coat from off of the hanger and smiling nervously all the while.

"So I take it you've come to a decision?" he said and led me out the door.

"I have," I muttered, looping my arm through his as we made our way down the sidewalk. We continued the rest of the way in silence, both of us too nervous to make much of the conversation. Finally, he sat me down at a bench and we both stared up at the tree above us before he began to speak.

"Well I'm ready to hear what you've decided to do whenever you want to tell me." I gave him a small smile and fidgeted with the finger of one of my gloves.

"I thought over it a lot since you asked me - I actually haven't been able to think of anything else. I just wondered what you think marriage would look like for the two of us, what with both of us having different ideals for our future and everything. I guess I'm wondering what you think would happen after we managed to get married."

"Well I guess we'd buy a house and do whatever most of the couples here end up doing." I gave out a shaky breath and pressed the pad of my index finger into that of my thumb and looked back up at him.

"You do realize that I want to travel, don't you? It's what I've wanted for all of my life. And if you don't want to do that, I just don't see the reason why we should get married." Auden's face grew still and I could tell that he was hurt.

"But that's just a dream, Evie. Where are you going to get the money to do all of that? People here just don't leave, really. We're meant to stay here generation after generation. If you do say yes, then we could start a shop together, raise our children in the village. They could go to school where we did and-"

"But don't you see, Auden? I don't want any of that! I want to be an inventor and travel the world just as my mother and father did. I've already started saving, and with a few more items to sell, I can travel to the next town over and just go on from there. I don't want to be stuck in the same place that I grew up. In case you didn't realize, folks aren't as keen on me as they are on you here. The best thing I can do for them is leave. And that's why I can't marry you, Auden. We both want different things in our lives, and I don't want you to have to abandon your ideals just so you can be with me. I'm sorry." I stood quickly and swallowed as hard as I could, trying desperately to rid myself of the lump that was rising in my throat.

Auden was staring down at the ground, his eyes red and his face pale. I knew that what I'd said had hurt him, but it was the truth. "I accept your decision, Evie. And I'll only ask that you reconsider once more before I move on. You're my best friend and I don't see myself loving anyone else quite as much as I have come to love you."

"Auden, if I do reconsider I'm afraid that I'll just come to the same conclusion. I love you dearly, but I have my own set of dreams that I want to make true, and I'm sure that someone else will make you much more happy than I could ever have made you." I bit down on my lip as Auden stood and watched as he slowly fitted his hat back onto his head.

"Well all right, Evie. I hope you accomplish whatever it is you wish, and I'll see you around." He gave me a sad smile and turned his back to me, heading back down the road to the bakery, leaving me standing beside the bench feeling useless as ever.