Divine Read Online Free PDF Page B

with a laugh while putting his hands out in a reassuring
manner. “I really didn't mean to scare you. Are you okay?”
He lowered his hands and crossed his arms in front of him, taking on
the stance of a body guard.
    “ Yeah, I'm fine,”
I laughed. “I startle easily.”
    “ I can tell.”
His warm, attractive smile melted me.
    “ Yeah, um, well I
was just looking for a fish but I can't seem to find it.”
    He moved away from the
door and walked over, taking a firm position next to me with his arms
still crossed solidly in front of him. “What kind of fish are
you looking for?” he asked.
    “ A Boxfish. It's
a little square-looking fish; they're my favorite.”
    “ Yeah, I know
which ones you're talking about. You know they're toxic, right?”
    “ Really? I didn't
know that.” I was surprised, both at the new fact and the ease
in which he recalled it. I felt a little silly that he knew more than
I did about my favorite fish.
    “ Yeah,” he
continued, “when they get stressed out they emit a toxin into
the water. It kills the fish around them and sometimes they even die
if they're in a small aquarium. A lot of people don't get them for
that reason; maybe that's why they don't have any in.” He
paused for a moment and took on a slight look of embarrassment at his
continuous flow of knowledge. “Did you look over there?”
he said as he uncrossed an arm and pointed at the corner of the
narrow room. “I think they keep more salt water fish in that
tank.”
    “ No, I didn’t
look in that one.”
    We walked together to
the lone water-filled fish house that was nestled in the niche of the
space. There was something about this Jonah guy helping me that
tickled my curiosity; there was a mystery in why he was being so
friendly. But, I wasn't complaining. I was thrilled at his attempt to
assist me.
    He crouched down in
front of the large, rounded aquarium and peered through the water,
only to find a little shark inside. “Ah, I guess they don't
have any. You could always order one, I'm sure.” He turned his
head and looked up from his low position, planting his blue eyes on
me.
    I was thankful that the
sun had allowed me to face the day without a sweatshirt; I wanted him
to take in my shape. “Yeah,” I said bashfully, “I
might have to do that.”
    He stood up and flowed
back into his guarded position, respectfully keeping his eyes to
himself. “I saw you walk over here after I took your car and I
wanted to come tell you that it's done already, so you can come pick
it up now.”
    I wished that our
conversation was still on the subject of finding my fish, that way I
could spend some more time with him; but, my mom's car was done, so I
had no choice but to pick it up and say goodbye.
    “ Oh, good,”
I said hesitantly, stepping toward the door to leave the fish-filled
room; I didn't know what else to say.
    He fell into place
next to me as we walked out of the pet store and onto the sidewalk.
When there was a break in the traffic we hurried across the cross
walk, slowing our pace once we reached the other side. We stayed
silent during our walk until we reached the door to the auto shop.
    “ Ladies first,”
he said as he opened the door for me, sending the bells ringing
again. I smiled at his gesture and walked inside.
    The big guy was still
sitting at the counter, his auto magazine in one hand and a chocolate
donut in the other. I came to the conclusion that he must have owned
the place; a regular employee who needed his job wouldn't be caught
dead eating donuts and reading magazines all day.
    “ Okay Uncle Lou,
her car is all fixed up and ready to go,” Jonah told him.
    I guess the big guy
is Jonah's uncle, and apparently he isn't the owner because the name
of the shop is Dan's Auto Repair, not Lou's Auto Repair . . .
    “ Okay, let's see
what you owe,” Lou said, rolling a bite of donut around in his
mouth.
    Jonah grabbed a
note-filled clipboard off of the counter. “ I'm
not charging her for the labor; I