Steve

"Okay you've got three cars in at nine, two need a brake job and one needs an alignment, you've got the 86 Firebird in at ten for the engine replacement, and then at eleven you've got the pick up coming in to get the back end replaced." Tessa said, writing it all down on the white board. My mechanics all nodded, each job was written in a different colour according to the difficulty, if an apprentice could take it or if they had to be helping someone else.

"Also, we need to start wearing the uniforms boys. You all voted on the type, colour, and material, so there's no excuses not to be wearing them. I've gained fifty pounds and I still wear mine and most of the time people don't even see me. Do I need to remind you all that there is still absolutely no smoking in the shop," She looked directly at me before continuing, "Or in the office. The break room and outside are your only places allowable."

The boys nodded again, most of them mumbling sorry. Tessa was my business partner, but I let her handle everything outside of the shop, which meant appointments, scheduling, finances, and ordering. Most of the boys however, saw her more as a sister or a Mom, a lot of these kids were from the same side of the tracks that Tessa and I were. I still found it hard to believe that I owned and ran the biggest shop in Tulsa and the surrounding areas: when I started my shop I had two hoists and an office/ break room. Now we had ten hoists, over twenty mechanics, and top of the line equipment.

"I shouldn't have to constantly remind you guys about the smoking." She said, rubbing her huge bump. "Unless you want me to completely ban smoking, stay in the areas that we've elected to smoke in. I don't want my baby having brain damage or any problems because of cigarette smoke."

Again they nodded and apologized, before she informed us that we'd be getting a shipment in of chemical and that either myself or the assistant manager needed to be there to sign and to move it. We had a very strict procedure when it came to chemicals, but it saved us from anyone accidentally injuring themselves.

"Finally, starting next week I won't be around as often. I've decided to take some time off before the baby comes, but don't think I won't still hear these things. I'll be dropping in unexpectedly, not even Steve will know when I'll be coming by. We're running a business here, not a frat house. Understood?" They all nodded and went to start the days work. The newest apprentice waited behind as I'd asked him to, and I escorted him upstairs to the office, behind Tessa. We sat down with him and Tessa leaned forward,

"Andrew, I'm very sorry to tell you this but we're going to have to let you go."

"What?!" He exclaimed, clenching his fists together.

"You've been given three warnings… Two for unsafe behaviour and one for in-orderly conduct. There have been several occasions work has become unsafe not only for yourself but for others around you… There have been numerous occasions you've come into work intoxicated or used recreational drugs on the job and that will not be tolerated."

He grit his teeth and stood up abruptly, swiping the numerous papers and picture frames off her desk, slamming his fists down, causing her to jump. I jumped up and pulled him back, the assistant manager, Collin, coming up to help me escort Andrew out.

God I hated that my reflexes were slowing down. I hated that I let him get far enough to scare her like that- her last boyfriend had been abusive and it had taken her a long time to get used to working around my guys, much less feel comfortable around them. However when all of the guys came up one by one to make sure she was okay and help her gather the papers I could tell that she still trusted the rest of us.

"Get started on the work, I'll be down in a minute." I told Collin and he nodded,

"Take your time Steve." I nodded and went over to give Kasey a hug. I could feel her trembling softly and I kissed her head,

"Shh… I'm right here Theresa… It's me, Steve." After a couple minutes she slowly stopped trembling, hugging me tighter. This was how some of our embraces were spent. Either I was consoling her, or sometimes after severe nightmares she'd console me. I still had flashbacks of serving in the war, and that was almost fourteen years ago.

"We've got two interviews today to take Andrew's spot…" She said softly, resting her head on my chest.

I nodded, rubbing her back, "Okay, just let me know when you want me up here babe." She kissed me softly. I heard her phone buzz and I knew it was probably her Mom- she babysat Julian during the time that he wasn't at school. He was in kindergarten but only in the half day program.

She nodded and started rearranging her desk and I went down to work.

"You excited the baby is on their way?" Collin asked, looking over from the tool shop. I nodded and grabbed what I'd need to start replacing the rear end,

"Yeah… They just grow too fast you know?"

He nodded, "Before you know it, your little girl is sixteen and wanting to go to prom with a guy that's two years older than her."

I grinned, "Linda got a boyfriend?" He grinned and shrugged,

"Boyfriend, boy toy, same thing." He said, he was the oldest at the shop, being almost forty two years old.

I laughed and shook my head, going to my work bench to double check I had the necessary parts. I'd be doing the rear end myself, even though I knew Tessa was already leaving early to go and see Olivia.

I heard my name being paged over the PA a couple hours later and I wiped my hands off, grabbing a rag to wipe the sweat off of my face. I went into the office and saw Tessa talking to a younger looking person with a short hair cut, whatever hair was long enough was in a pony tail.

"Steve, this is Sara. Sara, this is my husband Steve, he runs the shop part of the business." She turned and smiled at me, shaking my hand,

"Nice to meet you."

"You as well," I said, dragging a chair to sit beside Tessa while she started the interview. I was here to listen to her response and judge how technical it was, then we had a small test that was conducted on a work bench outside the office so we could gauge their skill level. After her interview was over I brought her out to perform the test, before saying good bye and letting her know that we'd call her with our choice.

"So what did you think?" Tessa asked and I sat beside her, reaching over to rub her bump,

"I don't know babe….Do you think she could fit in with these guys? I don't want to hire her and then she can't handle it and she quits."

"Well… I mean she has the best resume and people skills… I've had two other interviews already and none were as personable or as smart as her."

I looked over at Tessa and I could tell that she was excited that we might be hiring the first girl to work in the shop,

"Fine… Give the girl a call and see If she can be in tomorrow morning for eight." She grinned happily and nodded, standing up to kiss me,

"I'm going to call her and then I'm going out for lunch with Olivia."

"Okay babe. Will you be back?"

She checked her watch before shaking her head, "I don't think so, Mom has an appointment and I told her I'd pick Julian up so that she could make it on time. What did you want for dinner?"

"It's upto you baby, you cooking?" I shrugged,

"I'd prefer not to, I feel like a whale."

"Okay, I'll pick something up for dinner then. Text me and let me know if you want anything."

She smiled and nodded, getting her keys before going to her car.

Tessa

I met Olivia at our favourite coffee shop, on main street. I was happy to see that she already had a booth, I could not stand sitting in a wooden chair. I walked in holding Julian's hand, Mom called me on my way over and said her appointment was moved up so I had to pick him up earlier than I thought.

"Hey!" Olivia said, standing up to give me a hug before picking Julian up. He giggled and wrapped his arms around her neck, squealing when Olivia told him that she had bought him a muffin. I smiled,

"Thanks Ollie, how are things going?" I asked, pulling out my own drink that I'd made at home (apple juice and sparking water).

She smiled, "Really good, Two-bit and I bought a house!"

"Oh my gosh honey that's fantastic!" I said, eating a snack that I packed. She smiled and rested her head on her hand, running her fingers through Julian's hair. Steve and I had a two bedroom apartment close to the shop, but it was on the lower end of 'middle class' territory. We were hoping that we would have been able to afford something by the time we had this baby but it wasn't looking that way. At this point it was too late to move.

"Yeah, I mean it was kind of above the budget of what we wanted to spend but… I doubt we're going to be having a baby so… Why not get a nice house and then start the adoption process?"

"Olivia… Have you been to the doctor recently?" I asked, eyeing as she ate a weird combination of snacks and had a hand subconsciously resting on her stomach.

"No, there's been no need. He said to wait until I'd taken drug store tests and I'd gotten a positive… So far they've all been negative."

"Ollie… Don't take this the wrong way but I think you're pregnant."

"Don't Tessa… Don't."

"Olivia I'm serious… You've been gaining weight, your boobs are getting bigger… Hell you've been peeing every fifteen minutes and you're eating cream cheese and a chocolate chip muffin. When was the last time you had a period?"

"Oh… Oh my god…"

"I'm not a doctor so I can't say for sure… But I think you should go to the doctors."

She swallowed hard, "I… I can't get his hopes up again Tess… It breaks his heart every time. All he wants is to be a father and for all the time we've been together I've done nothing but disappoint him. What kind of wife am I? I can't even give my husband the thing he wants most."

"Olivia… It's not you. Okay? Sometimes these things take time… I mean we got pregnant with Julian after a try and then we had to try for two years for another baby because of all the stress."

"I don't even know if we can afford a baby now… With spending what we did on a house."

"Well… That's why Steve and I haven't left our apartment. When we moved in there we weren't planning to stay there and have two kids… We were counting on spending a year there and then move out."

She nodded and took a deep breath, "Okay… Okay."

"Trust me Ollie… If there's anything I know about having a baby… The timing is never right."

We sat quietly before the door opened and I saw my ex boyfriend walk in. My hands immediately started trembling and Olivia took them in hers quickly. I really hoped that Matthew wouldn't notice me. He was full of tattoo's, and not just a sleeve like Steve had. Matthew had both arms, his legs, and most of his body tattooed.

"He's just grabbing a coffee… He hasn't seen you yet." Olivia whispered, and I brought my hair over my shoulder to cover my face. I had heard he'd gotten out of jail but I didn't think he'd stay in Tulsa. He had been the second in command of a local gang, The Tiber Street Tigers. But that was almost sixteen years ago… I dated him for a couple years before Olivia and the rest of my family had helped me get the strength to file a restraining order and press charges.

Thankfully our family had the money for a lawyer where he didn't and he ended up serving almost fifteen years. Just as he was about to walk out Olivia whispered,

"Shit." My heart started pounding and her grip tightened.

"Well, well, well. How have you been, Tessa?" He asked, and without even looking at him I could tell he was sneering. I couldn't talk, my throat felt swallowed and I couldn't look up at him.

"Fuck off Matthew." A by stander said, and I looked up to see Tim Shepherd standing there. Steve came in immediately after and came over, standing beside Tim,

"Get out of here Matthew before we make you." Tim said, crossing his arms. He rolled his eyes before walking away. Olivia stood up and Steve helped me stand up,

"Come on… Let's get you home and in a nice warm bath." I nodded and he brought Julian and I out to the car, bringing us to our apartment. Steve helped me undress and get into the bath, and he left the door open while he and Julian played with some toy cars in the hallway.

Part of me wanted to ask my parents for a loan to buy a better place, a house for that matter so the kids could have a yard to play in. The only place we could afford was the east side and we didn't want to be anywhere near that neighbourhood. I knew it would definitely be tight with two kids and Steve and I, and I knew if we had a girl we'd have to move, we couldn't have her and Julian sharing a room for the next eighteen years.

Steve helped me out of the bath and we went to the couch and put a movie on for Julian. Steve wrapped his arm around me and held me close to him, Julian sitting contently between us. Steve wrapped his arm in front of Julian and rested his hand on my bump protectively.