She indeed reached the pharmacy at Las Madrinelas just in time to grab the medication and get back in her car. Halfway back to Santo Padre, the car started stuttering. She put herself on the closest emergency area as the car engine died entirely.
"Shit!" she said as she hit the steering wheel. "What now?"
She turned the key, trying to turn the ignition back on but in vain. She pulled the lever to pop the hood and got out of the car. She was no mechanic but maybe she could see something out of the ordinary. She fumbled with a few cables, making sure they were in place properly, checked the oil gage then returned to the driver's seat to start the car. She sighed realizing it wouldn't come to life. She reached for her phone in her bag and took it out. She knew she couldn't call Angel or EZ for help, nor her mom and Sam, so instead she searched the internet for the closest tow company.
"Hi, you've reached Las Madrinelas auto services, we're currently on vacation." She hung up the phone angrily as she placed her head on the steering wheel. She called the next one that was an hour away as apparently there was none in Santo Padre which she found hallucinating.
"Hector's, how can I help you?"
"Hi, my car broke down between Las Madrinelas and Santo Padr", you think you could send someone over?"
"It'll be a while."
"How long?"
"A couple of hours. All my guys are out on calls. With Madrinelas on vacation, we're the closest one and today is apparently a busy day."
"I see," she said. "I'll wait, until you can get someone over."
"OK, give me your phone number so I can keep you posted. If your car starts back up or you find an alternative solution, let me know."
"Sure."
After giving him her number, she hung up and sent Samuel a text message telling him the situation and not to worry.
Maybe the club has a tow truck. I think I saw one.
She stared at his reply and went to her contact list, where she had added Bishop's number from two days ago. Her finger floated hesitantly above the call button.
Bishop took a sip of his beer as he sat in the sofa, while the others hung out with the girls. He lifted his phone from off the coffee table when it rang.
"Bishop."
"It's Isabella. I hope I'm not disturbing."
He stood and smiled as he headed into the meeting room where it was quiet.
"No of course not. How are you?"
"Could be better. My car broke down and the only available tow truck company can't make it for a couple of hours."
"Where are you?"
"Halfway back to Santo Padre from Las Madrinelas."
"I'll come get you and I'll have Riz and Chucky come get the car the minute they are back with the tow truck."
"I don't want to bother you. I'll walk."
"As if I'd let you walk. It's going to start getting dark. And you're not bothering me. I'm glad you called me. I'll be there in twenty minutes, hang tight."
He walked out of the meeting room and looked at Tranq. "Isabella is stranded between here and Las Madrinelas. Call Riz and tell him to head over there when he's done."
"You want me to go with you, jefe?"
"No, it's all good. You stay here and keep an eye on the guys and the new prospect."
"Got it."
As it was scorching hot, Isabella got out of the car, closed the hood, and sat on it. She removed the button-down shirt she had over her spaghetti strap tank top, put her hair up in a messy bun, and waited patiently for Bishop.
His bike turned the bend and he saw her sitting on the hood of her car. He parked his bike, took off his helmet and sunglasses and walked over to her as she jumped off the hood.
"You, OK?" he asked as he reached her.
"Yeah. Just hate the fact I didn't pay more attention when my father talked to me about cars."
"Could be anything," replied Bishop as he headed back for his bike and took out his water bottle from his sack. "Here, drink, you look like you're two minutes away from passing out from the heat.
"Thanks." She took a long sip as he headed for the car and popped the hood. "You know your way around cars?"
"I know my way around bikes, Riz is the one who knows everything about mechanics."
After a few minutes of checking things out just like she did, making her feel less stupid, he closed the hood. "I have no diagnosis," he said jokingly. "Riz and Chucky will take care of it, don't worry. Did you cancel the other company?"
"Yeah."
"Keys?"
She fished them out of her jean pocket and handed them to him. He locked the car then lifted a rock nearby, dug a hole and placed them in it, before putting the rock back on. He took out his phone and shot a picture before sending it to Riz.
"All set. Come on."
She followed him to his bike where he detached a spare helmet he had placed on the back and handed it to her. As he put his on, he watched her undo her bun, letting her hair cascade down around her face. Even if it was a simple action, it made his heart skip a beat.
She waited for him to settle down before placing herself behind him and wrapping her arms around his waist.
He turned off the ignition and waited for her to get off.
"You want to come inside?"
"No, I should head back to the clubhouse," he said.
"OK," she answered as she handed him her helmet. "Thanks, Bishop."
"Glad I could help. I'll come pick you up tomorrow around nine so you can see what the status on the car is."
"OK. Sounds good. I hope it's nothing bad, I really need the car for my mom's appointments."
He saw her take out a bag from her purse and he noticed the inscription on it. "Is that why you were in Las Madrinelas?"
She looked at the bag. "Yes. Ortega didn't have any more in stock."
"If Riz can't fix the car right away, we'll figure something out."
"Oh, you don't have to do that. I'll take a cab or get a rental car."
"I insist. You have other things to worry about than transportation."
"OK."
He saw her look at him in a way he couldn't describe.
"Can I ask you a question?"
"Sure," he answered.
"Why are you doing all this, we barely know each other."
"I think it's obvious," he said pausing for a second as he smiled at her, "I like you."
She smiled back. "I'll see you tomorrow morning, Bishop," she replied as she started to walk toward the house.
"Looking forward to it," he said knowing she couldn't hear him from where she was.
"Was that Angel?" asked Maggie as Isabella walked inside the house.
"No. Angel is in Arizona for the club, it was Bishop the club president."
"You like him," she added looking at her daughter.
"What makes you say that?"
"You're smiling."
"I smile all the time, mama."
"Not that way you don't. Reminds me at how you would smile when things got a bit more serious with Angel."
"He's different than Angel."
"How so?" asked Maggie as they headed to the kitchen and Isabella took out the bottle of pills from the bag and opened it to take one out.
"I don't know. We talk about interesting things, and I like that."
"Be careful, mija. Angel might not like you getting close to him."
"Well, Angel has nothing to say. Besides, there is nothing going on with me and Angel."
"Are you sure about that? What the two of you had wasn't just a crush. You had plans."
"Plans that were a lifetime ago."
"Maybe so, but you'd be a fool to think he's not thinking about trying to win you back. And I know you've thought about it."
"You're right, I have. But I don't think, with the way our hearts broke that we could build something that would work."
"Love knows no time or boundaries. Sometimes you love someone so much that even when they are no longer there, you can't imagine yourself with anyone else."
Isabella knew she was talking about her father. After his death she had never ever been with any other man. She imagined that was what true love was all about. He was still in her heart no matter the years that passed. Had it been true love with Angel? She had thought it was until she had met Samuel's dad. Even if it had been a kind of love that had consumed her, it hadn't been the case in the end, as he had left. If she hated him for it, she then would need to hate herself for having left Angel too, but she felt it was different. So, in the end, what was true love?
"What are you thinking about?" asked Maggie.
"Nothing in particular. Here, you should take your medicine."
She couldn't tell her mom that she had been thinking about Samuel's dad. For as much as Maggie knew, it had been a one-night stand that had gotten her pregnant, which was the furthest away from the truth. The lie had just been easier than explaining everything and what had followed.
