Tully's Place
Tully proudly watched the crane lift the large sign into place and the men who worked quickly and efficiently to install it. Mary Ellen, holding Liam in her arms stood by his side as the sign was set in place.
"It looks great, babe," she said giving him a kiss on the cheek.
"It does, doesn't it?" Tully grinned and kissed her back.
"I'm so proud of you," she said, her expression revealing her feelings of pride and devotion.
"Thanks for having such faith in me," Tully put his arm around her waist. "I couldn't have done this without your support. I hope I don't let you down," he added nervously.
"You could never let me down," Mary Ellen assured him as they gazed upwards at the Tully's Place sign. "It won't be long before you have so many customers, you'll have to open another location."
"I don't know about that, but it's a nice dream," Tully took Liam who was reaching out for Daddy. The small boy held a wooden car in his hands that he proceeded to "run" up and down his father's arms and shoulders while making a "vroom" sound. "I just want to be successful enough to support my family."
"It will do that and more," Mary Ellen was certain.
"Are you sure you wouldn't rather be married to an anthropologist instead of a grease monkey?" he sounded nervous.
"Tully, you were a grease monkey when I met you and fell in love you. You are the best mechanic I've ever known and it's not going to take long for everyone in these parts to realize it, too."
"I hope so," Tully agreed.
"I wouldn't be at all surprised if you don't get called on to make house calls to nearby farms asking you to fix broken farm equipment," she praised him.
"Should I get a little black bag to carry my tools in, like a doctor?" he teased.
"I've seen the amount of tools you have, a little black bag won't come close to holding them all," she teased back.
A photographer from the local paper had been snapping pictures of the sign placement and he came over to take a picture of them standing in front of the garage. He asked questions and got background information about Tully and said the article would appear in the next day's edition. Mary Ellen asked for copies of the photographs, and he agreed.
"It's really happening," Tully was pleased. "I have to admit I had doubts along the way."
"That's the difference between us," Mary Ellen replied. "I never doubted for a moment. You just have to promise me one thing."
"Anything," he agreed.
"If someone brings in a surplus Army jeep for service, you won't spend all day reminiscing about your times in the service," she smiled.
"It's a deal. I'll save that for when Hitch visits. Still, if someone asks me, I might have to tell a story of two," he answered.
"Just don't turn it into a tall tale," she warned.
"All my adventures in North Africa were tall tales," he commented. "I didn't think so at the time, but when I tell them to others, they tend to think I'm exaggerating."
"Well, I know for a fact that your bravery and service were far from being inflated," she took their squirming son back, who was now reaching for Mommy.
"Let's hope I have the same kind of luck here," he said indicating the garage.
"You will be a huge success," she promised.
The following morning, the paper ran an article and several photos of the latest new business in town. It included Tully's experience as a driver and mechanic during the war and mentioned he was a Medal of Honor recipient. A ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Chamber of Commerce was scheduled for the grand opening at 10:00 a.m. There were hot dogs, soft drinks and popcorn for all present. By noon the crowd had dispersed, and Tully's appointment book was filled for the next several weeks. Additionally, he and the two mechanics he had on staff took clients without appointments. The three bays were filled throughout the rest of the day and there was a line when they reopened in the morning.
That evening he came home and quickly showered before joining his wife for a celebratory drink.
"Where's Liam?" he asked, realizing the house was very quiet.
"He's visiting with David," she answered, handing him his favorite beer and sitting on his lap. David was the son of one of her nursing colleagues and they often provided childcare to give one another a reprieve from parental duties. "He's spending the night."
"Is he?" Tully became very interested as his wife put her arms around his neck and kissed him.
"I told you, everything was going to be fine," she said when she finished.
"It's a bit early to judge how well we'll do in the future, but if this is any indication, I think we'll be okay," he admitted, kissing her again.
"I have a little present for you," she said, handing him a small, wrapped gift. He could tell it was a picture frame. Opening it, he found a framed one dollar bill with yesterday's date and labelled Tully's Place. "I snuck it out of the cash register after your first client. I thought you could hang it behind the register."
"This is great," he said, setting it aside and putting down his beer. "Now, where were we?" he asked playfully, and they spent several long minutes exchanging kisses and caresses.
"I've made dinner," she whispered, when they came up for air. "I didn't think you'd want me to go out like this," she lifted a foot into the air so he could see her ankle-strapped shoe. A slow grin spread across his face, and he replied,
"Dang, Hitch was right, they are sexy."