cars suck

My car broke down the night before I was to move to Florida. The timing chain broke and I had a friend that said he could fix it, well he could fix it if the 4th valve would close all the way. He said its about 1/4 inch shy of closing. He is still working on it tonight but I fly back to Ohio on Weds with right now no way back. I dont want to buy a ticket back if he can fix my car and then lose money on a ticket I dont need to use. But if he doesnt get my car fixed then I have to spend more money on a ticket since its last minute. I cannot stay in Ohio, I have a job here and a possible second job so I need to come back. What the hell am I going to do ? If I have to fly back that means I have to leave my kids in Ohio and I am not happy about that at all.