Twist of Fate (Taking Chances #2) - Tia Louise Page 0,78
and I can’t bear to let her down. “I’m going to drive over and talk to him in person.”
“Oh, no!” She clutches her neck. “That’s too much. You don’t need to drive all that way.”
“He’s just in Columbia. It’s not that far.”
When Scout returns from walking the girls to school, I wave him over. “I’ve got to drive to Columbia to try and convince Spencer to give me a vase for sweet little Ms. Nelly Rushmore.”
“You want me to ride with you?”
I think about it. “Our last road trip was when we got that yellow chair from Dad.”
“I remember.” He grins, sliding a hair off my cheek. “I’d better go in case you need help carrying the vase or punching Spencer in the nuts.”
“Stop it.” I laugh, imagining how that would go. “We’re not using force to get it.”
“If you change your mind, just give me the signal.”
“Let’s go. We need to be back before Melody gets out of preschool.” Her overprotective daddy pauses, and I catch his arm. “Don’t worry. I can call Donna to pick her up if we get delayed for any reason.”
Out on the road, we’ve got the windows down and the radio blasting. Of course, I put on classic Olivia Newton-John, because duh. I love hearing him sing it. We’re both singing at the top of our lungs. It’s a clear, blue sky, and the temperature is mid-70s.
My hair’s pulled back in a tiny ponytail. It’s getting longer, which doesn’t really work for me. I’m in my usual baggy overalls and tank top. Scout’s in a maroon tee and jeans as always. It’s so natural and easy. It feels so much like it will last forever.
Columbia is so much closer than Greenville. Slowing down, I make the first of many right turns, exiting the Interstate, and as soon as I do, the horn on the Bronco goes off in a loud, long Hoooonk!
My stomach jumps to my throat. Actually, I think it jumps past my throat into my mouth, and I flash a look at Scout. “Why did it do that?”
He frowns, leaning forward as if he can examine the front of the truck from where he sits. “Did you accidentally bump it?”
“No!” I look all around. The light changes, and I start to go. As soon as we reach the next intersection, I put on my turn signal and start another right turn.
Hoooonk! It blasts out again, and I cringe. The person in front of us sticks his arm out the window and shakes his fist at me. Embarrassment blazes in my face.
“Why is it doing that?”
“Must be a fuse.” Scout’s brow lowers, and he rubs a hand over his mouth.
“A fuse?” It’s time. There’s nothing I can do about it, we have to turn right again, and as soon as we do… Hooooonk!
The old lady in the car ahead of us flips us off, and I scream, “Make it stop!”
Only, this time when I look over at Scout, he’s covering his mouth because he’s laughing so hard.
“You’re laughing?” My neck aches because we’re approaching another intersection, another time I have to put on the turn signal, and…
“Smile and wave!” Scout yells.
I turn the wheel, the Bronco goes off like Herbie the Love Bug, and we both smile. Scout does a little salute-type wave, but I practically shake my arm off. The person ahead of us couldn’t be any more confused. He holds his hand, turning it slowly back and forth as he tries to figure out who in the world we could be.
“Thank God, there’s only one more.”
“You never realize how many right turns you make.”
“Here it is… we have to do it…” Turn signal on, Hooooonk! I wave as hard as I can, and Scout gives the lady a wink and a nod.
Another short Honk! As I pull into the parking space. A man getting out of his car does a little jump, and I smile and wave again. “Smile and wave. It’s your answer to life.”
“I told you being friendly makes every interaction more pleasant.” He hops out the side door and goes around to the front. “Pop the hood.”
I do as he says, and he digs around like auto mechanics is second nature to him. “Do you know how to do everything?”
He exhales a grunt and leans up. “Try it now.”
I put my palm over the steering wheel and press. Nothing happens. “It’s not working at all now.”
“That’ll get us home.” He steps back, slamming the hood, and hands me