have an extra car sitting in
our garage. It’s nothing fancy, but—” He held up his hand when she tried to
interrupt. “No, young lady, let me finish. I think you know that Lucas,
Connor’s older brother, is over in Iraq. He’s the same age as Nate. They both
served together but Nate had three years on Luke, and.…”
Connor shook his head in disgust.
“Jeez, Dad. Just tell her. Look Erin, I didn’t know what
happened to your car. All you told me was that it couldn’t be repaired. Luke
won’t be home on leave for another six months. Meantime his car is available,
and my parents and I want you to use it.”
Erin was shocked and upset. She should have known that Nate
would blab to Connor, but his father? She shook her head and slid over to the
edge of the booth, preparing to escape.
“No, no. Thank you. Thank you both very much. But I cannot
accept. I appreciate the offer b…. “
Mr. Lang reached out and took hold of her arm.
“My wife said you’d say that, Erin. But she told me to tell
you that you’d be doing her a favor. She said every time she sees Lucas’s car
in the garage it reminds her that he is gone and in danger. Please accept this
offer. You need a car and we have one available.”
Erin hesitated. It was hard to brush off Marcus’s sincerity.
Instead she focused her frustration where it belonged. On Nate.
“Nate told you….He had no business, no right.…”
Connor interrupted, smacking his hand on the table. Erin
started, realizing for the first time that Connor was glaring at her, obviously
angry.
“You’re right, Erin. Nate did tell me what happened to your
car. We both had a long talk with Sonny James last night. Sonny was surprised
that you didn’t tell me about it. He assumed that you did, and said he’d told
you to report it to the police. Just so you know, Erin, it’s a damned good
thing Nate told me what happened. I would have been pissed as hell if he
didn’t… and I still wouldn’t know a goddamn thing….”
Marcus held up his hand with a frown, “Now, son, watch your
language. You’re talking to a lady.”
Connor gave a derisive snort.
“Lady? Damn, Pops, you should see her haul ass when we head
to a fire. She cusses with the best of us.”
He threw Erin a hard glare.
“Look, rookie, unless you want to deal with Nate on this
issue, I suggest that you thank my father — and my mother — and get your butt
across the street. That charcoal gray Celica parked at the corner is yours to
use as long as you need it.”
After thanking Mr. Lang for breakfast and the car, and
asking him to thank Mama D, Erin hurried after Connor who was waiting
impatiently at the entrance to the diner.
Trying to ignore his stiff carriage, Erin trotted after
Connor to the Toyota parked in front of the station. Without speaking, Connor
reached in his pocket and handed her the keys. Erin knew he was upset, and
decided she may as well get it out in the open.
“I… I know you are angry with me, Connor, but—”
“No, Erin, I’m not angry. I guess I… I thought that we were
friends.”
Erin was horrified.
“But, we are, aren’t we?”
Connor’s voice was as strained as his expression.
“I dunno, Erin. I thought we were. But in my book, friends
tell their friends when they’re in trouble. Some friends even ask their friends
for help.”
Erin turned away, trying to swallow around the enormous lump
in her throat. She squeezed her eyes tight, holding back the tears burning her
eyelids. She took a deep breath.
“I’m sorry Connor. You’re right. I’m not very good at being
a friend. I haven’t had a lot of experience. Thanks for the car. Please tell
your father I’m sorry, if I seemed ungrateful.”
Without looking at him, she unlocked the door and climbed
inside. Glancing up, she gave him a tentative smile. Inserting the key in the
ignition, she aimed for lightness.
“I hope your parents have insurance. I’m a bit of a speed
demon, you know.”
Connor
our garage. It’s nothing fancy, but—” He held up his hand when she tried to
interrupt. “No, young lady, let me finish. I think you know that Lucas,
Connor’s older brother, is over in Iraq. He’s the same age as Nate. They both
served together but Nate had three years on Luke, and.…”
Connor shook his head in disgust.
“Jeez, Dad. Just tell her. Look Erin, I didn’t know what
happened to your car. All you told me was that it couldn’t be repaired. Luke
won’t be home on leave for another six months. Meantime his car is available,
and my parents and I want you to use it.”
Erin was shocked and upset. She should have known that Nate
would blab to Connor, but his father? She shook her head and slid over to the
edge of the booth, preparing to escape.
“No, no. Thank you. Thank you both very much. But I cannot
accept. I appreciate the offer b…. “
Mr. Lang reached out and took hold of her arm.
“My wife said you’d say that, Erin. But she told me to tell
you that you’d be doing her a favor. She said every time she sees Lucas’s car
in the garage it reminds her that he is gone and in danger. Please accept this
offer. You need a car and we have one available.”
Erin hesitated. It was hard to brush off Marcus’s sincerity.
Instead she focused her frustration where it belonged. On Nate.
“Nate told you….He had no business, no right.…”
Connor interrupted, smacking his hand on the table. Erin
started, realizing for the first time that Connor was glaring at her, obviously
angry.
“You’re right, Erin. Nate did tell me what happened to your
car. We both had a long talk with Sonny James last night. Sonny was surprised
that you didn’t tell me about it. He assumed that you did, and said he’d told
you to report it to the police. Just so you know, Erin, it’s a damned good
thing Nate told me what happened. I would have been pissed as hell if he
didn’t… and I still wouldn’t know a goddamn thing….”
Marcus held up his hand with a frown, “Now, son, watch your
language. You’re talking to a lady.”
Connor gave a derisive snort.
“Lady? Damn, Pops, you should see her haul ass when we head
to a fire. She cusses with the best of us.”
He threw Erin a hard glare.
“Look, rookie, unless you want to deal with Nate on this
issue, I suggest that you thank my father — and my mother — and get your butt
across the street. That charcoal gray Celica parked at the corner is yours to
use as long as you need it.”
After thanking Mr. Lang for breakfast and the car, and
asking him to thank Mama D, Erin hurried after Connor who was waiting
impatiently at the entrance to the diner.
Trying to ignore his stiff carriage, Erin trotted after
Connor to the Toyota parked in front of the station. Without speaking, Connor
reached in his pocket and handed her the keys. Erin knew he was upset, and
decided she may as well get it out in the open.
“I… I know you are angry with me, Connor, but—”
“No, Erin, I’m not angry. I guess I… I thought that we were
friends.”
Erin was horrified.
“But, we are, aren’t we?”
Connor’s voice was as strained as his expression.
“I dunno, Erin. I thought we were. But in my book, friends
tell their friends when they’re in trouble. Some friends even ask their friends
for help.”
Erin turned away, trying to swallow around the enormous lump
in her throat. She squeezed her eyes tight, holding back the tears burning her
eyelids. She took a deep breath.
“I’m sorry Connor. You’re right. I’m not very good at being
a friend. I haven’t had a lot of experience. Thanks for the car. Please tell
your father I’m sorry, if I seemed ungrateful.”
Without looking at him, she unlocked the door and climbed
inside. Glancing up, she gave him a tentative smile. Inserting the key in the
ignition, she aimed for lightness.
“I hope your parents have insurance. I’m a bit of a speed
demon, you know.”
Connor
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