She held up her hands and stepped backward. “No, that’s okay.”
He dangled the keys in her face. “You need road experience, don’t you?”
Fear and dread sent chills through her body, but she watched the keys swinging from his finger. She had told Kylee and David she had someone helping her learn to drive. She’d even said it was a neighbor. And if she had to find out how bad of a driver she really was, it might as well be with someone she barely knew. Someone who wouldn’t make fun of her at school. Or tell her parents.
“Okay.” She snatched the keys. “I’ll try.”
He raised his eyebrows. “You’ll try?”
“I mean, I’ll do it.”
She forced herself to climb in the driver’s seat before she could change her mind. Be cool. Fake it till you make it. You can do this. She’d never met a challenge she couldn’t overcome. Dad said success could always be achieved with hard work and determination.
This was not a good idea. Her palms were sweating. People didn’t fake something like this. Yet the drive back to Mr. Laninga’s house was short and straightforward. Though they lived close to each other, she would have to make several turns, change lanes, and even—shudder—navigate a roundabout to get to her house because of the hill. But Mr. Laninga’s house was almost a straight shot. Then she could take the shortcut home from there.
What could go wrong?
She buckled her seat belt and inserted the key. At least he had backed into the parking space so she could pull out easily.
Her hands trembled.
It’s all part of The Plan, Rae.
They were both going to die.
GERRIT WAS PLEASED when Rae turned on the truck’s headlights even though it wasn’t yet dark. He appreciated the extra measure of caution. She appeared to have a good handle on everything. Kind of like Luke. Always self-assured.
But he didn’t want to think about that.
He looked out the window as Rae started the truck and chuckled again, remembering the scene in the movie where a rooster from one world managed to slip through the mailbox into the other world and cause all kinds of trouble. Ha. Maybe he should get a rooster. Yes, that could be exactly what he needed to exact his revenge on George.
Cock-a-doodle-doo.
He slammed into his seat belt as Rae slammed on the brakes.
He snapped to attention. “What are you doing?”
Her face was pale. “Uh, sorry.”
He watched her with wary eyes as she drove the Dodge forward. It had been a moment of weakness, offering her those keys. He never let anyone drive his truck. But she had gotten him out of the house, made him laugh. It was like he’d been given a gift, and he wanted to give something back. What had he been thinking?
The truck crept through the parking lot slower than the sun across the sky. He’d learned to drive a tractor before he was ten and had been in charge of the silage truck every summer since he was twelve, handling its crotchety stick shift and spontaneously combusting engine with ease. He’d never thought about how other people learned to drive. Kids just . . . knew how to drive, right?
What about Evi or Noah? If they’d needed help learning, they must’ve turned to Hannie. His only memory involving his kids and their driving skills was when Evi screamed at him to leave her alone after he made a comment about where she had chosen to park the car.
Had his kids had a hard time learning to drive? He didn’t know. He had missed it. He had missed everything.
They reached the point where the parking lot met the road. Rae came to a jerky stop and waited.
How had he gotten himself into this?
He tried to keep his voice even. “Blinker.”
She quickly switched it on.
“Look both ways.”
She complied.
“Now ease on out there.”
She hesitated.
“Go ahead.”
Still she waited, concentration etched on her face.
“Any time now.”
Her lip began to quiver. “I—I’m too scared.”
He shifted in his seat. “You said you’ve been practicing.”
“I know, but not on the road.”
His forehead wrinkled. “Where else would you—?”
“Just in my driveway. Well, in the garage.”
His eyes bulged. “What?!”
She flinched, and he was fifteen years younger, blowing up at his teenage daughter for wearing his boots to work in the garden and not putting them back. Didn’t seem like such a big deal now.
Rae’s eyes filled with tears. Oh no. Please, no. If she started crying . . .
“Okay, it’s okay.” He lowered his voice and spread his hands in a placating way. “Why don’t you put it in park, nice and easy, and we’ll trade places. Everything’s okay.”
Her shoulders drooped as she adjusted the shifter. Her face took on a desolate look. “I’m terrible, aren’t I?”
He didn’t answer as he hopped out and switched sides with her. He was in way over his head here. Why was she asking him if she was terrible? Surely she could see that for herself. His stomach twisted. Maybe she was looking for something else from him, but darned if he had any idea what it was.
She looked dejected in the passenger seat, head hanging low, all self-assurance gone. No hint of Luke remaining. Only a few minutes ago they had been laughing their heads off at that crazy movie, and now she was acting like her life was over. But it wasn’t his fault she didn’t know what she was doing. Wasn’t his responsibility to teach her.
Evi’s face popped into his mind, and he sighed.
He pulled onto the road. “I’ll get us closer to my house, and then you can try again.”
She looked up. “But you think I’m terrible.”
He grunted. “I never said that.”
“I could hurt someone.”
“Now you’re being dramatic.”
She groaned. “You don’t think running someone over is dramatic?”
He fought to keep his eyes from rolling. “There won’t be anyone on the road by my house.”
She didn’t answer. Good. They drove in silence for a few minutes
