Page 34 of The Sweet Part
I laugh. “It wasn’t quiet. Alice and I were energetic, excitable kids like Sophie. Wait. Where is Sophie?”
I scan the showroom and don’t see her dark head of hair. My heart picks up speed as I weave through cars in search of her. Maybe she’s lying in the back seat of one. “Sophie? Where are you?”
Mason searches the other side of the showroom.
Seven cars. No Sophie.
I race out the front door and stop short. “Oh my God.”
“Did you…” Mason trails off.
Sophie drives by in the pink Cadillac. She’s standing, clutching the steering wheel as she drives way too fast toward the parking lot.
I run after her, waving my arms. A field is behind the lot, a road on the other side. Please don’t turn.
“Sophie!” I yell. “Hit the brakes! Step on the other pedal.”
The driver’s side window is down, so she hears me. The car jerks to a stop, and then she moves forward again, turning toward the road.
My heart’s in my throat. “Sophie! Stop! Stop!”
In my peripheral vision, I see Mason sprint past me. He gets in the passenger side of the Cadillac, takes the wheel, and turns away from the road. They slow and then speed up. Is Sophie interfering? They do a screeching donut and finally come to a slow stop a few feet ahead of that.
I put a hand on my thundering heart. I just lost ten years off my life.
What the hell was she thinking? She could’ve been seriously hurt. I know she wasn’t wearing a seatbelt standing in the driver’s seat. And she stole a car!
Does she know how much she scared me?
I walk over on shaking legs as the adrenaline leaves my body. I’m her mom. It’s my job to keep her safe. I was distracted by Mason and didn’t keep an eye on her. Guilt floods me. She’s only five. She needs watching. Just one more reason not to get involved with Mason. I can’t afford to be distracted from my primary responsibility.
Time for a Stern Lecture. I gear up for what I’m going to say as I march over.
When I get to the car, Mason’s talking to Sophie in a firm voice about safety and how important it is for her mom to know she’s safe and her grandmom and everyone who loves her.
“Like you?” Sophie asks.
“Uh, sure. So you won’t do that again, right? Not until you’re old enough to drive a car.”
How can he be so calm? I take a few steps away, trying to get my breathing to steady. My hands are shaking, and my legs feel like jelly.
Mason notices me. “Hey. Just telling her about personal safety and driver’s licenses.”
My heart cracks open for just a moment at his gentle calm demeanor during a crisis. Then I look at my daughter and lose it. She could’ve died! “Sophie, get out of the car! We’re leaving now, and we’re going to have a serious talk about this! And no TV for a month!”
She slinks out of the car, her shoulders slumped.
“Sophie, you owe Mason an apology for taking his client’s car out.”
“Sorry,” Sophie says in a small voice.
“I’ll forgive you as long as you swear on Hornbow that you’ll never do that again.”
She nods solemnly. “I swear on Hornbow.”
“Go get in the car,” I tell Sophie, pointing to it. “I’ll be there in a minute.” It’s not far from where I’m standing. I watch her get in the car before turning to Mason.
“I’m so sorry. I’ll pay for whatever damage she’s done.”
