Page 93 of Rest In Pink

“We’ll be right back,” I said to Vince. “We’ll use the one in the garage.”

Vince nodded, still with that strange look on his face and I realized it was uncertainty. I’d never seen him uncertain before.

“The car is really amazing,” I told him. “And the perfect color.”It probably glows in the dark.“I love it.”

He looked like he wasn’t buying it, which was fair, but then Peri took my hand and we headed around the garage to the back door.

“It might even be prettier than your old car,” Peri said. “But it doesn’t have the big LOVE pillow in it.”

I took Peri a little way down the back of the building and we went in the people door. All the bay doors were closed for the day. The small restroom was to the right. I knew it would be spotless because Patsy wouldn’t have anything less, but mostly I just needed time to think. Peri went inside, but she left the bathroom door cracked open.

Vince had bought me a car. No, he’dbuiltme a car, so it would be like my old car that I’d loved.

So I could get out of town in September? Was he making sure that I didn’t stay?

Why would I stay?

Did he want me to go?

How much money had he sunk into that thing? He wasn’t a rich man. Why would he spend that much money on me?

Was it worth it to make sure I’d leave?

Did he want me to stay?

This was the problem with surprises. They led to questions. And possibly misunderstandings. Romcom movies are full of Big Misunderstandings where the heroine sees the hero hugging somebody else and breaks up with him only to find out that was his sister. I hate Big Misunderstandings. This was not going to be a Big Misunderstanding. I’d just ask him.

I’d say, “Vince, did you give me this car so I’d leave?”

And then I had the really terrifying thought.

What if he did it because he loves me?

I sat down on the chair outside the restroom.

Because that would be terrible.

I closed my eyes.

No, it wouldn’t be terrible. It would be terrifying because I wanted him to love me, and I would be getting something I wanted, and anytime that happened, somebody or something yanked it away.

If he loved me, I was going to lose him.

If he didn’t love me, I was leaving in September.

I had my head tilted back against the wall, trying not to be an idiot which is difficult when your head is exploding from thirty-three years of crappy experience and the shock of a Candy Apple Red gift, when Peri came out of the restroom.

“Are you sick?” she said.

I shook my head.

“Don’t you like the car?” she said.

“I love the car,” I said.

“Don’t worry. Vince will find the LOVE pillow,” Peri said to comfort me.

“There was a teddy bear, too,” I told her. My mom had given it to me. She said it was Vince. And I’d lost Vince in the ravine.

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