Pieces of Us (Confessions of the Heart, #3)(19)

I humphed.

Mature, I knew. But I couldn’t help but feel flustered. Redness crawling up my neck and landin’ on my cheeks. It seemed this whole damned town was conspiring against me.

“I’ve got to go, we sure don’t want you to die, you know, since you’re old and all,” I sang as I started back for the door, badgering her a bit.

Her laughter chased me out, along with her words, “Just think about it, Izzy Mae. You can’t go on livin’ hiding under your bed the way you did when you were a little girl.”

Yeah, well inviting that man into it was the worst thing I’d ever done.





*



“Shoot,” I whispered when my car sputtered and lurched.

Was this really happenin’?

My car chugged a little more, and I pushed down harder on the pedal, trying to coax it into action.

I tossed up a few silent prayers with it, too.

That was right when something dinged and a red light popped up on the dash and a dark cloud of smoke came billowing out of the hood.

“Oh, no, don’t fail me now,” I whispered under my breath, patting the dashboard. “Come on, just give me a little more.”

It’d been a wonder my clunker had gotten us across the country in the first place. I’d been figuring the poor old girl was on her last leg, and I’d bargained a really nice washin’ and a fresh quart of oil if she would get us out east safely.

Apparently, she thought her end of the bargain had been met because that was right when she up and decided she had no power left.

Because she was stalling out right there on the deserted road.

I was barely rolling forward, trying to at least coast off to the shoulder. My heart leapt in a jolt of fear when a car came speeding up behind me from out of nowhere, honking its horn as it flew into the other lane and whizzed by in a blur.

Like my breakin’ down was doing him a major disservice.

Jerk.

I managed to get it all the way off to the side. At least I’d made it to the pharmacy in time, the little white bag with my mama’s medicine sitting next to me on the seat.

I blew out a strained breath, thumbs tapping at the steering wheel as I contemplated.

The most logical thing would be to call a tow truck to get it fixed, but there wasn’t enough left in the bank for that.

A little thread of worry needled my chest.

I needed this car to be working come Monday morning. Nelson Dentistry was twelve miles away, and it wasn’t like there was a city bus or public transportation I could take. I could borrow my daddy’s truck, but that would mean they would be left without a car.

That wasn’t an option I was comfortable with.

Maybe . . . maybe I could fix it.

I gave myself a resolute nod. That was exactly what I was gonna do.

I fumbled around under the dash and pulled the latch, and I almost squealed with pride when I heard the hood pop. I got right into that thing without a hitch.

Point one, Izzy.

I pushed open the door to the sweltering heat, sweat instantly beading on my skin when I came into contact with the humid summer air. I was wishing just as fast that I wouldn’t have chosen my heeled booties and a pair of fitted jeans when I’d gotten ready this morning. Carefully, I treaded the loose gravel in the three-inch heels, basically tiptoeing my way to the front of the car.

The front of the car where something was hissing like it was mad. A viper getting ready to strike.

A frown pulled to my brow, nerves rattling, and I hesitated for a second, looking around at my deserted surroundings. Nope, no help there.

Get it together, Izzy. You can do this.

It wasn’t like the car was actually gonna bite me.

I fumbled around under the hood, quickly because it really was hot, and I thought it might just bite me after all.

I found the second latch and released it, the hood springing up with the smallest amount of force. It released another big plume of smoke, and I coughed and waved a hand in front of my face as it cleared.

When it was safe, I peered down at the engine and fiddled with a couple of hoses.

Problem was, I didn’t have the first clue what I was looking at. Auto mechanics had never been one of my top priorities to learn.

I turned away, deciding I was going to have to suck it up and call a tow truck to take it to a shop. Maybe I could find one that would be willing to let me pay payments.

I couldn’t be without transportation.

I started to head back to the driver’s side to get my phone when I heard the roaring engine of an approaching car. I thought about stepping out and waving my hand to ask for help, but if it was anything like the last one that had passed, I’d be risking death, and I was so not in to playin’ Russian Roulette.

I stepped farther away from the road, safely shielded by my car. I could hear it gettin’ closer, coming up around the bend, hidden by the tall, skinny trees that flourished in this area.

Then that roaring shifted, and it quickly decelerated.

A siren blipped a warning.

Thank goodness, it was a cop.

I basically sprang out from behind the car when it eased off the road and came to a stop behind me.

Peek-a-boo.

I was sure I looked crazed, but I couldn’t stop the smile that was splittin’ my face, my arms from waving over my head as if they hadn’t already seen me.