Side Trip(80)

“What happened? Where’s Todd?” Joy had asked her sister, breathless from running after her.

“Screw Todd,” Judy spat. She headed toward her car and Joy glimpsed her sister’s face under a streetlamp. Moisture reflected the light on her cheeks. Her eyes, red and puffy, darted away. Her ponytail hung limp and lopsided like a shamed dog’s tail.

“What did he do to you?” Joy asked. Judy loved Todd, and Joy liked him. He talked to her like she was a real person, not a bratty kid sister, when he came over to their house. And he was over the moon in love with Judy. He couldn’t keep his hands off her sister. They were always kissing when they didn’t think Joy could see them.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” Judy said.

They reached the car. Judy yanked the door handle, then smacked the window with a flat palm. She glanced back toward the Dulcotts’ house. Joy could hear Pink’s “Get the Party Started” blaring through the outdoor speakers.

Judy swiped her wrist under her nose and sniffled. “I don’t have my keys. Mrs. Dulcott does.”

The key basket. “Go get them.”

Judy shook her head. “I don’t want to go back. I don’t want to see Todd with her.”

Joy’s mouth fell open. He really was with another girl. “Who’s he with?”

“None of your beeswax.”

Joy rocked onto her toes and considered their options. There wasn’t anywhere Judy could go without the risk of running into Todd. Joy couldn’t very well get the keys either. Mrs. Dulcott would never give the keys to her, Judy’s little sister. Then she remembered.

Joy tugged the spare keys from her shorts pocket and jangled them in the air.

Judy frowned. “How did you get my keys?”

“They’re the spares.” Judy stared at her blankly and Joy gave her a look. “How do you think I was supposed to get back into the car before you?”

“You stole my keys!”

“Borrowed them.”

“You are so busted when we get home.”

Joy fisted the keys. “You tell Mom and Dad anything, I won’t give you them.” Judy snorted derisively and Joy drew her arm back, ready to pitch them into the bushes.

“Wait!” Judy shrieked. “I won’t tell! Give me the keys.”

Joy tossed them over the car. They dropped onto the street. Judy disappeared behind the car.

“Got ’em.” She popped back up, showing off the keys. She unlocked the doors and they got in the car, Joy climbing into the back.

“Why are you sitting back there?” Judy asked.

“Seat belt.” A lap belt was better than no belt.

Judy’s mouth opened in a circle and she nodded slowly. “That’s right.” She then started the car, shifted into first, shifted back to park, and turned off the engine. She dropped her head on the steering wheel and cried. She cried and cried.

Joy glanced at her watch, then poked Judy in the shoulder. “We have to go.”

“We were supposed to get married,” Judy wailed. “We had plans and he ruined them. With her!” She smacked the steering wheel and continued to cry, deep, guttural sobs.

Joy sat quietly, fidgeting with her watch. “I’m sorry he did this to you.”

Judy snorted and wiped her nose. “I never thought he’d cheat on me.” She whimpered.

Joy leaned forward and stroked Judy’s hair. “He knew you were coming to the party. Maybe you didn’t see what you thought you saw. Are you sure it was him?”

“Yes!” she said, lifting her head. She frowned. “I think. I don’t know. It was dark.” She sniffled and snorted. “Maybe you’re right.” She wiped her face with her shirtsleeve and smiled weakly over her shoulder. “Thanks, sis.” Judy looked out the back window. “Maybe I should talk to him now.”

Joy glanced at her watch. “We should go. Mom and Dad are going to be home. Call him tomorrow.”

“I don’t know . . .” She didn’t make a move to leave.

“Judy, come on!” Joy panicked. “Mom and Dad can’t find out that you drove me up here.”

“I did not drive you!”

“Whatever, just drive. I promise I’ll do all of your chores for the entire summer.” Joy was desperate.

Judy ripped the key from the ignition. “You drive.”

“What?”

“I can’t. I drank too much.”

“You were supposed to stop. You said you would,” Joy whined.

“No, I didn’t.”

“How am I supposed to get home?”

“You drive us.” She rattled the keys. “You can do it.”

Joy violently shook her head, thinking of the road’s steep decline and curves that hugged the mountainside. They didn’t call it the Rim of the World Highway for nothing.

“You’re a good driver, Joy. You’ve driven plenty on Gramps’s ranch, big trucks and tractors. They work just like this car.”

But that was different. The dirt roads around his crops were straight and flat.

“I’ll sit beside you.” Judy scooted across the bench seat. “I’ll guide you down the hill, and I can take the wheel if you need help.”