20. West
WEST
W est hurried back to his parents’ house only to find his dad standing out on the front porch waiting for him, his breath fogging in the snowy air.
“Hey,” West said, stopping on the lawn below. “Can you take me into town?”
“What happened?” Dad asked, already jogging down the steps to join him.
“I’ll tell you on the way,” West said.
They hopped into the truck and the engine roared to life. Dad backed it up and tore down the drive without even waiting for it to warm up.
“I’m an idiot,” West said darkly.
“How so?” Dad asked.
“She’s not who she says she is.”
“Who is she?” Dad asked lightly, taking the turn onto Fox Hollow without slowing down.
“I guess Dulcie Bloom is her real name,” West admitted. “ But she stole that car she drove into town. And she was arrested for kidnapping back in the city.”
Dad nodded, frowning.
“I let her into my home ,” West went on. “I brought her around our family. I left Elizabeth with her. And now she’s on the run in my truck. She played me like a fiddle and made me look like a fool. I’m only lucky she didn’t take my little girl.”
Dad slowed and rolled his window down before taking the covered bridge fast enough to make the whole truck rattle on the wooden planks.
When they reached the other side, Dad drove on in silence, and West finally turned to look at him.
His father had never been the kind of parent to rub your nose in something if he felt you had learned your lesson.
But this wasn’t a bad grade on a chemistry exam, or getting caught sneaking out to a party.
West had put the whole family in danger.
“She’s a criminal,” West said, feeling his foolish heart break. “And I’m an idiot.”
“If you really thought that, would we be doing this?” Dad asked him gruffly. “Or would you have called the police already?”
I thought I was in love with her. Am I still trying to protect her?
“If she’s who I’m afraid she is, she’s long gone,” West said.
“And if she’s who you hope she is?” Dad asked.
“Then I know exactly where to find her,” West admitted .
Dad didn’t reply, but the corner of his mouth tucked up a little and he renewed his focus on the road, keeping his speed up in spite of the snow that was falling harder.
He taught me how to drive in this very truck, West thought to himself. We always warmed it up, and we never went a single mile over the speed limit.
Maybe West wasn’t the only one hoping against all odds that there could be some reasonable explanation for Dulcie’s very unreasonable behavior.
Before long, the wild countryside gave way to houses hung with Christmas lights, and then to the closer construction of the town. At last, they turned onto Maple, slowing down a little as they passed the park.
It was dark and snowy, but soft lights illuminated the pavilion, the town Christmas tree, and the windows of the shops and the apartments above.
I’ve never asked for a Christmas miracle before…
As they approached the intersection with Moose Avenue, West’s breath caught in his throat.
His truck was parked right outside his office.
“Is she there?” Dad asked doubtfully. The office was obviously darkened and West kept it carefully secured to protect his patient records.
“No,” West said. “But I think I know where she is. Drop me off here?”
Dad pulled over immediately and West had his seatbelt off and was leaping out into the snow before the truck even came to a complete stop.
“Call me if you need me,” he heard Dad call after him.
“Thanks,” he yelled back, turning to give him a thumbs-up before he sprinted into the snowy night.
Please don’t let me be too late…