Chapter Twenty Six

For the first two weeks Ever slept in Stroud’s bed. She spent as much time in the house as she could, clinging to the vapors of Stroud’s presence. Eventually, though, she had to abandon the hope that he’d return within a few days. He was gone and, judging by the tone of his calls, the absence would extend for several more weeks.

The emptiness of the big house was starting to accentuate rather than soothe her loneliness. It was difficult to stay organized, running back and forth, and she finally decided it was time to go back to her own place full time.

She cleaned out the refrigerator and reluctantly put Stroud’s bed linens in the laundry, knowing the last traces of his scent would be washed away. She would lock up the big house, stopping by daily to check on things and pick up messages, and tell Stroud to call her number from now on. It was the sensible thing to do. The adult thing.

The adjustment didn’t take long. Ever’s independent nature soon came to the fore and within a week she had swept the vestiges of her temporary desertion from her own home and was resettled into a comfortable routine. She got back to work in earnest on her novel, which she knew would please Stroud.

Now in sync with Ever’s hours, Brooke turned up with increasing regularity and their alliance gradually took on a new dimension. He sometimes found her on Stroud’s back patio in the afternoon, the briefcase she used to carry to work beside her chair, papers scattered over the table – papers he noticed she always flipped face down when he arrived. Any questions regarding those papers were met with blushing evasiveness which only amplified his curiosity about them. Short of seizing them by force, he had not yet figured out a way of getting a look at them.

He pointedly leaned an elbow on a small stack of these papers one afternoon, cupping his chin in his palm.

“So, what’s new in the world of Mistress Ever?”

“I’m thinking of getting a car.”

“Really! You have a license?”

“Got to get that, too,” Ever said with a wry smile.

“It could help.”

“No doubt.”

“What kind of car are you looking for?”

“I’m not sure. I was rather swept up in the whole car thing as a teenager, but I lost interest years ago. What I’d like is something compact, reliable and economical. Probably a domestic make.”

“What about a Ford Escort?”

“An Escort?”

“An ideal little car for you.”

“Think so?”

“Yeah. But first some driving lessons.”

“Right.”

“You free on Saturday?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll come by. Take you out.”

“You want to give me driving lessons?”

“Why not?”

“You’re sure about this?”

Brooke smiled broadly. “I’m game, if you are.”

***

He turned up at eleven o’clock on Saturday – driving a white, two-door Escort.

“Where did you get this?” Ever asked, climbing into the passenger seat.

“Borrowed it.”

“Dare I ask from whom?”

Brooke only grinned.

“Well, you did explain the purpose of this ‘loan’ to the owner, I hope.”

“Oh sure. No problem,” Brooke replied, not convincing Ever at all. “I thought it best you get a feel for the car you’ll eventually be driving,” he explained, pulling away from the curb.

“Well, I do appreciate it. I don’t think I could see over the steering wheel of your car,” Ever conceded and Brooke laughed.

He drove several miles out of town into the country where the roads were flat and relatively traffic free, before allowing Ever behind the wheel. With no assistance from Brooke, she readjusted the seat, the side and rear view mirrors and started the engine, before she paused.

“Now, how do we get this thing in gear?”

“Put the car in drive.”

Ever glanced down at the stick shift. “That would be ‘D’?” she guessed.

“That’s right.”

“And what’s the ‘D’ with the circle?”

“Overdrive. That’s more for long distance driving. Drive is better for stop/start city driving.”

“I see.” Ever gripped the shift handle and pulled. It didn’t budge.

“Press the button at the side,” Brooke suggested.

“Oh,” Ever said, depressing the button and shifting into overdrive.

“Now, release the hand brake,” Brooke instructed but Ever had already done so.

Before releasing the brake pedal, she turned to Brooke with a crafty smile. “Nervous?”

“Now, when have you ever seen me nervous?” he retorted.

Ever chuckled and pulled out onto the open road. She handled the car conservatively but with surprising finesse.

“You’ve done this before,” Brooke guessed.

“Yes,” Ever admitted. “It’s been a long time and, of course, they drive on the other side of the road in Australia.”

“You’re just full of surprises.”

“Of course.”

“How do you like the car?”

“She’s a beauty, isn’t she? And this automatic transmission is a dream.”

“You’ve never driven an automatic before?”

“First time.”

Of course, Brooke didn’t let on but he was relieved. Although genuinely happy to assume the role of Ever’s driving instructor, he’d anticipated a harrowing experience. He’d been wrong about that, as he had about so many things concerning Ever.

They had a delightful afternoon. Brooke was a surprisingly patient and insightful instructor. Due to Ever’s modicum of prior experience and vehicular knowledge, he was able to clue her in on more advanced defensive driving techniques. Ever handled the car with confidence and initiative and he could see that she would make a fine driver.

He allowed her to drive most of the way home, only taking over when conditions were complicated by routing and heavier traffic flow.

“This is what worries me the most,” Ever confided, climbing back into the passenger seat. “Dealing with heavy traffic, squirrelly drivers and finding my way around.”

“All that will come with practice,” Brooke assured her. “We’ll start with the immediate neighborhood and radiate out. You’ll soon get the hang of it.”

“I hope so. This town really scares the hell out of me.”

“Come on. I didn’t think anything scared you,” Brooke said and they both laughed.