“June, get in the car,” I barked, exasperated. “We’re going to be late.”
“Give me a minute, Miss Priss,” June groused. “It takes a moment to get these old legs working.”
Amelia handed me a bag. “This has all her medications and personal items that she’ll need.”
“Check,” I said, tossing the bag in the back alongside the black walnut cake, double chocolate brownies, blackberry cobbler, lemon tarts, and a tomato pie Bess had made for June to take to Wickliffe Manor.
“Let me help, Lady Elsmere,” Matt said, handing Emmeline to me. He provided a strong arm for June to balance herself while she struggled to get from the wheelchair inside the car.
“I can walk,” June insisted. “I just can’t walk far.”
“I can pick you up,” Matt offered.
“Oh, would you?” June said, batting her eyelashes.
I shook my head. “Come on, June. Quit flirting and get in the car. Charles is waiting for Amelia. The Dupuys have their own Thanksgiving to get to.”
Matt settled June in the car, strapping her in the front passenger seat.
Amelia poked her head inside and gave June a quick peck on the cheek. “Call me if you need me.”
“Tell that to Josiah. If I need help, I doubt she’ll let me use a phone.”
“Don’t worry, Amelia. June will be fine. Won’t you, you old goat?” I said, handing Emmeline back to Matt, who put her in a car seat in the back.
June shot back, “Old, ill-tempered women are bats. Old, ill-tempered men are goats.”
Strapped in by her father, Emmeline was fussy, so Matt gave her a bottle.
“I hope you put Benadryl in that baby formula,” I murmured.
Matt complained, “You have no patience, Jo.” He turned to Amelia. “I’ll keep a close watch on all three gals and text you every so often so you won’t worry. We’ll be fine. Josiah’s a very good driver when she has passengers. She’ll make an effort not to hit the side of a barn.”
Starting the car I said, “Heard that. Everyone got their seatbelts on?”
No one answered. June was fiddling with her purse and Matt was tending to Emmeline, who had thrown her bottle on the car floor.
Seeing that everyone was secure, I honked the horn for everyone to wave goodbye to Amelia, whose face relaxed into one of relief.
“Amelia’s glad to see the back of us,” I commented.
“I can’t wait to eat. I’m drooling over the black walnut cake,” June said. “It’s one of my favorites.”
Matt said, “I think I’ll have some warm blackberry cobbler. I hope the Wickliffes have vanilla ice cream on hand.”
“Have you been to Wickliffe Manor, Matt?” I asked.
“Just a few times. Franklin showed me around before I left for California.”
“You should see it now. Very spiffy. Hunter and Franklin have done a lot of work to it.”
“I look forward to it. I brought a bottle of bourbon for Hunter and champagne for Franklin as a thank-you for inviting Emmeline and me. I very much appreciate it.”
“I’m sure they’ll enjoy the libations,” I replied, looking at Matt in the rearview mirror. I could tell he was nervous.
“Jo, could you drive a little slower around these curves? I don’t want Emmeline to toss her cookies on her new dress. I’d like to keep her clean until we get there at least,” Matt said, cleaning off Emmeline’s mouth with a wipe and arranging the bow in her hair.
Emmeline stuck her fist in her mouth and gurgled.
I slowed down. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a white Thanksgiving. We must have two inches of snow. Thank goodness the snow plows got out early this morning.”
“Where’s Asa?” June asked.
“She told me she would meet us at Wickliffe Manor but she didn’t give me a time,” I answered.
June asked, “Is she bringing that man with her?”
“You mean her Russian sidekick, Boris—or is he Ukrainian? I can never remember.”
“I thought he was Georgian,” Matt said.
I replied, “I don’t know. She didn’t mention him.”
“Why isn’t Baby with us? He goes everywhere with you,” June said.
“Yeah. Where’s Baby?” Matt asked.
“Hunter came and got him last night. We didn’t have room for him in the car today.”
“Watch it, Jo. Looks like there’s black ice on the road,” Matt cautioned.
I slowed down and put on my emergency blinkers so the car behind me knew something was amiss. The car slid a bit but I maneuvered it out of danger. The car behind me wasn’t so lucky and slid off the road.
We pulled over on the shoulder and stopped.
Matt got out and ran over to the unlucky car. He talked for a moment with the driver and then got behind the car to push.
I unbuckled my seat belt and hurried over to the disabled car, careful not to slip on the ice. I doubted that I was much help, but Matt and I pushed the vehicle back onto the road. I think Matt did most of the work. The couple waved a “thank you” as they ventured down the road to their own Thanksgiving.
Matt and I scampered back to the warmth of my car feeling pretty good about ourselves and the world. I pulled back onto the road without incident and took my time traveling to Wickliffe Manor.
After all, I had precious cargo in my car.