I do as he says, and it purrs to life. “Wow,” I say with awe.
“You like it?” Keeton whispers close to my ear.
“It’s amazing. Who wouldn’t like it?” I’ve never driven a car like this. Lewis bought me a minivan. Ironic since we were never going to have children. I think he thought it made him look like a family man if his wife had a van. Ugh, minivans. This, whatever kind of car this is, is more my cup of tea. Someday, after my writing career takes off, I’ll get something like this.
Turning back to Keeton. “You’re sure?”
“Positive. Just promise me you’ll stay within the speed limit.”
“Of course.”
“Once you hit the gas, you may change your mind.” That’s Eric talking from behind Keeton. “It’s a turbo so you’ll be cruising, ba… I mean, Lainie.”
“I’ll be careful, guys. I promise.” I can’t make the same promise about my lead-foot sister, Keely. The girl is a menace on the road.
“Talk to you soon,” Keeton says as he shuts my door,
I hear him tap the top of the car as I slide the gear shift into drive and hit the gas. Damn, the car jerks forward and out of the lot so fast I nearly lose control. Now I get what Eric meant by turbo. This thing isfast.
After spending over an hour with Keeton Gustafson, I drive away shaking my head. “What the heck just happened back there?” First of all, I had to muster up the courage to walk into the shop and I practically had to talk myself into leaving. Now I’m driving the fanciest car I’ve ever seen. Owned by the hottest man I’ve ever met. It’s like I was in some sort of trance at GCM. Now that I’m a mile away, I can finally think straight. That man was intense. Sadly, I found out there was no MC affiliated with his shop but what I got was more interesting. I got kissed by a man who kissed like it was his job and then, said man, offered me a job.
I feel like I need to congregate with my sisters. They’d listen to my tale and give me advice, a hug, or a fist bump if it was warranted. I think I need all three. I check the clock on the dash. Everyone should be done with work, classes, or whatever it is they’re doing today. At a stop sign, I open my phone app and hit my group number. It automatically dials everyone’s number at the same time.
One by one, my four younger sisters start to answer. “Yo,” says Keely, the baby, well, one of them. She and Violet are twins.. Keely is a kindergarten teacher and, by far, the most tenacious one of the bunch. Never underestimate the youngest, and smallest, Palmer sister. Next is Sadie, the middle sister. She owns a little bakery in our town square called Sadie Cakes Bakery. She sells the most delicious cupcakes imaginable. She makes other stuff, but cupcakes are my favorite. (Much to Lewis’s chagrin.) When she first opened the shop, he practically forbade me from going to visit. Yeah, like he could keep me from supporting my sister. Sisters before misters, am I right?
“Hey, girls.” I say as we wait for the remaining siblings.
Agatha answers next and Violet immediately after. Violet is so different from Keely it isn’t funny. Keely is short, about 5’1, while Violet is the tallest sister. She’s almost 5’9. Keely is petite, compact and a size two. Violet, well, Violet isn’t. Keely is outgoing, extroverted and Violet is shy and introverted. Case in point, I know Violet is on the line because I see her number but she’s yet to speak. She’s better one-on-one. Actually, Violet and I are really close. I tell her just about everything because she’s great at the advice thing, plus I know she’d take a secret to the grave. That’s how loyal she is. I just wish she’d share some secrets with me. I know she must have some.
Agatha speaks up, “Hey. What’s up. I’ve only got a minute.” Agatha is a workaholic and two years younger than me. She’s an accountant at a major shoe company. She works long hours trying to get the attention of a certain assistant human resources director at the same company so she can earn a promotion. She’s tried several times, but always been passed over for a man. I continue to cross fingers for her because my sweet Agatha deserves to be happy, and happiness for her means success at work.
It’s strange—after all these years, I’m the only one who’s married. Okay, whowasmarried. Sadie is getting close. She’s been dating her boyfriend, Andrew, for years. He’s totally in love with her so I’m sure he’ll propose soon.
“Ladies, we need to pow-wow. I’ve got a story to tell you that involves a hunky motorcycle guy, a mad-passionate kiss, and a job offer.”
“A mad passionate kiss?” shouts Keely. “Seriously?”
“Yes, but you’ll have to meet me for dinner if you want to hear the whole story.”
“At Dad’s or at Keely’s?” asks one of my sisters. I can’t tell which one.
Oh, that’s a good question. I bet Dad would love to see us all at once. It’s been a few weeks. “Dad’s. We can eat then go down to the family room to talk so he can’t hear. I’ll take care of the food.”
“Okay. Gotta go,” says Agatha. “See you there.”
We all hear her phone click and one by one the other three hang up too. I swing into the local grocery store to pick up several frozen pizzas and some salad mixes. Simple. Easy. Ordinarily, I’d prepare something delicious for my entire family but there’s no time. Frozen pizza is fine for tonight.
