He just glares at me before throwing the tow truck into drive, swinging it around with expert precision, then flinging it right back into park. With one more glare, he climbs out.
“What did you do to him?” Lark questions.
“I spoke to him.”
“That explains it.”
“What are you trying to say, crotch goblin?”
“I’m saying your personality isn’t always happy-go-lucky.” She winces. I wince. It’s very unpleasant. “Mom, you are a special brand of person.”
“Digging a hole here, kid.” I steal a few M&M’s. The tow truck grinds as my car slides up onto the back.
“I’m just saying you like to poke and prod people until they snap.” She snatches the candy back.
“I do not.”
“No?” she smirks with chocolaty teeth. “I double café dare you to be nice the entire way back and give our knight no less than three compliments.”
“What do I get?” I chomp down on my stolen candy. How very Lark-like to get coffee involved.
“Mom, you get the warm feeling of being nice to someone.” She shakes her head at me, and I know she’s already assuming I’m going to fail with that crooked smirk of hers.
I won’t. “Challenge accepted.”
She laughs so hard, chocolate sprays from her lips and onto the dash at the same time our savior climbs back into the truck. Not skipping a beat, he grabs a baby wipe and removes the spray of chocolate and settles back into his seat.
“He won’t spray, will he?” The truck lurches as he shifts gears while side-eyeing my sweet Cooper.
“Don’t be mean.” I scratch behind his little ears, his tiny head flopping onto Lark’s lap as he stares up at me in mischief. If there ever was a creature on this earth that suited us, then it’s Cooper. “Don’t make me a liar,” I whisper to his little body, and I swear he smiles up at me while his fluffy tail vibrates.
“If he sprays my cab, you’ll pay for it,” our strange savior states as the truck rumbles down the road. “Where were you heading, anyway?”
“To my Uncle Robin’s in Bethel.” Lark stares up at him in awe. One bag of M&M’s, and she’s a traitor.
“Bethel?” red shirt sputters. I really should ask him what his name is, but then I’d have to end the mystery, and I’m far too invested in this to just let it go.
“Bethel,” I echo.
“Lady, you are on the wrong road for Bethel.” He shakes his head. “See that mountain?” He points directly ahead.
“The looming sentinel?” I squint out the window, pretending the mountain isn’t that impressive.
“That’s Canada.”
“Oh no.” Now I lean forward. It isn’t like the mountain is going to have a glaring sign that says,Hey, I’m in Canada. Still, I look anyway, hopeful that perhaps it just might. If that is Canada, then I definitely took a wrong turn.
“I told you this.” Exasperated, Lark turns to our knight in flannel armor. “I told her which way to go. It was clear on the map. We went too far north, didn’t we?”
“Sure did, kiddo.” He reaches over and ruffles her hair, something I know she hates—I tried, and she nearly bit my fingers off—but when he does it, she just smirks up at him. Who is this child? I want mine back. “It’s all right. We will get you set up in the local bed-and-breakfast.”
Lark glares at me. Yeah, kid, I’m eating my words.
“And the car?” she presses. I swear she’s like a little bulldog.
“Well, I rarely fix Volkswagens, so I’ll have to see what I can do.” He shifts in his seat.
A tell. He doesn’t know how to fix my car. “Are there any dealers around here?” I already know the answer to my question though, if the side-eye he gives me is any sign. I’m so screwed. Not just screwed, but stranded near the border screwed.
