So much for mymanicure.
By the time I’m finished changing the tire, my body is slick with sweat. My hairline is soaked, long rivulets run from between my breasts to my bellybutton.
My arm muscles yell at me the first time I turn the wheel. I’m tired, hot, and in desperate need of a shower. But at least I have a car with four workingwheels.
* * *
“Aubrey, what happened?”Isaac rushes tome.
I’ve stepped only four feet inside the apartment, but I’m sure my face is bright red. Not to mention the grease on my white shirt. And under my fingernails. The very opposite of the manicure I was supposed tohave.
Claire puts down the necklace she’s beading and follows Isaacover.
“Mommy, you’redirty.”
I bend down, but I don’t touch her. “I know, baby. Mommy had some cartrouble.”
“Car trouble? Did you break down?” Isaac’s voice is stillalarmed.
I stand and shake my head. “No.” I brush away a strand of hair that has fallen into my eyes and wonder if I’ve left a streak of grease across that side of my face. “Just a flat tire.” The rogue hair is back, and this time I use my shoulder to push itaside.
“Why didn’t you call?” His eyebrows draw together. He looks angry. Andconfused.
Claire goes back to her necklacemaking.
“I need to wash my hands.” I hold them up, even though he’s probably already noticed the black on them, and walk all the way back to my bedroom. I march into the connected bathroom and turn on the hotwater.
Isaac is right behindme.
Pumping soap into my hands, I ask, “What would calling you haveaccomplished?”
“Help,” he says slowly, enunciating everyletter.
I scrub a particularly dark spot next to my thumb. “I didn’t needhelp.”
Why is this so hard for him tounderstand?
“Where were you? Camelback? Scottsdale?” His arms cross, and his chinlifts.
I eye him in the mirror. “Roughly.Why?”
“That’s a very busyarea.”
I sigh, shutting off the water. “What’s yourpoint?”
He grabs the towel off the rack and tosses it to me. “Do you think that, maybe, in a condensed, crowded area, you could have used some help changing yourtire?”
“Honestly? No. I was fine doing it alone. If anything, I was grateful Claire wasn’t there to sit in the sun while I didit.”
Isaac squints and cocks his head to the side, like he’s trying to figure meout.
“You were fine on yourown?”
“Yes.” I’m exasperated. It’s what I’ve been trying to tell him. Why call for help when you don’t needit?
Isaac shakes his head and shifts his weight. “Fine. I get it. You didn’t need help. You can do it on yourown.”
He backs out of the bathroom. “I’m sure you want to get showered. My mom will be heresoon.”
