Because I’m not.
I am a Dashkov, technically and the two of us barely know each other.
One the other side of the coin, Seamus and Kiernan go around telling everyone I am their big sister. The twins enjoy not being the eldest and tease me about getting gray hair before they will. Even if we are only a few months apart.
“Marianne.” Nan turns to her daughter-in-law with a scowl on her face, finally acknowledging her presence after she put away a healthy dose of breakfast. “Shouldn’t you be doing inventory? I know you rarely deign yourself to come and help out down here, but you can at least do that, right?”
Marianne blows out a frustrated growl as she slams down her own coffee cup on the bar, the liquid sloshing over, before stomping into the back room, leaving the two of us giggling conspiratorially at her departure.
thirteen
“Where are we going?” I ask Liam as he drives through the streets of the city toward the port. Not long after Marianne huffed her way into the back for inventory, Liam walked through the door with a wide grin stretched across his face.
“You’ll see.” He smiles over at me as he pulls into a large barren parking lot strategically dotted with orange traffic cones. It looks like a course, but I can’t make out what each station is for.
Liam parks his black Porsche Panamera in front of a painted-on white line, similar to a racer’s starting line, and kills the engine. “Coe on.” He motions for me to get out, and I easily obey, excitement thrumming in my veins as I take everything in.
“Each set of cones is designed to guide you through different situations you may encounter on the street,” he tells me, his hands slipping casually into his jacket pockets. He looks completely at ease, like he’s done this a time or two. Or four, since that is how many siblings I now have that have reached driving age. “It’s designed to not only teach you the rules of theroad but also how to evade, how to lose a tail, and a few other maneuvers we will do as you become more confident behind the wheel.”
I stare out at the course, dumbfounded. “You’re teaching me how to drive?”
“Neil mentioned that you were never taught.” Liam looks down at me. There is no pity in his gaze, just a warm kindness and a lingering sadness. “Every father should have the opportunity to teach their children to drive. You’re my daughter, Ava, and I am honored to have this chance.”
Well, balls.
What does a girl to say to that?
Nothing. Because I have no words. Instead, I smile up at him, nodding my head with tears dancing in my eyes as he hands me the keys and motions his head toward the driver’s side. An embarrassing squeal leaves me as I practically fly to the other side of the car, eagerly encasing myself inside the powerful machine.
“All right now, lass,” Liam’s deep tone is intense as he buckles himself into the seat next to me. “There are a few things we need to go over before you can hit the course.”
I nod my head. Smart idea. I am aware of where the brake and gas pedal are, but that is about the extent of my knowledge. At least he won’t be giving me an in-depth history lesson on cars like Seamus had with knives or Kiernan did with guns.
“Now, the first car was made in 1886 by a man named…”
I can’t help the frustrated groan that leaves my lips and when I look over at Liam, he is beaming at me, his eyes twinkling with mischief as he takes in my expression, which no says,are you fucking serious, dude?
“Oh, Seamus was right,” he chuckles. “If looks could kill, lass, I’d be burning in my seat right now.”
Shaking my head, I roll my eyes heavenward before taking a deep breath and relaxing into my seat. He continues chuckling under his breath at his little joke while he explains each button, switch, signal, and pedal.
I listen with rapt attention, taking in his calm, assuring tone as he teaches me. He is patient, more so than either Kiernan or Seamus, and answers my questions without making me feel useless or stupid.
The only thing missing is the one person besides my mother that I want to share this experience with, and if that doesn’t tell me how bleak my life is, I don’t know what would.
“Can I ask you something about my mother?”
The comforting silence of the ride back to the bar is blissful. We spent hours on the course as he ran me through drill after drill. I am by no means Richard Petty, but I can at least perform the basic functions of driving.
For the most part.
A few cones might have been sacrificed for the greater good.
I turn my gaze reluctantly away from the orange and pink that streaks across the sky as the sun settles itself behind the tall steel trappings of the city. Liam keeps his eyes on the road, his face calm. The only thing giving away his discomfort at the mention of my mother is the white across the back of his knuckles as he grips the steering wheel tighter.
“Of course.” The words are tight, his jaw clenched.
“The police report states that you were out of town the week of her disappearance,” I begin, twisting my fingers in my lap nervously. “Where did you go?”
