When they got to the bank, Shiloh had to double-park to let them out. Cary leaned forward. “This might take a few minutes,” he said to Shiloh.
“Do what you need to do. We’ll be fine.”
He nodded. “Mom, wait for me to help you out.” He turned to Gus. “Gus, I’m climbing over you this time.”
“No!” Gus said.
Cary did it anyway, but then couldn’t open the door.
“Shit.” Shiloh put the car in park. “I’ve got to let you out. Hang on.”
“Oh my good LORD,” Junie said.
Shiloh opened the back door, and Cary practically fell out of the car.
“Sorry,” she said, turning off the child-safety lock.
He looked up at her. “Stop apologizing. You’re saving the day.”
Cary hurried over to help his mom, who hadn’t waited for him and was stepping out into the street.
They should have made a plan to meet again—Shiloh should have given Cary her number. There was nowhere close to park. Shiloh decided to just circle the block. But then Gus pooped his diaper.
“Mommy,” Junie said, clutching her throat. “I can’t evenbreathe.”
Shiloh drove until she found a parking lot, then changed Gus under the hatchback of the car. Junie complained the whole time. Shiloh tried to talk to Gus about the freedom of potty-trained living. He alternately cried and ignored her.
Then they drove around some more to find a trash can. Shiloh rolled all the windows down, and Junie was sure she was going to freeze “todeath.”
By the time they got back to the bank, Cary and his mom were standing outside. He was trying to shield her from the wind.
“Sorry!” Shiloh called out, before they were even in the car. “We had a diaper emergency.”
“I know all about those,” Lois said breathlessly. Cary was getting her settled. “Don’t get hit by a car,” she told him.
He climbed over Gus again.
“Sorry,” Shiloh said.
“We’d just walked out,” Cary said. “Electric company next?”
“Yep.”
The power company was only a few minutes away, and there was parking. Lois stayed in the car while Cary went in to pay the bill. Shiloh turned up the heat.
“I’m lucky to have a son like that,” Lois said, watching him walk away. “That boy’s never had an irresponsible day in his life—he was still taking care of me when he was in Japan.”
Shiloh smiled. She wasn’t sure what to say. Gus started crying again, angrily. Junie was trying to hand him a book. He slapped it away.
“Gus,” Shiloh said, “I know you’re unhappy, but you have to be kind.”
Lois turned as much as she could to look into the back seat. “Should we sing some more, Gus?”
“No,” he snarled. “Don’t talk to me!”
“Poor Gus,” she said, and then to Shiloh—“Are you sure they can’t have candy?”
“They don’t need candy,” Shiloh said. “I’m already bribing them with McDonald’s.”
