Allie’s heart hammered in her chest. Probably best to just get it out there. She drew in a shaky breath. “I’m afraid the car was stolen.”
Her mom’s gasp sucked half the oxygen supply from planet Earth.
Her dad frowned and blinked.
“What?” Gramps nudged his glasses up. “We’re going bowling?”
“Turn up your hearing aid, old man,” Gram yelled. “She said hercar wasstolen. Oh, Allie, you poor dear. Come inside and have a cookie.”
“Notmycar, Gram.” Allie looked at her parents. “I’m so sorry, Mom and Dad. We were gassing up a while ago and I—I left the keys in the car. A couple of kids took it. We called the sheriff and filed a—”
“For heaven’s sake, Allie!” Mom said. “You left the keys in the car? How could you do that?”
“Oh, Allie...” The disappointed look on her dad’s face brought a lump to her throat.
She swallowed hard and drew a shaky breath. Luke had come to stand close to her, and his solid, warm presence bolstered her.
“You know how much that car meant to your grandparents.” Mom began wheezing.
“I’m confused,” Gramps said. “What happened to Allie’s car?”
“NotAllie’scar, Dad,” her mom said loudly. “Bill and I had your old Chevy restored for your anniversary, and Allie was supposed to drive it here and surprise you with it. But now...” Her mom covered her trembling mouth. A wheezing sound escaped.
“Oh dear,” Gram said.
“That was awful nice of you two.” Gramps rubbed his bald head. “It was stolen, you say?”
“That car was irreplaceable, Allie,” her mom said. “You promised you’d take good care of it.”
A crowd had gathered and conversation buzzed around her. The snippets she heard filled her face with heat, her eyes with tears. She wanted to sink into the ground. She wanted to—
“It wasn’t Allie’s fault.” Luke’s voice cut through the clamor, quieting the crowd. “It was mine.”
***
Luke felt as if his breath was stuffed inside his lungs. He struggled to draw another. He hadn’t known he was going to say that. But he’d seen the disappointed looks Allie’s parents were giving her. He’d seen Allie withering before him, and it had just come out.
“Ileft the keys in the car.” Luke pinned Bill and Becky with an unswerving look. “So if anyone’s to blame... it’s me.”
Becky’s gaze toggled between Luke and Allie, finally settling on Luke. Her eyes turned down at the corners, her lips tightening, her breath raspy. The look of displeasure cut straight into Luke’s heart. The cold trickle of fear returned.
Then Becky burst into tears.
Bill spared Luke a look before gathering his wife in his arms. “Now, now, sweetheart. We’ll figure this out.”
Well, Luke had done it now. All those years of trying so hard, and he’d finally disappointed them. He’d probably lose them over this. At the very least, things would never be the same. But he couldn’t bring himself to regret it.
“I’m so sorry about all this,” Luke continued. “The sheriff has a good description of the culprits, so there’s still a chance they’ll catch them, find the car. I’ll do whatever I can to help.”
But Bill was leading Becky away, and the crowd was dispersing. The hollow feeling inside would go away. Eventually.
He caught Allie’s gaze and saw the gratitude shining in her eyes. “Luke, I don’t—”
“Allie, honey.” Her grandma hooked an arm around Allie’s waist.
“It’s so good to see you, sweetie,” her grandpa told her, then stretched out a hand to Luke. “You too, Luke. Glad you could make it.”
Mrs. Stuart looked at her husband, raising her voice. “Fetch some water for the pooch. You kids come inside and get some food. We’ll figure all this out.”
