Looked like they would find out about her monumental failure in person.
“I can’t reach my family,” Allie told Luke during a lull in his conversation with Sheriff Dudley.
“We’re almost there anyway,” the sheriff said. “Just up the street.”
Allie looked out the window. He was right. The knots in her stomach tightened, a sense of doom hanging over her like a thundercloud. Before she could gather herself, they were pulling into her grandparents’ driveway. There was the big white farmhouse and the red barn behind it. Cars lined one side of the wide drive, leaving the other side free for passing—and that’s just what Sheriff Dudley was doing.
“Oh, hey . . .” Allie leaned forward. “You think you could—”
The sheriff chirped the siren as he breezed past the house, heading to the back.
Oh, good. Now everyone would see her pulling up in a sheriff’s car, in the back seat, no less, restored ’57 Chevy nowhere in sight.
The crowd turned their way. It seemed the entire town of Bedford had shown up for the big event. There was Gram, little Emma on her hip, and Gramps, showing off his newly stained deck to someone Allie didn’t know. Even Mom and Olivia had escaped the confines of the kitchen in time for her arrival.
Sheriff Dudley pulled to a stop, and Allie exited the car, leaving the door open for Walter. She was vaguely aware of Luke unloading their stuff, then the sheriff gave a wave and circled back out of the drive.
Her mom had approached, looking summery in pink capris and a billowy white top, her blonde hair pulled into a chic ponytail. “Allie, what in the world?” Her harsh whisper harkened back to Allie’s childhood days. “Where is the car?”
“Hi, Mom. I can explain.” Allie hugged her, finding the embrace stiff and formal.
Dad joined them, his dark brows pinched behind his glasses. “Where’s the car? What happened?”
Allie swallowed hard as she drew back. “Mom, Dad . . . I hate to tell you this, but—”
“Allie, honey, are you all right?” Gram approached, looking beautiful with her short gray hair curled and her makeup just so. She gathered Allie in a warm, soft hug. “Did you have an accident, dear? Are you hurt?”
“Please tell me you didn’t have an accident.” Her mom’s voice was tight.
“No, ma’am.” Luke shared a look with Allie, silently asking if he should expound.
But no, this was her responsibility. Gramps had joined them, along with Olivia and Spencer. After greeting them, they all waited with expectant expressions.
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 her car was stolen. Oh, Allie, you poor dear. Come inside and have a cookie.”
“Not my car, 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?”
“Not Allie’s car, 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.
“I left 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.”
The three of them headed up the deck steps, but Luke hung back, watching until they disappeared into the house. His gaze flickered up to the white structure, then over the pretty property. His eyes drifted over the crowd, mostly strangers, mingling on the deck and lawn.
Bill was still consoling Becky over by the grill, Olivia must’ve retreated to her kitchen duties, and the rest of the party carried on as if nothing had even happened.
Chapter 12
Once Allie had a cookie, she joined her mom and sister in the kitchen where the aromas of prime rib and yeast made her stomach turn. Normally she’d be outside keeping her nephew and nieces out of trouble, but as Allie had just lost a prized antique car and subsequently let someone else take the blame, she figured she should probably make herself useful.