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Gerald found the jump cables he always kept in the back of his car. There was some debate as to where they should attach the cables to the Beetle; Gerald’s car was more straightforward than Penelope. Ten minutes later, they were attached. Joss asked if he could have a go at starting the car. Abigail joined him in the car, in the passenger seat.
Gerald counted to three. Joss looked at Abigail as he turned the key. ‘Ready?’
She nodded.
He turned.
‘Oh, my god! It works!’ Joss shouted above the roar of the engine. He tapped the accelerator twice. ‘Just listen. That’s the sound of a real car!’
With one hand on the roof, Gerald leaned down to look at them both through the open passenger door, which Abigail had left open. ‘You have to take it for a run now, to restore the battery power.’
Abigail frowned. ‘But we’re not insured to drive it.’
Joss acted as though he couldn’t hear her. ‘What was that?’ He started backing the car out of the garage.
‘I said, you’re not insured.’
‘Sorry, difficult to hear above the noise of the engine. You had better shut that door.’
Abigail’s head swivelled to the door. She pulled it shut. It took a bit of effort. Unlike modern cars, everything seemed that much heavier. She was about to tell him to stop the car, so he could hear what she was saying, when she caught him grinning. He’d heard alright. ‘Look, we will just go down the road and back. I won’t go near the town. Just take a couple of country roads.’ He turned the car around on the gravel. He stopped at the end of the short drive and turned to Abigail. ‘Okay?’
Gerald had followed them out. He tapped the roof of the car, shouting out, ‘What are you waiting for?’
Abigail realised both of them were ignoring her. She knew if they didn’t take it out for a run, she’d have a dead battery again. She sighed. She’d deal with the insurance and breakdown cover when she got back. ‘All right, but make sure we drive somewhere quiet.’ She wound the window down, which took some effort using the knob on the inside of the door. ‘Gerald, do you want to come? I can sit in the back.’
He shook his head. ‘No, I’ve got to get back to your mother. She’s texted again, asking for me to pick up some more paracetamol for Emily. Are you okay if I go?’
‘Yes, that’s fine. You go.’
He grinned. ‘Now you’ve got some wheels, you’re all set.’
All set for what?thought Abigail. She didn’t ask him if he was referring to making it over to the Somervilles’ house to fill in for Emily, or whether it was a general comment about being here, outside of town, with no bus route. Living in Suffolk meant a car was necessary to get to most places; public transport was sketchy. Although she and Toby had often travelled from London to Suffolk by train, they had always hired a car locally, even when they had chosen to spend a good proportion of their time unwinding in the cottage or walking into Southwold. It had never occurred to her that the owner had a car stashed away in the garage, although she doubted they could have used it.
‘Right, let’s take her for a little spin.’
Abigail looked at Joss and had an idea. ‘You wouldn’t happen to know where Somerville Hall is – would you?’
