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Minutes later, he pulled up behind Hue’s cruiser, stopping to talk to his friend who was leaning against his car. “She’s still in there. Says the tow truck is on its way. I really don’t think Norm is coming out today. Estelle kicked him out again last night, and he went on his usual bender. Still in lockup as far as I know.”
Math ignored the gossip and asked again, “But she is fine?”
“She was going at a good speed when she hit the ditch. The ditch slowed her down, but the airbag deployed when she hit the tree. I think something happened with the car to cause it to go off the road,” Hue surmised.
“She really likes that car.” Math looked at the red car with the crumpled front end resting against a small tree. He then saw her in the front seat with her head resting on the steering wheel.
“I will leave you to her. Call if you need me.” Hue said as Math walked down the ditch toward her.
Walking around to the passenger side of the car, he opened the door and slid inside next to her. Her head was still on the steering wheel, and she didn’t acknowledge that he was there. Though she was not crying, it really seemed she was beyond tears, like her life was as ruined as the little old car she sat in.
“Tess, are you okay?” he asked, reaching out and touching her blonde hair.
“I…. The tow truck is coming.” She seemed confused.
“But are you okay?” He asked again.
“Yes.”
“Can we go home?” he asked.
“I cannot go home again,” she whispered into the steering wheel.
“You can always go home. Nobody is ever going to stop you.” He wanted to touch her, but he didn’t know how she would react to that.
“I think my car is broken.” The hood was so smashed up you couldn’t see out of the windshield. The car was never going anywhere again.
“We will get you another one.”
“But this is my car. I bought this one,” she insisted.
“You can buy another. An even nicer one.” He reached over and rubbed her back. When she didn’t pull away, he kept doing it.
“But another one will not be this one, and I need this one.” She didn’t move, didn’t look at him.
“Tess, you will have to get a new car for the baby anyway. This will just make it happen a little quicker”
“For the baby. I have to give up everything for the baby. You are right.” Her voice was as calm and collected as when she had told him he couldn’t have the loan. Just as cold and unfeeling.
“Tess, it isn’t like that. You don’t have to give upeverythingfor the baby.” Having no idea what she was talking about, he wondered if she was in shock from the accident.
“But I do, Mathias. I just thought I would have this a little longer. I thought…”
“What is so special about this car?” He wanted to know.
“I bought it new. It was supposed to last forever.” She sighed, head still on the steering wheel.
He smiled. “Cars don’t last forever.”
“This one had to. I told my papa it would.” Her voice cracked a little at the words.
“I think he will understand when it doesn’t.”
“I will never know. He is dying today. I cannot get there, and my car is broken.” Tears were coming out of her eyes, but she showed no emotion as she said the words.
“We’ll take my pickup,” he said, getting out of the car. When she didn’t follow, he went to her door and pulled her out. She grabbed her phone, and he grabbed her briefcase and purse from the back seat.
“No, it is a sign. I will not go,” she stated firmly, trying to grab her bags from him.
