Page 98 of Day Break

I followed him inside and handed him the truck keys from where George had always kept them. He disappeared outside, and I heard the alarm turn off. The rest of his family had left, most likely going through the front door.

When Lane came back in, he shook Lee’s hand.

“Sorry you had to deal with my family,” Lane said.

Lee shook his head. “George warned me. I’ll expect a few calls from your family’s lawyers before the end of the week.”

Lane nodded. “Yeah, they weren’t happy.”

“For now,” Lee said, looking between the two of us, “everything you need to know is here.” He handed Lane a large folder. “I’d suggest you move forward with the rest of George’s wishes, quickly.”

“Thanks,” Lane said, shaking the man’s hand.

Just then the police pulled up outside.

“Want me to stick around?” Lee asked.

“No, you wanted to get back to the city before dark.” Lane motioned towards the front door.

“What now?” I asked Lane.

“Now we head out and report the destruction to your truck. And the lamp.”

I glanced at the glass on the floor. “I should clean that up.”

“No, not until after the police see the mess.” Lane took my hand and pulled me out the door.

While Lane talked to the officers, I zoned out, running over everything that had just happened. Every detail. How I now had a dog, a truck, and furniture. Possessions. I had possessions. I’d never owned anything before. Well, except my copy of Don Juan. And I had to fight to keep that tattered book. I supposed I would have to do the same for the truck. It was obvious that Lane’s cousins didn’t like that George had given it to me and not them. Why? They both owned luxury cars.

I didn’t know which one was driving the vehicle that we had seen speeding out of the drive.

While the officer was taking pictures of the truck, I asked Lane.

“Which one did this? Derrick or Phillip?”

“My guess? Both of them,” Lane answered. “There’s too much destruction for just one of them. The moment the glass broke, the alarm would have gone off. I think they did the tires first, then threw the rocks through the windows.” He motioned to the large stones that lined the drive. There were three of them sitting in the front seat of the truck.

“Whose car was that pulling out?” I asked as he wrapped his arms around me.

“I don’t know who was driving. But it was a rental they used to get up here,” Lane answered. “They don’t own cars themselves, I don’t think. Derrick has been staying in Vegas, and I don’t know if he has a car out here.” He shrugged. “Phillip normally drives one of his parents’ cars when he needs to go somewhere or bums a ride from them.”

“They don’t own cars?” I asked, suddenly realizing why they would be hurt that their grandfather had given me his truck instead of them. I didn’t even have a driver’s license.

Lane shrugged again and then had to go answer a few more questions. When the police officer left, we headed inside.

I started cleaning up while Lane called a tow company to take the truck to the local repair shop for new tires and windows.

“Will you teach me how to drive?” I asked as we sat on the back porch sipping a glass of wine while Byron played in the yard.

Lane glanced over at me, then suddenly burst into laughter.

“My grandfather left you a truck, and you don’t even know how to drive. God! What a slap in the face to my cousins.” He continued to laugh, and I couldn’t help but smile too. “Yes,” he said, wrapping his arm around my shoulders and pulling me closer. “I’ll teach you to drive.”

“What are you going to do with this place?” I asked, motioning to the house. The kitchen and living room lights were on and in the darkness of the night, the place looked like a beacon of safety. Every time I looked at it like this, I felt warm and happy.

Lane sighed as he followed my gaze. His silence had my stomach jumping around.

“I’m not sure yet,” he answered after a few moments.