Total pages in book: 16
Estimated words: 14671 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 73(@200wpm)___ 59(@250wpm)___ 49(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 14671 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 73(@200wpm)___ 59(@250wpm)___ 49(@300wpm)
He cuts me off. "But you thought you had more time, and I'm almost positive you didn't anticipate your tires giving out on you. Where do you think your car is?"
"I'm pretty sure it's in a ravine between here and the Garrett place. Once I started spinning, I lost track of which direction was where. I saw the lights in this house and thought they were a house closer to your body shop."
He nods. "Okay. I have to go into town anyway to see about renting a backhoe to move that tree from my kitchen door. If I spot your car on the way and I can tow it, I'll bring it to my shop."
"Thank you, Chase. I don't know what I deserved to get you to take care of me like this, but I'm grateful. Anything you need, just let me know," I tell him earnestly.
The expression on his face shifts to one deep in thought, but only for a minute before he looks at me and says, "You know what you can do is appraise this house. Let me know what you think about the place, what it can go for on the market, and what I need to do to bring it up to market value. I'll pay whatever your rate is, so this isn't a freebie. Just let me know your honest opinion."
Chase doesn't wait for me to answer, and I'm grateful to help. The appraisal is something I can do with my eyes closed, but I would need to see the place without a tree crashed in the backyard. If there is any damage to the house that he can't see, it will affect what I tell him.
A sigh pushes through my lips as I finish my breakfast. To my surprise, the device turns on, and there are dozens of missed calls and text messages. Guilt riddles my entire body as I dial the number taking up the most slots in my call log.
"Where in the hell have you been, Madison Monroe?"
"I'm sorry, Dad," I tell him softly, hoping to win some sympathy with my tone of voice. "I had the car trouble—"
"And you told me you were going to call Kenny. So imagine my surprise when my daughter, who told me she would do something, doesn't do it. You had me worried out of my mind. Where are you?"
"Chase Carpenter's house."
"Who the hell is that? Where the hell is that? What happened, Maddie?"
"The guy who fixed my car yesterday agreed with you that I shouldn't be driving my car around in its condition."
"And you drove it anyway?" Dad screeches. "I told you to junk that damn thing."
"And I told you I couldn't do that. Throwing this car away is the same as throwing Mom away."
The pause in my father's temper lets me know that he gets it. He lets out a sigh. "Are you okay, Maddie?"
"Yeah, I'm a bit sore, and Chase is going to go fish my car out of a ditch. He took care of me, Dad. He kept me safe, and he even has the same kind of phone as you."
I can almost picture him shaking his head. "Fine. You have to know that the car isn't a piece of your mom, hun. She may have taught you how to drive in that car, but—"
"But because you're an impatient menace who'd rather put us in a Humvee or a tank."
"Nothing's too safe for my baby girls, and you three drive like you don't care who you demolish along the way anyhow. But that's not the point, Maddie. Mom loved us."
"I know she did, Dad,” I tell him solemnly. "I just don't want to be ungrateful for the thing you both gifted to me."
"I understand wanting to hold onto something because it feels like you have a piece of her, but not if it's going to risk your safety or your life. Cars aren't meant to last forever. Please, for your mother and for me, and for everyone you love and care about, let it go."
6
CHASE
Idon't mind leaving Maddie alone in the house while I head into Mercy. I'm sure she can use the rest and hope she doesn't try to do anything stupid, like move the debris blocking that back door.
There's an overwhelming sense of proving herself to be strong, but again … I don't want her proving anything to me. She's done more than enough to show me the grit that takes over. She doesn't back down from anything, even if that means putting herself in danger.
When I see the path of chaos left by the storm, it makes me marvel at how strong she truly is because I know the kind of weather it takes to leave this kind of damage. There's a power line down, and the pole it separated from is bent like a giant kicked it sideways. A utility crew is already working on securing the area as I drive by as slowly as possible to make sure I'm not in their way.