Something about the whole We burned your car so come on over and pick out another one thing bugged the crap out of Monica. If Jessie weren’t in such a funk, she’d be questioning the good fortune, too.
Nonetheless, they walked from cars to SUVs to trucks and discussed the merits of all the vehicles.
Mr. Gravis pointed out the attributes. “Navigation is a big thing right now. All the newer cars have hands-free Bluetooth connections for your cell phones, making it safer while on the road.”
“Fuel economy is more important than speed,” Jessie told the dealer.
“Do you like the hybrid?”
“I live in an apartment. Plugging it in would be a hassle,” Jessie told the man.
Monica hadn’t thought of that.
“Then a smaller engine with high miles to the gallon. You have a son, right?”
Jessie nodded.
“I think the crossover is perfect,” Monica said. “Room for five, plenty of storage in the back. The mileage is better than the bigger SUVs.” Monica led her sister over to the cars in question and opened the door of a blue one.
Jessie slid into the seat and placed her hands on the wheel. “It is nice.”
“Leather seats with heaters in them on the higher-end models, back-up cameras that display on the navigation system.” Mr. Gravis touted the car’s statistics while Monica climbed into the passenger seat.
“What do you think, Jessie?”
“I like it…”
“But?”
“The trucks are nice, too.”
Monica’s smile fell. Jack’s truck was old. Even now, Jessie was thinking about him. Monica put her hand over her sister’s. “This is your car. Jack isn’t here.”
“I know.” Jessie glanced around the interior of the car and shook her head. “I guess this would be a good pick.”
“Might I suggest something?” Mr. Gravis asked.
“Go ahead.”
“Long trips are made easier with the entertainment package for the kids in the car.”
Jessie cocked her head to the side. “The dealer wants me to have a completely loaded crossover?”
Mr. Gravis smiled and nodded.
Jessie glanced at Monica. “What do I have to lose?”
“Take it.”
Jessie glanced at the dealer and said, “Show me this car loaded up and I’ll take it on a test drive.”
“Good choice, Ms. Mann.”
Monica stepped out of the car and followed the dealer and her sister around the lot.
When Jessie found the car with all the requirements, Mr. Gravis handed her the keys and let her drive off the lot by herself.
Both Monica and the dealer stepped into the shadow of the building.
“So, Mr. Gravis, do you mind telling me what the real story is here?”
Mr. Gravis glanced her way and the smile on his lips faltered slightly. “It’s just as I said. There was a fire, and the dealer—”
“Dealership is responsible. Yeah, I heard that, but I’m having a hard time believing it. Where is Jessie’s old car now?”
“We towed it out of here.”
Isn’t that convenient?
She wasn’t buying it.
“Towed it where?”
Mr. Gravis shuffled his feet. “I’m not sure. Junkyard, I guess.”
“So if my sister left anything in the glove compartment…”
“Oh, we removed all of her personal items. No worries there.”
Yeah, right!
“Sometimes good things happen to good people,” Mr. Gravis said. “Your sister seems like a deserving sort. Between you and me, I think my boss is being very generous. Must be the Christmas spirit.”
Monica narrowed her eyes. “Christmas spirit?”
“Yeah, ’tis the season and all of that.”
She dropped it. She didn’t buy his crock of crap for nothing. But she dropped it.
A few minutes later, Jessie drove back into the lot and stepped out of the car. She smiled, but there wasn’t any real joy in it. It tore Monica up to see her sister so down.
“I like it. It has everything.”
“So shall we fill out the paperwork?”
Jessie nodded.
Two hours later Monica stood beside Jessie as she sat in her new car. “Christmas came early this year,” she said, trying to cheer Jessie up.
“I can’t believe this. Jack is going to flip…” Her voice trailed off, her eyes fell to her lap.
“Try and think of the good things going on right now. No more broken-down cars or broken heaters. I’ll bet you won’t even have to roll the windows down on this car to get the air to start working.” Her other car was a pile of junk. It was nice to see it go. “Hey, I’ve got some errands to run. Are you going to be OK if I make it home in a few hours?”
Jessie smiled at her. “I’m a big girl, Mo. I’ll be fine.”
Monica reached into the car and hugged her sister. “I say we take a road trip the first chance we get.”
“Danny is going to be so excited.”
“See, that’s it. Think of the good things.”
Yet as Jessie drove away, Monica knew she was already in tears or near them thinking about Jack.
In her car, Monica drove straight to The Morrison and parked along the street to avoid having to tip the valet. She walked past the marble columns and massive glass doors as if she knew exactly where she was going. Inside, she found the signs pointing toward the lounge. Only a few people were in the bar, none of them Jack. Monica returned to the lobby and found the restaurant. At nearly one o’clock, the lunch crowd was in full swing. The hostess at the desk asked if she wanted to be seated.