At Every Turn by Mateer Anne

Author:Mateer, Anne [Mateer, Anne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Automobile racing—Fiction, FIC042030, Charity—Fiction, FIC042040, FIC042000, Young women—Fiction
ISBN: 9781441260406
Publisher: Baker Book Group
Published: 2012-09-01T04:00:00+00:00

21

I parked the Packard in the garage and made my way into an almost silent house. Long pillars of amber evening light spilled through the windows as I leaned my shoulder against the doorframe of the living room. Father looked up from his newspaper and removed the cigar from his mouth.

“There you are, Ally. I was missing you.”

I tossed my hat on a chair and sat on the sofa beside him. “So I hear we’re racing in Cincinnati on Labor Day.” I slipped off my shoes and tucked my feet up on the sofa.

“You heard right. Trotter told you, hmm?” His eyes laughed at me, but I kept my tongue still. I imagined he wouldn’t be as amused if I mentioned Webster was the one who kept me informed. “And I suppose you are going to beg me to take you along.”

“But of course.” I laid my hand on my heart and feigned surprise. “I couldn’t imagine it any other way.”

His laugher bellowed through the room. “That was quite a ride in Chicago, wasn’t it?”

“Yes, quite a ride.” My finger traced a circle on the sofa. An oval, really. The shape of a speedbowl. “You know, Father, it might be wise to give that driver a raise after finishing so well. Three hundred miles is much more strenuous. And you wouldn’t want to lose . . . that driver.”

It was as close as I could come to outright deception, and even as I said the words I doubted it was the right thing to do. But I couldn’t retract them now.

“You might be right, Ally. You might be right.” He set his cigar on the brass tray on the table and turned a page of his newspaper, but his gaze sidled my way. “You know, I didn’t imagine I’d get away without you this time, though I promised your mother—again—that I’d try.”

Now it was my turn to laugh. “Don’t worry about Mother. I intend for her to come with us.”

“To the race?”

“No. Just to Cincinnati. She’s been so attentive to Grandmother. She needs a weekend free. I might even let her take me shopping.” I patted his knee and then picked up my shoes.

“Which will most likely cost me a pretty penny,” he groused good-naturedly. And though he hadn’t committed in words, I knew he’d reward his driver with a bit extra for this race.

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