To call Dad’s attention to the fact that there were people out there who drove like Ander might cause him to permanently revoke her use of any car. She knew she had to broach the subject, but she had to handle it just right.
Dad followed her into the foyer. He stood a few feet away and shuffled William’s deck of cards, leaning against one of the columns that held up the faux-frescoed ceiling neither one of them could stand.
His name was Trenton Michel Boudreaux the Third. He had a defining slimness that he’d passed on to all three of his kids. He was tall, with wiry, dark blond hair and a smile that could charm a copperhead. You’d have to be blind not to notice how women flirted with him. Maybe Dad was trying to be blind to it—he always closed his eyes when he laughed off their advances.
“Track meet rained out?”
Eureka nodded.
“I know you were looking forward to it. I’m sorry.”
Eureka rolled her eyes, because ever since Dad had married Rhoda he knew basically nothing about her. “Looking forward to it” was not a phrase Eureka would use about anything anymore. He’d never understand why she had to quit the team.
“How was your”—Dad glanced over his shoulder at the twins, who were absorbed in Bob Barker’s description of the obsolete motor boat his contestant might win—“your … appointment today?”
Eureka thought about the crap she’d sat through in Dr. Landry’s office, including Dad’s tough nut to crack. It was another betrayal; everything with Dad was, now. How could he have married that woman?
But Eureka also understood: Rhoda was the opposite of Diana. She was stable, grounded, not going anywhere. Diana had loved him but not needed him. Rhoda needed him so much maybe it became a kind of love. Dad seemed lighter with Rhoda than he had without her. Eureka wondered if he ever noticed it had cost him his daughter’s trust.
“Tell me the truth,” Dad said.
“Why? It’s not like complaining to you will get me out of going. Not in this Rhodeo.”
“Was it that bad?”
“Suddenly you care?” she snapped.
“Baby, of course I care.” He reached out but she jerked away.
“Baby them.” Eureka waved a hand toward the twins. “I can take care of myself.”
He handed her the cards. It was a stress killer, and he knew she could make them sail like birds between her hands. The deck was flexible from years of use and warm from his shuffling. Without her realizing, cards began to whir through Eureka’s fingers.
“Your face.” Dad studied the abrasions on her cheekbones.
“It’s nothing.”
He touched her cheek.
She calmed the flying cards. “I got in an accident on the way back to school.”
“Eureka.” Dad’s voice rose and he folded her into his arms. He didn’t seem angry. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine.” He was squeezing too tight. “It wasn’t my fault. This boy ran into me at a stop sign. That’s why I called earlier, but I took care of it. Magda’s at Sweet Pea’s. It’s okay.”
“You got this guy’s insurance?”
Until that moment, Eureka had been proud of herself for handling the car without Dad’s lifting a finger to help. She swallowed. “Not exactly.”
“Eureka.”
“I tried. He didn’t have any. He said he’d take care of it, though.”
Watching Dad’s face tense in disappointment, Eureka realized how stupid she’d been. She didn’t even know how to get in touch with Ander, had no idea what his last name was or whether he’d given her his real first name. There was no way he was going to take care of her car.