***
A week had passed with that same cold bitterness between us, but we had to be civil for the children’s sake. The twins were ready for their drivers’ licenses. Auggie and I, despite our argument, had cooperated with one another on this point. I drove them to the DMV office and signed for them each to get a permit. I knew this was going to be the beginning of the end. As soon as they had licenses, they’d be out of my reach. I wasn’t worried about Mark. Marga was the problem child. She was headstrong like her mother and ran with a fairly fast crowd.
“I think we should buy them a tank to learn in,” Auggie commented when we got home.
“Mom!” protested Marga. “You’re such a worry wart. Don’t you trust me?”
Auggie looked disgruntled, and I knew she didn’t like confrontations, particularly now that she was on a quest to unite the family. “I’m buying you a tank because I don’t trust the other people on the road.” Marga, although not convinced, was satisfied enough to let it go at that.
“When can we go for a drive?” she begged.
“Talk to your father in that department. I handle the horses; he handles the cars.”
I’d bought a slightly used Volvo station wagon as a learning car. I understood they had the best safety rating, and while they were in training, the two would share it. An adult had to be on board, regardless. “Let’s go,” I said, and they yipped, running out to the car.
They tossed a coin and Mark won. He climbed behind the wheel, and Marga took the back seat. As I climbed in, I watched Mark go through the slow and a methodical check-off as though he was getting ready to fly a passenger airliner. He carefully adjusted his mirrors, fiddling forever with the side mirrors. His seat went forward, it went back. It rotated upward and then backward again. He looked at the gas gauge and checked his mirrors again.
“Enough already, Mark! We’ll never leave to drive at this pace.”
He flushed and jammed the key into the ignition, rotating it. He didn’t release immediately, and the vehicle starter chattered. “Let go as soon as you hear it catch,” I told him and knew immediately I was not the right person to conduct driver’s training. I just didn’t have the patience for it.
Mark finally got everything going and then counted the positions on the gear shift before finding “drive” and beginning to move forward. “Keep your foot on the brake until you’re in gear and ready to move!” I barked, exasperated. His hand was shaking by now, and I knew we were doomed as a team. I stole a glance at Marga in the rear seat and saw a look of triumphant satisfaction on her face. I figured she’d been practicing out on some country road with an older friend. She was wild enough to attempt it. I didn’t blame her; I’d done it too.
Mark finally started moving forward with a jerky gas pedal, and I told him to stay in the complex for this first time around. He didn’t argue, and I realized he was a very indecisive driver. Eventually, he got the hang of the brake versus the gas pedal, and the result was much smoother. A buzzer went off in the back seat, and Marga shouted, “My turn! Time’s up!” She had evidently set the alarm on her phone. Mark reluctantly pulled over and gave up his controls, swapping seats with her.
Marga, by comparison, whipped the seatbelt on and adjusted the mirrors in one smooth move. The ignition clicked on, and she was already looking over her shoulder and pulling onto the road before I knew what was happening. It was definitely the result of having done this before. She was a fast learner, but what I was seeing were practiced moves.
“Marga, slow down!” I barked as she took the curves in the development like an Indy track. She laughed wildly and squealed the tires through the next one. “Pull over!” I ordered her and even though she pouted, she did as I asked. “That’s enough of that, young lady,” I chided. “I know you think you’re smarter and much further ahead than your brother, but you need to exercise a little common sense. Somehow I don’t think this is the first time you’ve driven.”
She just grinned at me. How could I resist that contagious smile? “Alright, now pull back onto the road but this time, keep the speed down below twenty and drive like a little old lady coming home from church.”
She rolled her eyes but obliged. She knew she had to go along with my orders for now, but once she was on her own, look out.
When we finally pulled back up to the house, I got out and walked straight down to the barn. I turned to Carter, one of the senior hands. “You had any driving tickets or accidents in the last ten years?”
He looked surprised. “No, sir.”
“Good. Your new job is teaching my children to drive. I don’t have the patience.” I stalked off, leaving Carter looking after me with amazement. It was considered an act of great trust and importance to be assigned to look after one of the LaViere children. He swaggered a bit the rest of the afternoon and by the next day could be spotted with a driver’s manual in his hand. He was cramming. That was fine. He was taking his responsibilities very seriously.
The next day was Sunday so the family was at home. Lily and Auggie were in the kitchen finishing a cup as they discussed the upcoming week. In the distance, I heard car doors slam, and a moment later, there was a tap at the front door. Before I could stand from my chair, it opened, and Hawk walked in with Liane close behind him.
“Anyone home?” he called out, not seeing me sitting behind one of Auggie’s damn trees.
“Hello, Hawk,” I said. “Come in, both of you and sit down.” Mark was coming down the stairs, and I motioned him over. “Sit down and visit.”
Mark’s mouth opened in protest, but he quickly closed it and dutifully took his seat.
Auggie flew into the room and quickly introduced Lily to Hawk and Liane, her fingers twisting in front of her. Lily, sensing this was a family moment, took her leave.
Attempting to have some sort of normal family conversation, I blurted, “Well, it seems we have two student drivers in the house.” Right on cue, Marga came through the front door.
She stood a moment, looking at the gathering and then walked into the next room.
“Marga?” I called to her.
“Yeah?” She came back and looked at me, her head tilted in that cocky teenage way I despised.
“Don’t you think you could at least say hello?”
“Yeah, hi,” she said quickly and left again.
I looked at Auggie. “What’s up with her?” Auggie shrugged, and I decided to let it go for now. This entire thing felt awkward and tense. It felt like Hawk and Liane were company, and we were trying to make a good impression. It didn’t sit well with me. Not in the least.