After a knock on her window had her jumping, she looked up to find the woman she had bumped into outside the club, watching her in concern.
Grace pressed the button to operate the window, but it didn’t work, either, so she opened the door.
“Your car won’t start?”
“No, when it gets hot, I have to give it time to cool down.”
“I’m Vida. My husband belongs to the club. I could give you a ride if you need one.”
“Are you going to Stephenville?” Grace asked on a sob.
“No, but I could. If you don’t want to sit here, I could take you to my husband’s tattoo shop and then bring you back when it closes.”
Grace grabbed her purse. She didn’t want to be sitting in her car when Ice showed up. “Thanks. I appreciate it.”
Grace got out of her car, locking the door, and then went with Vida to her small car, climbing into the passenger seat.
Once they were on the road, Vida cast her a curious glance. “You didn’t tell me your name.”
“I’m sorry. I’m Grace.”
“Do you want to talk about why you were crying?”
“Because my car wouldn’t start.”
“You were crying before you got in your car,” Vida gently reminded her.
“I was?”
“Yes, but it’s okay if you don’t want to tell me.”
“I planned a surprise for my boyfriend… my ex-boyfriend.” Grace continued after correcting herself, “The men had already planned a surprise for him, though. Her name is Brandy.”
“Ouch. Who told you? Maybe they were wrong?”
“Rita. No, she wasn’t lying.” Grace looked out the window.
“That bitch. She gave me a hard time when I first started seeing Colton. She’s actually not that bad once you get to know her. Which one is your boyfriend?”
“Ex-boyfriend. Ice.”
“Oh.” Vida was silent. Grace could tell she was having a hard time coming up with something nice to say.
“Why were you at the club?” Grace asked. “Were you going to the party?”
“God, no.” Vida shuddered. “Thank God my husband doesn’t take part in that aspect of the club.” Vida cast her an apologetic glance. “Sorry, I didn’t mean… I was there to drop off some concert tickets for Gert. She’s been sick, and we wanted to get her out of her house for a while to have a good time.”
“I’ve met Gert. She tried to warn me about Rita. I might be slow on the uptake, but I’m not completely stupid. I thought we had something special. He was so adamant about me not having anyone else that I took that to mean he wouldn’t, either. But Rita told me he had sex with Brandy on the pool table.”
“That asshole,” Vida said, slowing the car down and parking in front of a tattoo shop. “Come on inside, and I’ll get you a cup of coffee.”
Grace had never been in a tattoo shop before. There were pictures on the walls of people showing off their new ink and others of tattoos people could choose. On the side of the wall was a poster showing men and women’s genitals and the piercings available.
Vida went behind the counter and came back with a cup of coffee.
“Does your husband do the piercings?”
Vida grimaced. “Yes, and before you ask, I’m always in the room when it’s a woman.”
Grace took a drink of her coffee.
“What are you going to do about your car?”
“I’m going to call a tow truck and junk it, and then I’m going to call a friend of mine to drive up from Stephenville to pick me up.”
“If you don’t want to do that, I have a friend, Penni, who has to leave town tonight after the concert. She has to go past Stephenville. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind dropping you off.”
“I wouldn’t want to inconvenience her.”
“You don’t know Penni. She really wouldn’t mind; she would love the company.”
“Would you mind calling to check? That way I won’t have to bother my friend.”
“The concert won’t end until ten,” Vida told her.
“That’s fine. CeCe doesn’t get out of class until eight, and she has an early class tomorrow, so I’d rather not bother her.” She also really didn’t want to have to explain to CeCe why it wasn’t Ice giving her a ride home.
“All right, then I’ll give Penni a call.” Vida went back behind the counter.
A couple of customers came in while she was on the phone, and Grace saw a tall man with dark hair and a goatee, come from the back. He went behind the counter as Vida disconnected the call.
She checked the customers then motioned for Grace to come to the counter. “Penni said she would be happy to give you a ride home after the concert tonight. I’ll drop you off when I get off and take you inside to meet her.”
“I appreciate your help, Vida.”
“I’m glad I could help.” Vida gave her a smile, tilting her head to the man to her side. “Grace, this is my husband Colton.”