The minute they were out of the house, Simon made a beeline for the car, then skidded to a halt to wave wildly at the Hansons, who stood on their front porch.
"We get to ride in a limousine!"
"Isn't that something?" With
a wide grin, Mrs. Hanson waved back. "Just like a rock star. I want to hear all about it tomorrow."
"Okay. This is Mr. Bigaloe," Simon announced when the driver opened the door. "He's going to drive us to Brad's house. That's Mr. and Mrs. Hanson. They live next door."
"Pleased to meet you." Bigaloe tipped his cap, then offered a hand to Zoe. "The dog can ride up with me, if that suits you."
"Oh. Well, if he's no trouble."
"Look at that, John." Mrs. Hanson gave her husband's hand a quick squeeze. "Just like Cinderella. Just hope our girl's smart enough not to go running off when the clock strikes."
There were little glass vases with fresh flowers beside the tinted windows. And little lights, like faerie lights, streamed along the floor and the roof.
There were a television and a stereo, and buttons to work everything on a panel just above her head.
Everything smelled like leather and lilies.
Simon was already crawling over the long seat along the side to poke his head through the opening to the limo's cab and peppering Bigaloe with questions.
Zoe didn't have the heart to stop him. And it gave her a moment to try to adjust.
After that moment she gave up. It would take her a year to adjust.
Simon came sliding back. "Moe likes it up front, and Mr. Bigaloe's letting him stick his head out the window. And Mr. Bigaloe says I can touch anything, because I'm the boss. And I can have a soda from the ice place over there if you say so, 'cause you're the boss of me, and I can watch TV in the car. Can I?"
Zoe looked at his bright and dazzled face. On impulse, she caught that face in her hands, gave him a loud, smacking kiss on the mouth. "Yes, you can have a soda. Yes, you can watch TV in the car. And look, look up here. You can make the lights go on and off. And there's a telephone."
"Let's call somebody."
"You do it." She picked up the phone and offered it. "Call Mrs. Hanson. Won't she love that?" "Okay. I'm going to get a soda, and turn on the TV, and call her so I can tell her."
She giggled with him, and played with the controls, and drank a ginger ale just so she could say she had.
When they arrived at Brad's, she took Simon's hand before he could reach for the door handle. "Mr. Bigaloe's supposed to come around and open it," she whispered. "That's part of his job."
"Okay." When the door opened, Simon popped out and looked up at Bigaloe. "That was really good. Thanks for driving us."
"It was a pleasure."
"I guess you could tell it was our first time in a limo," Zoe said when he helped her out.
"I don't know when I've enjoyed driving anyone quite so much. I'll look forward to taking you home when you're ready."
"Thank you."
"Wait until I tell the guys." Simon grabbed the leash and let Moe pull him to the door. "They're not going to believe it."
Before Zoe could tell him to knock, he was pushing the door open and shouting for Brad. "Brad! We watched TV in the car and called Mrs. Hanson and had sodas. And Moe rode up front."
"Sounds like a busy ride."
"Simon, you're supposed to knock. Moe!"
The dog had already made a dash for the great room and the sofa.