"That's perfect," he told me after my fourth attempt at a parallel park. "Again. By the time I'm finished with you, you'll be able to do it with your eyes closed."
I did gain confidence with him, and by the end of my lesson, I felt quite at ease. He laughed about it.
"Hell, I might make you my chauffeur," he said, and I smiled for the first time.
"Thank you."
"No problem. Actually, I enjoyed myself, watching you. You know, I taught my wife how to drive. Wade doesn't even know that, but it's true. You remind me of her in some ways," he said. "Especially the way you concentrate, get those eyes of yours fixed on something. I used to tell her she could drill holes with her looks."
We drove through the opened gates and up to the house.
"Why don't you want to live here all the time?" I asked him.
"Too many memories for me," he said. "Besides, it's a house for a family, not a widower. I expect a family here, kids running all over the place, Emersons. I want a grandson before I'm too old to teach him how to drive too," he added, and I thought about Ami and her hesitation about getting pregnant. I wondered if he had any idea.
"I'll come in for a while," he said when we parked. "I need a drink. Not that your driving did it," he added quickly. "I just have a drink about now every day."
As soon as we entered the house, Wade came out of the living room to greet us. Worried, he searched my face quickly to see what it would tell.
"She's damn good!" Basil bellowed. "The poor unfortunate can drive better than you, Wade, and after only a few lessons."
"Stop saying that, Dad. I never called her that."
"Stop saying that, Dad," Basil mimicked, and laughed as he brushed past Wade to go to the bar.
"Was it all right?" Wade asked me quickly.
"Yes, it was. He's a good teacher," I said.
Wade looked skeptical a moment.
"Where's Ami?" I asked.
"She had a headache and went to take a nap. She gets migraines occasionally. She'll be all right, but she might not come down to dinner."
"Oh, I didn't know."
"It's all right."
"What the hell you doing out there, Wade? Come on in here and tell me how much money I made today," Basil shouted from the doorway.
"I got to get onto my homework," I said. "Thanks again, Mr. Emerson," I called.
"Don't call me Mr. Emerson. Call him Mr. Emerson. I'm Basil," he shouted back at me.
I shook my head, glanced at Wade, who smirked, and then hurried up the stairway.
The phone rang almost as soon as I entered. I thought it might be Waverly again, teasing me, but it was Trevor.
"I've been calling you all afternoon," he said. "Where have you been? Don't tell me you found a new guy already."
"Driving lessons," I said.
"Oh yeah. I was afraid your phone had been disconnected or something."
"How are you?"
"Better, but you won't believe this cast. I look like something from a horror movie. It's not easy to sleep with it, either. Glad you're taking driving lessons. I won't be driving for some time, and I'll need a ride home, so get your license soon:'