CHAPTER 31 32
840
845
850
855
860
865
870
875
880
885
890
The Nissan was driving down the paved path to the garages when she passed Justin and Ryan walking up the road.“ Where are you going?” Justin asked. Nicole stopped the car.“ I want to see how fast my car will go,” she said.“ Did Dad say it was okay?”“ He and Sam told me to be careful.” The boys ran after her as she headed toward the track. Tears filled her eyes. Knowing what was going on and being slapped in the face with it were worlds apart. She pressed the accelerator and pushed the car around the closed course. At one hundred and ten miles an hour the car developed a small shake.
Sam was heading toward the home’ s office.“ Is there going to be a problem?” she asked.“ Nicole spoke so we could hear what she said to Maurice and she didn’ t wait for me to tell her that might not be a good idea,” Eddie said to Sam’ s alarm.“ Tell me the car is in good shape. Tell me she is not going to get hurt because of me.”“ The car isn’ t new but it was well maintained and I had a mechanic go over the steering and brakes before I let her drive it.” He hadn’ t figured the car would be pushed to the limit by Nicole. A large screen arose from a cabinet as Sam turned on the computer and punched the key for the security cameras around the property. Eighteen frames filled the monitor. One of the small frames showed the oval track and Nicole driving onto the course. Sam filled the screen with that view. They watched helplessly as the car picked up speed with each lap.“ How fast is she going?” Sam asked.“ I can’ t tell. Can you control the radar gun from here?”“ No! Dammit!” The white tips of her manicured nails were digging into his arm.“ Let’ s hope she really wants the Delorean,” Eddie said, loosening her grip.“ That is your daughter. How can you make jokes when she could get hurt?”“ What do you want me to do? Drive the golf cart onto the track and catch her?”“ Asshole!” Sam stated as the car on the screen began to slow and then stopped.
The zoom lens on the camera allowed Sam to see Nicole’ s face. Her eyes were closed, tears streaked her cheeks and she released the death grip she had on the steering wheel. Nicole drove from the track and Sam switched the view to side by side views of the front gate and the front door. Justin and Ryan were standing at the track’ s exit as Nicole started to drive past.“ How fast were you going?” Justin queried.“ The car develops a little shake at one-ten,” Nicole said.“ We are going swimming,” Justin said, noticing Nicole wiping her eyes.“ Have fun. I’ m going home. Tell Daddy and Sam I said goodbye and everything is cool.”“ You mean with the car?”“ That too. Just tell them exactly what I told you to say. Did Shelby agree to go out with you this weekend?” Nicole changed the subject purposely. He got the message.“ Yes she did. I’ ll pass on the message,” he said as Nicole rolled up her window and drove away.
The red Nissan drove out the gate as Sam and Eddie watched on the large screen. Sam was able to breath again. She and Eddie were relaxing in the hot tub when the boys arrived. Justin passed on the information as Nicole ordered and watched for a reaction. Dad’ s face revealed nothing. He caught a glimpse of what may have been relief on Sam’ s face. If he had not been looking closely he would have missed it completely.“ I’ m boiled,” Eddie said climbing from the Jacuzzi. Sam followed him into the pool. Justin helped his friend put his eyes back in their sockets with a sharp elbow to the ribs.“ Do that again and you’ ll piss her off. Be cool,” Justin whispered harshly.“ Sorry. It just surprised me. I’ m cool now. There is almost no back on her swimsuit,” Ryan said.“ How about if you keep that between us,” Justin said. Ryan nodded as they jumped into the pool. A short while later Sam headed toward the house. Eddie whistled and Sam put a little extra into her walk. As she reached the house she turned and blew three kisses.“ That one’ s on the house boys,” She laughed and stepped inside.“ Let’ s go guys,” Eddie said.