“Oh, calm down, Ellie,” he said, and the sound of something chewing on the phone was clearly audible. “No one stole it. It’s safe.”
I felt like I was running out of air.
“Are you sure? What do you mean, are you sure? Where is it?”
“It’s at Lucas’s house,” he said, as if telling me he’d borrowed a cup of sugar. “I left it about an hour ago.”
I stared at the grout lines on the floor, the world tilted on its axis.
“You took my car to Lucas. Why? Is his car broken?”
“His car?” Dad snorted. “Lucas doesn’t have a car. You know that. And with the baby on the way, he can’t take the bus everywhere. That’s not worthy of a man with a family.”
“I don’t understand,” I whispered, the shock slowly turning into something sharp and cutting. “When are you bringing him back?”“Bring him back?” He laughed again, louder this time. “Elina, you’re not listening to me. I gave it to him. He needs a reliable vehicle for my grandson. You’re a single woman living alone. You can take the train or buy a small car. Lucas needs space, and family, families, help each other.
