Page 75 of Take the Wheel

Nancy looked at Ari, astonished. ‘Really?’

‘I still really want to return it to her. It means a lot to her, I think. But trying to get anything else out of all this is… Pointless.’

Nancy smiled. ‘If you think so.’

Ari nodded and looked out of the window, a slow smile on her lips.

As the car began its journey, heading toward Edinburgh and whatever awaited them there, Ari leaned in close, her voice soft but full of certainty. ‘I’m gonna fall for you so hard,’ she whispered in her ear.

Nancy squeezed her hand tighter. ‘And I’ll catch you.’

‘We’ll catch each other,’ Ari said.

Fifty-Nine

A Few Years Later

Ari leaned against the reception desk, idly twirling a pen between her fingers as she watched the rain streak down the window of the small office. Outside, Edinburgh bustled in the early evening light, the streets shining under the glow of street lamps.

The phone rang. She picked it up. ‘Horizon Chauffeurs, Ari speaking. How can I help?’ She listened. ‘Yes, we can accommodate that, I think. Let me just check…’ She checked the booking system on the screen in front of her. ‘Yes, we can do that. Three cars for the twenty-eighth is no problem.’

She took payment from the new client, updated the system, and said goodbye to what she hoped might be repeat business. Business was growing, slowly but surely.

Still, they were a long way from coasting. While Ari held down the fort, Nancy was out meeting an event planning company today, trying to obtain another contract. And Ari was hopeful she could do it. You couldn’t meet her and not know she was a safe pair of hands, after all.

Their setup wasn’t flashy. Just a few sleek cars and a handful of drivers they trusted, but it was steady, and it was theirs. Once the loan was paid off, of course.

They were lucky they’d found premises with something habitable attached to keep down costs. Their flat above the officewasn’t much, a tenth of the size of her old place. Small, a little drafty in winter, but cosy. Comfortable. The kind of place that felt like a beginning.

The phone rang, breaking Ari’s thoughts. She straightened, finding her professional voice again. ‘Horizon Chauffeurs, Ari speaking. How can I help?’

The voice on the other end was clipped, precise, and utterly self-important. ‘Yes, I require a driver for a business event. Prompt, discreet, and preferably not one who will attempt unnecessary conversation. I assume your company can meet these standards?’

Ari’s lips pressed together. ‘We provide a premium service, ma’am. Our drivers are highly skilled and professional.’

The woman made a small, unimpressed sound. ‘Can they shut up? The last one couldn’t.’

Ari hesitated, but only for a second. ‘That’s fine, we do quiet. As long as the driver is treated well, they’ll have nothing to say.’

The woman sighed. ‘Please don’t tell me you’rethatkind of business. I needprofessionalism. I need to be able to speak my mind to my staff. Otherwise—’

‘Thanks for calling. But I’m afraid we won’t be able to accommodate your request,’ Ari said instantly.

Silence. Then a haughty scoff. ‘Excuse me?’

‘Our business is built on mutual respect between clients and staff. If that’s an issue for you, there are plenty of other services in Edinburgh that might suit your needs better.’

‘Do you even know who you’re speaking to?’

Ari smiled, though the woman couldn’t see it. ‘I don’t need to.’

A sharp exhale came through the line before the call cut off. Ari placed the phone down with satisfaction, shaking her head. Some things never changed.

She checked her watch. Five o’clock. Time to knock off. She went to the door and locked it, turning the open sign to closed. But as she turned away, there was a sharp knock on the door. She rolled her eyes and reopened the door.

But it wasn’t someone looking to book a car.

Her mother stood on the threshold, immaculate as ever, a parcel in her hand.

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