Page 126 of The Apple Tree

He sniffled. “Will I get to wear my costume?”

“Absolutely.” I kissed his forehead. “Now”—I pulled the hood over his head—“Let’s sneak out. No one will know it’s you.” I took his hand and led him out of the church.

As we headed toward the truck, Kyle spotted us and made his way toward it too. “What are you—” he started to ask before he eyed the wadded costume in my other hand.

“Sorry, Dad,” Josh mumbled with his head down.

I wrinkled my nose. “It was my fault. I put the buttons in the back.”

Kyle shook his head. “It was an accident. Nobody’s fault.” He opened the door, and I helped Josh into the back seat. “You should have told me. I would have dealt with him.”

“Why? You think I’m not capable?” I walked around to the driver’s door.

“No,” he said when I climbed into his truck and started it. “Is everything okay?”

“Why wouldn’t it be?” I put the truck into reverse.

“Watch out for?—”

Thunk!

“Oh my gosh!” I covered my mouth.

Kyle closed his eyes for a second.

“What happened?” Josh asked.

“We hit a utility pole,” Kyle said slowly while I put the truck inParkand jumped out.

“Eve Marie Jacobson!” Mom cried, running toward the truck.

It wasn’t just her. Everyone gathered as though I had run his truck through the front door of the church. I was so embarrassed.

“Darling, what on earth were you doing?” Dad asked as we surveyed the dented bumper.

Worth noting: It wasbarelya dent.

Still, I wanted to cry, but I didn’t. There were too many people. And grown-ups didn’t cry when they ran their vehicle into something. But it wasn’t my vehicle. It was Kyle’s truck.

“We’ll get it handled, Kyle. I’m so sorry about that. Eve won’t see her paycheck for quite some time,” Dad said.

Barely. A. Dent!

“It’s fine. It was an accident,” Kyle murmured, rubbing the back of his neck while staring at the bumper.

I hung my head.

“You broke his arm, and now Eve dented his bumper,” Mom said to my dad. “I bet he regrets moving here.”

“Maybe it’s best if someone else drives you,” Dad said.

“Eve’s got it,” Kyle replied, opening the passenger’s door.

Keeping my head bowed, I sulked to the door and climbed into the truck. “I’msosorry,” I muttered, starting the truck and putting it inDrive.

Kyle sighed. “It was an accident.”

That was all he said the rest of the way to his house.

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