Chapter 31

“Aye, aye, matey.” Tadder held up his car keys. “I’ll drive.”

JT draped his arm over Tad’s shoulders, and they went out to the circular drive at the front of the house where Tad had parked his Cougar. Daddy and JT had given him the used car when he’d graduated from Stuart High; it was in awesome condition, having literally belonged to a little old lady who only took it out on Sundays.

Tad got in and buckled up, knowing JT would pitch a fit if anyone who lived under his roof, including Daddy, didn’t do that. When Tad was first learning to drive, JT had offered to have his friend Dr. Hal arrange for him to sit in on an autopsy of people who hadn’t bothered to buckle up, or to view windshields that were shattered and decorated with blood and bits of brain matter. Tad had turned green and promised to always use his seatbelt. When it was Becca’s turn, she had swallowed and said, “Thanks, but that won’t be necessary, Daddy Tom.”