CHAPTER 7
The Ringo Effect
CHAPTER 7
Pulling up to a red light on 75th Street, Dahlia’s cell phone rings. She peeks at it cradled on the dashboard and sees that it’s Davinia calling. Dahlia thinks twice about answering but she has to answer. Davinia is, after all, her daughter.
Dahlia takes a deep breath and then pushes the receive button.
“Hi Davey,” she says cheerfully.
Davinia’s voice is shrill. “Did you sell Daddy’s car?”
Dahlia sighs. “Well hello to you too, sweetie.”
Ignoring her mother, Davinia plows on. “I just saw what looks like Daddy’s car on North Avenue. Did you sell it?”
Dahlia’s not in the mood. “I sold my late husband’s car. Yes.”
“How could you?” Davinia screeches. “How could you sell his car? He loved that car!”
The light turns green and Dahlia steps on the gas pedal. “What should I have done, Davinia? Allow a Bentley to sit in the garage and rust?”
“Well I need a new car. You could have given it to me.”
“Right,” Dahlia laughs. “So you could sell it.”
Davinia disconnects the call.
Dahlia indeed sold Richard’s precious Bentley. She had to. With Maya’s tuition thirty days past due…
