"Just a minute, Bruce," Mrs. Seerie said. "If you are going to see that girl, you may not take my car."
"Why not? It's not as if we were getting back together."
"Very well, only don't stay too long."
####
When Bruce reached the Belford home, he saw Mrs. Belford, wearing a red dress with a full skirt, leaving with Ben for
the job that Bruce's mother objected to.
The rest of the family, including Stacy, stood watching.
"What are you doing here?" Ben demanded.
"I need to talk to Stacy."
"I don't think she wants to talk to you," Ben said.
"Did you guys have another fight?" Jill asked.
"Never mind that now," Ben said. "Bruce, I think you should leave. And we need to get going, Mom," he added, "or
we'll both be late."
As the car drove off, Katie Rose ushered the reluctant littles inside.
Bruce and Stacy looked at each other awkwardly. Bruce wondered just how he could apologize for what his mother had said.
"Stacy," he said, "let's go for a drive."
"Your mother doesn't want me in her car," Stacy reminded him.
Bruce answered quietly, "But I do."