I forced myself to shift into work mode and stop thinking about the car. Alexis arrived, and we ran lines while having our hair and makeup done. From there on out I was immersed in the work at hand.

We finished rehearsing late that evening, and I was on my way home when I remembered I’d wanted to check into pricing for Ella’s car. I called Kate and asked her to investigate, all the while asking myself again if this was really a good idea. My internal debate continued long after I’d gone to bed.

The next morning I showed up early to check out the car. Ella gave me the keys, and I took it for a quick spin around the lot. It looked great and drove smoothly; I was impressed by how well she’d kept it up. After hearing back from Kate, I proposed a price. “What do you think? Sound fair?”

“Well, yeah, it does,” she said. “I’d say you’re being pretty generous.”

I shrugged. “I don’t want to cheat you, you know. What were you expecting, for me to bid low and make you haggle?” I grinned. “What have I done to deserve such a reputation?”

She laughed. “Oh, hush. I’m just surprised, that’s all.”

“When would you be willing to give it up?”

“How about Monday? That gives me the weekend to buy a new one.”

“Great. Thanks, Ella.”

“Thank you. And make your friend thank you as well; that’s incredibly nice. I’ll let you know when I get bored with my condo, too, just in case.”

Monday I gave Ella a check and my approval of her new convertible with a killer stereo. That night, after rehearsal had ended, I stood in the parking lot and stared at my two cars, realizing I’d not quite thought through all the logistics. Now what? I didn’t know where Grace lived. And how would I get home once I drove it out to her? She probably couldn’t even drive yet, not that I wanted to be trapped in a car with her and her God visions. I groaned and sat on the hood of the Honda. This wasn’t supposed to be difficult; I was just supposed to buy her a car and be done with it.

I left a note on the Honda to make sure it didn’t get towed and then went back to my apartment. I fished out the phone book from its place in a cabinet, where it was buried under a number of other little-used items. It was only for LA County, and there was no Grace Winslow or Winslowe or Windslow anywhere in LA. Maybe Orange County, then.

I looked her up on the Internet and struck gold. Grace Winslowe, Rancho Los Lagos, Orange County, California. Her address and phone number were listed. Another site provided driving directions. She was only an hour away.