Chapter One

Vivienne Rose

“Take a look at him.” Rex Redondo pointed. “He’s just a toddler and really good on that tricycle.” A young boy pedaled down the middle of the street, his chubby legs pumping.

Rex’s hand gripped her shoulder. “Oh oh!” The small boy’s bike leaned to the left as he narrowly missed running down the orange cone. Several had been placed in the street, serving as an obstacle course.

An older man stood nearby on the grass. “Keep going, Josh. Look out for the next one!” He waved at Rex and Viv, a look of pride in his wide smile. “Isn’t he great? Just like Ross Chastain,” the man shouted.

“Who’s that?” Viv called out. 

“You know,” the man explained, “like the NASCAR driver. My grandson. He’s something else.”

The sound of a blaring horn made the hair stand on Viv’s neck. A sleek gray Porsche slid around the corner. Driving past the residential speed limit, the car headed straight toward the little boy.

Viv gasped as brakes squealed. 

Rex shouted in alarm, “Look out!”

The grandfather froze, his eyes wide with horror.

The trike hit a cone and fell in front of the bike. The boy tipped off the seat collapsing onto the pavement. The sound of an electric car engine whirred away as the child’s piercing wail met Viv’s ears.

She darted into the street toward the child. Bending closer, her eyes traveled over his body. “It’s okay, sweetie. You’ll be fine,” she assured him. The little boy sat up, tears streaming down his face.

Smoothing back the hair on his forehead, Viv’s trained fingers gently probed his small arm. Nothing broken. A cut on his chin oozed blood. She reached into her pocket, pulling out a wad of tissues. Dabbing at the wound, she smiled into his eyes. Her mind continuing to assess. The wound can be cleaned, might need a stitch. The next glance affirmed her opinion. Dirt from the road covered both of his knees. A little skinned up.

“Is he okay?” The grandfather bent over Viv, his hand reaching for the child.

The child thrust his arms over his head. “Grandpa,” he cried. The grandfather reached down and scooped the boy into his arms. Viv watched the child cling to the chest of the older man. 

The man spoke over the boy’s shoulder. “My wife is going to be furious. She’s always telling me not to let him play in the street.” He bent his head to whisper assurances. “It’s okay, buddy. I’ve got you. You’re going to be right as rain.” The child buried his face further into his grandfather’s shirt. But the tears had stopped.

Viv stood. “I’d take him to the ER to have him checked out. Just in case.”

Perspiration beaded down the side of the older man’s face. “Good idea,” he said with a nod. “I’m going to take him right now. And thank you.” His voice choked with emotion.

Once the man left, Rex turned to Viv. “Are you okay?”

“What, about that?” She pointed to the trike lying in the street. The handlebars tilted backward, an orange cone trapped underneath the front wheel.

When Rex raised an eyebrow she answered his question. “I was really scared.” She brushed her hands against her slacks. “I’m going to pick this up,” she pointed to the trike again, “and then drag those cones out of the road.”

“Why don’t you let me help at least.” Rex lifted the trike in one hand. Viv grabbed a cone and made her way to the sidewalk. In a matter of minutes Rex had stacked the others, leaving them on the grass.

“The car didn’t even stop.” Rex looked toward the community exit.

Viv’s eyes narrowed. “Isn’t that just what we wanted to talk to the board about? Kids playing in the streets, how dangerous that is. And now there’s been an actual accident. 

“I think he’s going to be fine, only scrapes and bruises. Mostly, he was just frightened,” Viv added, more to reassure herself and to calm down.

“Did you see who was driving the Porsche?” Rex asked.

“A guy with a shaved head. Probably mid-forties. He gunned that engine and didn’t even stop to see if the child was okay.” Viv shook her head in disappointment. “I only have first aid training. I do hope the boy is alright,” she said again, feeling as if she should have insisted more strongly about having the child checked out by a doctor.

“So we’ll bring that up at our first meeting,” Rex assured her. “At the homeowner’s meeting. We’re still going, right?”

“I want to go more than ever,” she stated firmly. “A fifty-five-plus neighborhood is not supposed to have children playing in the middle of the main road. Why do people think it’s okay to treat the street like their backyard?”

He placed his hand on her elbow. “So we’re a bit late. But let’s take that indignation and put it to good use. Our first HOA meeting.” 

His voice sounded reassuring, but Viv still felt mad. But she did agree with Rex that the best course would be to take this up with the board. The list of community rules was quite long, but it didn’t matter since there was no one to make sure they were enforced.