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The car was dead, but Astrid refused to believe it as she wasted money on parts when finally even the mechanic said: ‘she’s gone, love…’ and offered to buy the car for parts.
The 1982 VW Rabbit had been Astrid’s car since she moved back ‘home’ to London, but one fateful night the engine didn’t turn and that was all she wrote.
“I’ll get you a new one, Star.” Ray said, stroking at her hair while comforting her as she took the news badly.
Astrid shook her head “I don’t want a new one…” she sniffled.
The Rabbit represented freedom, and a new beginning for Astrid when she moved to London. Despite the struggles of opening up a business, her on-and-off and then back on relationship with Ray, plus her new relationship with her Dad—the car was a stable part of her life. Until it wasn’t.
Ray had gone behind Astrid’s back several times to try and get her a car, but kept getting caught. Finally, he handed it over to Ros who smirked in delight at the gentlemen.
“I’ll put her in the hottest thing in town…” she said, playfully elbowing Ray who clenched his jaw at the joke.
Ros enticed Astrid with tea, offering to drive since Astrid couldn’t. On their way, Ros made a pit stop at her garage, feigning an excuse of forgetting something at her office while trying to hide her smirk.
The girls worked hard on the cars and judgingly side eyed Astrid for ‘snatching’ Ray away from their peering eyes while she passed them all by when they reached the back of the garage where a 1964 Astin Martin DB5 was parked in all its glory. The blue paint glimmered in the light and while Ros kept her pace to her office, Astrid couldn’t stop herself to admire it.
She didn’t even realize she was staring when Ros cleared her throat.
“You like it?” Ros asked with a smile.
Astrid nodded “Yeah, it’s pretty…”
“Lets take it for a spin!” Ros offered.
Astrid looked at Ros and immediately shook her head “No! That’s somebody’s car! I’m not taking a joy ride in somebody’s car!” she insisted.
Ros giggled, leaning against the door “Funny you say that, cause...it’s for sale.”
Astrid frowned, crossing her arms as she looked at Ros “...did Ray put you up to this?”
Ros scoffed “Fuck ‘em! Doesn’t matter--you need a car.”
“You’re right, I do. But I don’t need this one, I can get one cheaper.” Astrid said, slowly taking a step away from the car.
Ros smirked while crossing her arms “Cheaper than free?”
Astrid squinted her eyes as Ros “Nothing’s ever free, Ros. What do you want?”
“You’re undying loyalty and servitude!” Ros proclaimed loudly, pushing herself off of the car.
Astrid just stared at her.
Ros sighed heavily, “Look, you’ve got your own thing going on and as a fellow female business owner, I can appreciate that. But you are also in the high life now, live a little! You don’t have to drive some beat-up Volkswagen for all eternity in the name of…I don’t know, perseverance? Besides, you’re in Michael’s inner circle now, and we take care of each other. No strings, we just want you in something nice!”
“Ros, I appreciate this, I do. But…an Aston Martin seems like a bit too much car for a girl who owns a bakery.” Astrid insisted.
“Okay, what about Rolls Royce?” Ros smiled.
Astrid huffed, “You’re not listening!” she hissed.
Ros went quiet and watched as Astrid argued with herself, before she huffed, “I don’t want something super fancy, or expensive, or… loud . I just want something that’s going to get me and my friends to the club in one piece! I don’t want a car that makes it say I have money, because I don’t! I’m not flashy like you, Ros! Just…” she couldn’t even finish her sentence, Astrid had gotten so worked up that she just stormed out of the garage entirely.
The Queen was absolutely confused, “Astrid!” she called out, “What about tea?”
“Oh, fuck your tea!” Astrid yelled, still storming out of the garage.
Ros went after Astrid, but in her brisk walk, she already lost the American girl and was absolutely befuddled while calling out her name, but there was no answer.
“Fuck!” she gripped before putting her hands on her hips, “Ray’s gonna kill me…”
She walked home, having completely forgotten her purse that held her wallet, phone, and house key in Ros’s car. Ray was at work, and so Astrid had to jump the fence and hope to god that the spare key was still under the rock–it wasn’t.
Astrid huffed to herself, hiding under the canopy that covered the BBQ pit as a rain storm blew in and rendered her trapped until further notice. It had been a few hours and the storm stopped, when she heard a car pull into the driveway and she braced herself for something, or anything as the gate door opened and Ray waltzed towards her.
Ray didn’t say anything as he gently presented her handbag on the table before he threw himself into a chair across from her. The couple just stared at each other, saying nothing for a while before hearing another rumble of thunder, indicating another storm approaching.
“It wasn’t just a car…” Astrid finally muttered.
“I know it wasn’t,” Ray said, adjusting in his seat, “You moved to London, settled into a routine, and you plotted away on what you saw your life being. That car symbolized the first of many important things…”
Ray glanced down at his watch before clearing his throat, “However, a lot has happened to you since you bought it. It served its purpose. You’re in a new chapter of your life now, and I think you should get something that reflects that: You have an extremely successful business, you have friends, you have a relationship with a parent with whom you thought was gone forever, you and I are doing pretty well, and most importantly, you have overcome so much! You don’t have to drive a Maserati or an Aston Martin, or whatever the fuck Ros tried to get you into! But I think it’s very safe to say that you have graduated from junk cars to something that has less than 100 miles on it.” he insisted.
Astrid huffed, “Ray, I don’t–”
“You can still miss the Rabbit, while driving something that this version of Astrid can enjoy.” Ray interrupted.
“No. It’s not that. I can’t really afford anything new! It has to be a junk car!” Astrid argued.
Ray huffed and adjusted his glasses, “Astrid, my love, I will buy you the car!”
“I don’t want you to!”
He rolled his eyes, “And we’re back to square one! Astrid, listen to me, the car can be in your name! It’s fine! I have more money than I know what to do with, and if you need a car, then I will get you a car! Whatever you want!” he argued. “You need a car! End of discussion! Stop being so fucking stubborn!”
“Don’t raise your voice at me!” Astrid yelled at him.
Ray wanted so badly to argue, to snap back; but he didn’t want the neighbours to hear–nor did he have the energy to fight any longer. He clenched his fists before sighing to himself, “Lets just...get inside before the storm starts,” he said before getting up from his seat and walking towards the back door to unlock it.
Astrid rolled her eyes, standing up and grabbing her bag before following Ray inside the house.
She didn’t realize how cold she was until she walked in, feeling the central heating blow on as she placed her handbag on the dining table. Ray kept his back to her while he turned on the dining room and kitchen light before slowly walking back into the dining area to see Astrid standing on the opposite end.
“Astrid,” he said quietly before approaching her, getting her attention, “We are a team. Yes, you have your life and things, and I have my life and my things, but we are a unit. No matter what! I just want you taken care of, I don’t want you walking or taking the bus, or whatever! What’s gonna happen when we get married? Are you gonna be every bit as stubborn when we need a new stove or the fridge dies? It’s you, it’s me, it’s us! Let me buy you a car, that’s all I want! It’s not a trick! I promise!”
Astrid stood in place and crossed her arms, thinking long and hard about what Ray had just told her. She wanted to be stubborn, refuse the vehicle–but he was right: they were a team! And marriage? Way to pull that card, you blonde fucker!
“Fine,” she muttered, quietly.
Ray smiled, “Good,” he glanced down at his watch, “We can go look after work tomorrow, maybe find a cute little SUV…”
Astrid raised an eyebrow, “An SUV? That seems a bit much..”
“Well, you could use it to store inventory better when you go to the warehouse, and then…maybe, somewhere down the line…some car seats?” Ray offered delicately.
“I hate you,” Astrid muttered.
Ray smirked, “I love you too.” he said before leaning in to kiss Astrid forehead, “Star, you’re freezing! Why don’t you go upstairs and take a hot shower, or a bubble bath and I’ll get dinner started?” he offered.
“A bubble bath sounds nice, actually…”
Ray smiled, “Just soak until the water gets cold, and I’ll bring you up some tea, and then dinner…” he said before tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, “I love you, my little stubborn Star.” he said before leaning in to kiss her again and then guided her towards the staircase.
“You’re too good to me,” Astrid said while going up the stairs.
“I’m not good enough, my love…” Ray responded back.
Astrid chuckled before disappearing upstairs, leaving Ray alone as he glanced out the window to see another rain storm brewing before he lit the fireplace to help keep the space warm. He thought about the day, the frantic conversation with Ros as she confessed that she ‘lost’ Astrid, and then arguing with Astrid about how he wanted to take care of her. A car. A fucking car!
Ray sighed to himself as he watched the fire take and light up the room. He thought about Astrid, and how maybe she would never understand how much he loved her–but he was okay with that, as he mentally nudged himself to prepare that cup of tea he promised while his love was upstairs preparing a bath.