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Lynda drove alongside Strip. It was different. Slow, leisurely. A nice change of pace. A soft smile crossed her lips and she was thankful just to be spending time with Strip.
Strip was quiet. Too quiet for Lynda's liking. She knew she needed to check in with him, see what was on his mind, even if she had an idea of what he was thinking.
"You okay hun?" She asked gently.
"Yes. I'm fine dear. I just wish it hadn't been so long."
"Hmm." She hummed to herself. Six years was a long time. "You've been busy." She tried to reassure, "And he could have called."
"Well I suppose so. We're almost there anyways."
It had been quiet a busy few years for Strip and Lynda. Strip hit his sride with his sponsor, Dinoco, and the racing schedule kept them on the road. It wasn't often that they got to stroll around Philadelphia like they were doing now.
"You sure you didn't forget where it was?" She joked softly.
"Of course not. Ah there it is."
They came up to a small bakery. It still felt familiar even if it had been several years.
"That sign wasn't here last time." Strip remarked seeing a red-lettered sign above the door. The sign read Hank's Bakery.
Strip and Lynda entered in and took a minute to get settled in.
It wasn't long until the baker realized he had customers. "Well hello and welcome to Hank's bakery. I'm Hank." He said without looking up much. But then the baker noticed there was a fair amount of blue in his lobby. A distinct shade of blue. Dinoco blue.
"Well I'll be." Hank said smiling widely, "It's my favorite sister-in-law."
"Your only sister-in-law!" Lynda laughed. "And who else?" Lynda winked towards Strip.
"And my favorite brother, Strip."
"Good to see you Hank. I know it's been a while since we had a proper catch up, but I was hoping you had a few minutes to chat."
"Yes of course! Although I am expecting someone soon..." He glanced at the clock.
The three of them parked around a small table. A forklift appeared behind the counter. "You remember Gary, right?" Hank asked as Strip and Lydia nodded. "Gary could you bring us a loaf of fresh baked bread to share?"
"So what's new around here?" Strip asked trying to make conversation. "I noticed that sign was new."
"Yes the sign and a few other new additions since you've been here last."
"It looks lovely. But tell me, have you considered some red curtains for the windows?" Lynda asked.
Both brothers started laughing.
"Oh I'm just saying it would look more welcoming." Lynda crossly.
"If you need an interior decorator, Lynn is available." Strip joked.
Hank looked toward the clock. "Remember I said I was expecting someone and I must meet him." He said quickly. "Would you excuse me?"
"Oh of course! Do what you need to do."
"See he's doing well. And happy to see you!" Lynda said once it was just just her and Strip again.
"Yes he seems to be doing well for himself. And not too much has changed."
Little did they know they were in for the surprise of their life.
Some mild bustling was heard coming from the direction of the kitchen. Strip and Lynda waited patiently.
A new figure quietly zoomed into the lobby. Strip and Lynda looked at the figure as if it wasn't real, like if they were dreaming. Because there, right in front of their table, was a tiny car. A very young car. Smaller than a forklift. Couldn't have been older than five.
"Hello!" It peeped.
"Hello yourself." Strip responded.
He gave it a good once-over. Quite a handsome little fellow, bright, obviously had some stock car in him. The color of his paint job puzzled Strip though. The closest he could come to naming it would be a mixture of turquoise and grey.
"So, Papa, who are they?" The little car asked.
Hank stood alongside his son and tried to read his brother's expression
"You have a son." Strip choked out though the shock.
"Strip, Lynda, meet your nephew, Cal. Cal, this is Aunt Linda and Uncle Strip."
Cal looked shyly at his newly introduced family members with a curious sparkle in his eye.
"I know you!" He said after a few minutes.
"You do?" Strip puzzled.
"Yeah you're the dinosaur car!"
"Don't you mean 'Dinoco'?"
"Yeah that too! I love dinosaurs. Do you want to see some?"
"Sure." Strip chuckled, amused by the child's antics.
Cal left to retrieve his precious items. Which left the adults in their own company, and not without pressing questions.
Lynda knew for the most part Strip wouldn't ask a lot of questions. His relationship with his brother could be like fragile thread Strip was afraid to accidentally sever. But that didn't stop Lynda from doing the asking. After all, she was the favorite sister-in-law.
"How old is he?" A simple enough question to break the ice.
"Five. Just turned. He's in kindergarten too." The proud father responded.
Ahh. That helped add to the time-line.
"And his mother?" Lynda asked, beginning to press for answers.
"Just me an' him." Hank said firm enough to let Lynda know no more questions for the time being.
Lynda nodded, but the answer only left her more puzzled.
Cal returned with his items, a book and some toys. He than proceeded to 'show and tell' for his Aunt and Uncle.
"See this?" He asked pushing forward a toy. "That's a terrible-dactyl."
"Pterodactyl, Cal." Hank gently corrected.
" 'at's what I said.
And THIS is a Tyrannosaurus Rex! The king of the dinosaurs! That's the kind of dino you wear on your hood for your races."
'Hmm.' Lynda thought. 'King of the dinosaurs. Maybe that's were the nickname 'The King' came from.' She smiled to herself.
"Well Strip, I suppose me and you ought to catch up. A proper catch up." Hank knew in his mind he would have to tell him everything. And the sooner he did that the sooner he would feel better. "There is a coffee shop, few blocks away, good place to talk if you'd join me."
Strip agreed to that plan. He would have suggested they just talk in the bakery, but a look from his brother left him know, that whatever was about to be said, he'd rather not say it in front of Cal.
Hank cleared his throat to get everyone's attention. "Gary, would you keep an eye on Cal for a bit?" He asked. "And Lynda, would you like to come as well?"
"Oh no thank you. I'd like to stay here and get to know my new nephew." She beamed.
"You know Lynda's going to cover him bumper to bumper with kisses, right?" Strip said once they left the bakery. "You're probably going to have to give him a car wash when you get back."
"Hah you're probably right. But I don't mind. I know that Lynda will be a good Aunt to him."
Within a few minutes, they were there, but it was honestly not what Strip was expecting. "Is it closed?"
"Yes in a way. Actually it's mine. It's far enough away it could be another bakery. Or I could leave it as a coffee shop. But for now, it's a nice quiet place we can talk."
Strip was reminded why they were here. He knew that the best approach would be to give his brother time and space to say what he needed to say.
"Where should I start?" Hank sighed deeply.
"The beginning. If you haven't forgotten, I'm a really good listener."
Hank smiled a bittersweet smile. Yes, through it all he remembered.
"I guess it started with... I fell in love. It was right after your last visit."
"Does this person have a name?" Strip gently prompted.
"I'd rather not say it." Hank said darkly. "It was way to fast. I think I knew it wasn't ever going to last... deep down I knew I was headed for trouble. But would I do it again? If it meant I would have Cal absolutely."
"Why," Strip paused, "didn't you tell me about Cal?"
"I'm still... trying to figure that out myself. I guess I have to continue my story to find out.
We got married. Courthouse. Couple of months in, she said she wasn't happy anymore. But also that we were expecting." Hank paused. "I don't want to make this too difficult, I know you and Lynda have wanted to start a family for some time."
"We've excepted some things aren't meant to be." Strip said, trying to stay strong. "Maybe if I wasn't racing..."
"Don't do that to yourself, Strip. You were made to race." Hank insisted.
Strip was surprised by the sudden vote of confidence.
"You can't doubt yourself. You can't dwell on the could-have-beens."
"Thank you I needed to hear that." Strip said. "But we're here to talk about you."
"Yes but I just want you to know I believe in you. Always have. And I know a haven't been great at showing my support to you. But I do. I support your racing."
"Hank, thank you. I'm glad I know that now."
"So Cal arrived and his mother left. I don't even know if she saw him. I named him by myself. Calvin. I named him after-"
"Grandaddy. Yeah I picked up on that." Strip said. "It's a good fit."
"I wanted to give him a good name. He deserved it."
"Yeah," Strip said, a little distantly. He was just thinking to himself, that if he ever had a son, that'd be exactly what he would have named him.
"Strip." Hank said solemnly, waking Strip from his thoughts. "I need you to promise me something."
"I will try my best. What is it?" Strip asked, uncertain of what it could be.
"Whatever happens, you can never let Cal know the details of how his mother left him. I... never want him to think he wasn't wanted. I don't want to paint her in a bad light to him."
"I understand. And I respect that. But are you sure you can't tell me her name? What if she should come back?"
"I've been waiting for her to come back for five years. She ain't coming back. She would have been back by now. I..." Hank paused. Strip could hear the pain in his voice. "Have to let her go."
"You still love her don't you?"
"Yes and I think I always will. After all, I have Cal now, and I couldn't imagine my life without him."
"You know, you didn't have to keep all this hurt to yourself all this time. Why didn't you tell me?"
"I was broken. Ashamed. And all of a sudden I had an infant son. Picked my self up and kept going I had to, for him. You gotta forgive me Strip, I wanted to tell you, I just couldn't bring myself to."
"I understand, it's okay." Strip soothed. "I know now and I want to be a part of Cal's life."
"Yes. I'd like that too." Hank let out a half smile. "I'd like to ask you one more thing. If anything should happen to me, would you and Lynda raise Cal as your own? Would you be his godparents?"
"We would be honored. Chrysler forbid anything happen to you, I promise he will always have a home where he is loved and cared for."
They sat in solom silence for a few minutes, the gravity of the conversation they just had weighing on them. For the first time in years, Hank had a burden lifted off of him.
They returned to Lynda and Cal at the bakery. Just as Strip had predicted, Cal was covered in kisses. They talked and laughed and thoroughly enjoyed each other's company, until it was time to say goodbye. The parting words were said and cheerful promises to visit were called out. Strip always knew, that whatever happened, he would be thankful for that time he had with Hank.