"Amanda . . . Mandy . . . it's morning," Tex said softly to her, as he woke up and began stretching on a porch, under the car cover they were sharing.
"This was likely the most wonderful night I've ever spent with you," he sighed, "right here, in what will be our new 'Eden', together. You like the morning view from here? Ready to buy this place, like we talked about last night?"
"Mandy . . . Mandy?" Tex continued. "Mandy, wake up here . . . speak to me," he now said to her with concern.
She wasn't moving as he nudged her. Mandy wasn't waking up.
"Oh dear Manufacturer no . . . no . . ." Tex started to realize with a shock. He started fumbling around for his mobile phone. "Oh no . . . I've given it to Sally and Dana, to screen my calls," he realized to himself with a shock.
He now backed up and reached inside his wife's trunk, hoping her mobile might just have a little charge . . . enough for one call. "Hold on Mandy . . . please," he said as he found her phone, turned it on, and hurriedly dialed 911.
"Carburetor County 911, what is your emergency?" he heard an operator reply.
"Thank the Manufacturer! My wife is non-responsive. My name is Tex Devlin, and my wife is Amanda. We're at the abandoned oil field east of Radiator Springs along Route 66, on the porch of the abandoned house here. Hurry!" Tex exclaimed, not wanting to waste a second more with the usual questions.
"We're sending units on the way now," the operator replied.
— — — — —
"Good morning you two," Doc said with an irrepressible smile on his grill as he came through the clinic doors with Dora from his home in back.
"Wow Doc, you're just looking way more happy than usual," Sally said already parked over the clinic's lift and ready for surgery, enjoying a hot oil that Lightning had thoughtfully brought her from Flo's.
"And you're not even shiny, Doc," Ramone remarked, ready to assist in Sally's surgery. "What gives?"
"Well . . ." Doc stalled in embarrassment, not exactly wanting to disclose the reason for his extremely happy mood.
"Let's just say Doc and I reconnected with our past, running around in the desert last night and celebrating his race victory the way we once used to," Dora explained with her own smile.
Doc surprised Dora with a silent, grateful nudge.
"How could I mind losing to that?" Lightning added with a smile of his own as he sipped on a hot oil as well.
"You put on a good race, kid," Doc admired. "You really made me work out there. But, we're here to fix up the gal who gave us both a good run for our money last night. So Lightning, if you'd be so kind as to apply the breathing mask to Sally the way she's done for you a number of times here . . ."
"Doc!" the Sheriff said as he burst through the clinic doors. "Sorry to interrupt, but we got an emergency call at the abandoned oil field east of town here. Amanda Devlin is not responding. Red is already on the way."
"Thought I'd heard his siren a little while ago. Sorry Sally, I'd better go and see," Doc apologized just as he was about to begin surgery on her.
"Lightning, go with him," Sally urged. "And get Dana, too. She has Tex's mobile phone. Let me know what you find out."
"Gotcha, Sal," Lightning confirmed as he dropped the respirator mask he was about to apply to her, and followed Doc and the Sheriff out onto the highway headed east.
"Ramone, get Flo over here or on the phone with me now please," Sally continued.
— — — — —
Within a couple of minutes, Flo was entering the clinic, returning with Ramone.
"Flo," Sally said, not wasting time, "something's happened with Amanda Devlin. Lightning and Doc are on their way with the Sheriff and Red to check out the situation now. Where are the twins?"
"I found them still working at the café early this morning," Flo replied. "They were taking turns, two of them were working, while the other two slept out back of the cafe. They've had to split up their pairs though, as either Mia or Cam were needed on the grill, so those two couldn't sleep at the same time."
"Why don't you and Ramone return to the café and send all four of them over here. I'll explain what's going on, but tell them it's important. I think it would be good for the girls to come with the guys . . . the guys might need to lean on them a little."
The clinic's phone rang.
Dora quickly answered it, "Doc Hudson's clinic."
"Dora, this is Doc. We're here now," he said on the phone. "Amanda is comatose but still alive. We'll be bringing her to the clinic on a flatbed tow truck from Milestown. Please clear Sally out of the way, with my apologies, and prepare for immediate surgery. This is gonna take both of us, Dora."
"I understand, Skids," Dora confirmed. "Sally is hearing this as well, and we'll be ready here."
"Have Lightning stay with Tex," Sally said to the phone near Dora. "Tell him I understand the situation, and there's no need to call right now. I'm rounding up the twin guys, and will have them here for their parents."
"No crowds in the clinic, please Sally," Doc responded. "We need room to work. Just move and gather everyone else over at Flo's if you don't mind."
"Gotcha, Doc," Sally replied. "All of us, except Dora, and maybe Ramone, will be there."
"Okay, let's move her," they heard Doc say on the phone. "Dora, sweetheart, I gotta go . . . I love you."
"I love you, too, Doc. See you soon, bye," Dora said into the phone, as she hung up.
"As much as I've wanted him to," Dora admitted to Sally afterwards, "Doc has rarely said those words to me in front of others. He's scared, Sally . . . scared of not being able to save Amanda."
"I know you and Doc will do your best, Dora," Sally assured. "Flo, let's get me outta here and over to the café instead. I have some hard news to share with Cam and Aro. Dora, if you think it's best, send Lightning and Tex over to the café. We'll take care of Tex there if necessary, but keep Lightning and Tex together, even here in the clinic. Tex needs one of us to lean on."
"Ramone, stay here at the clinic for now," Flo suggested. "They might need you here, more than I do at the moment."
— — — — —
A short time later, Flo was pushing Sally on her wheel platform into the café's islands.
"Misses M!" Aro greeted Sally. "Thought you'd be in surgery right now. Want a hot oil though?"
"Aro, get your brother here, now," Sally said in seriousness as Flo went off towards the kitchen.
"Mia, wake your sister," Flo said at the same time into the kitchen to her. "And send Cam out front to Sally, now please. You and your sister will have to run the café at the moment."
"Something bad happen to Cam's family?" Mia asked.
"Yes, Mia," Flo confirmed sadly. "Cam might need your support . . . all of ours here."
"I'll be there for him," Mia resolved, as she went to wake Tia and Cam.
"Aro," Mia said, seeing him coming around to the back. "Here to wake your brother as well, huh?"
"Sounds like something bad," Aro noted. "Sally sent me to get Cam."
"Cam, Tia, wake up," Mia said.
"Cam, there's something serious going on," Aro added. "Misses M, Sally, wants to see both of us right now."
"Okay," Cam yawned as he stretched, waking up. "I'm coming . . ."
Mia didn't know what to say to Cam as he started moving and passing her. She reached out a tire though for him, with a worried look in her eyes.
Cam stopped as he felt her tire caress against him though. He backed up, looked at her, and gave her a quick nudge in thanks. Mia closed her eyes and smiled in gratitude as she returned his nudge.
"Thanks, Cam," she said. "I just don't know what to say right now."
"I don't know either, Mia," Cam sighed uncertainly, " . . . except thanks, too."
He then gave her a kiss on the fender as he left. Mia allowed herself to be in heaven for a second, before snapping herself back and trying again to wake her still sleeping sister.
"Tia, you need to take over for Aro out front right now," Mia said to her sister as she nudged her. "The breakfast rush is on."
"Five more minutes, Sis," Tia yawned.
"Hey Aro, before you go," Mia called to him just as he was leaving as well, " . . . could you maybe give my sister the 'Sleeping Beauty' treatment here?"
"You sure it isn't a little soon . . . in everything here . . . for that?" Aro asked nervously.
"I think it'd make her day myself," Mia replied with a slight smile.
Creeping up beside Tia, Aro cautiously applied a kiss to her . . . just on the corner of her fender though.
"Ohhhhh yeaaahhhh . . ." Tia sighed contentedly in her sleep.
"Well . . . I have to go now," Aro shrugged as he looked at Mia and then left, catching up with his brother.
"TIA!" Mia yelled sharply in a way guaranteed to wake her up.
"W-What? . . . What's up?" Tia groggily asked, now startled out of her sleep.
"You just missed out on a kiss by your 'Prince Charming'!" Mia explained.
"Oh man!" Tia yawned disappointedly as she stretched.
— — — — —
"Cam, Aro," Sally began to explain out front at the café as they were approaching her, "your mother was found comatose this morning by your father when he woke up next to her. She's being rushed right now for surgery at Doc's clinic next door here. Lightning is with your father, and they may be joining us here shortly. Your mother and father were spending the night at a small abandoned oil patch east of town here, like the one they started at years ago with Dinoco. They were beginning to dream about retiring there, and starting something small that they could both enjoy, together. I'm sure their night there was happy . . . very happy. We'll know more soon, but you two need to stay here right now, okay? There's really no room in the clinic for you."
Cam and Aro looked down silently, lowering their hoods, as they started to lean on each other a bit. Even though the café was half full of morning customers, Mia and Tia now came up beside their new boyfriends.
"We're here for you," Mia assured Cam.
"We both are," Tia assured Aro.
"Thanks . . ." Cam and Aro each said to their girlfriends. The two guys just silently nudged their newfound sources of support now.
Sally looked on tearfully with her one good eye, while Flo went around among the other customers, assuring, "We'll have your orders out shortly . . . a couple of our staff just heard some bad news about their mother. Could I get anyone hot oils for the moment, here?"
After a few moments of lingering together, Cam finally said, "How about we all get back to work? Flo can't run this place by herself . . . and I don't want to just dwell on this right now. Mia, would you be with me in the kitchen?"
"Yes Cam, I'll be right beside you," Mia affirmed as she continued to supportively nudge him.
"And Aro," Tia offered, "I will be right beside you, for as long as you want me . . . no matter how tired I am here!"
"You are good, Tia!" Aro now admired with an appreciative smile. "Thanks. Help me work the crowds here?"
"Absolutely!" Tia affirmed to him with a supportive smile and nudge.
"And you, Mia, are good, too . . . especially right now," Cam echoed appreciatively as well, wisely not wanting to embarrass or outdo his brother with a superior compliment to either of their twin girlfriends at the moment, lest the other one feel underappreciated.
"Let's get to the kitchen," Cam offered Mia.
"Right this way, Chef," Mia said, taking Cam's tire in hers.
"Bro, keep us informed as to what goes on okay?" Cam asked Aro as they passed each other.
"Will do!" Aro affirmed. "You and Mia take care back there, okay?"
"We will!" Mia declared as Cam smiled at her.
"Flo," Sally said as Flo came back beside her offering a hot oil, "those twins are heaven-sent."
"Which ones?" Flo asked with a smile.
"All of them," Sally concluded.
— — — — —
Led by the Sheriff, the emergency motorcade arrived at Doc's clinic. Dora was waiting with the doors open, and the clinic itself, along with Ramone, was ready for surgery.
"Move her inside . . . careful!" Doc instructed, overseeing every step of gently moving Amanda off the flatbed tow truck and into the clinic.
"Mandy . . ." Tex said softly as she passed by, openly weeping for her now.
"It'll be okay, Tex," Lightning tried to console him. "I can honestly say I've been as close to the edge of life as she is, but I came back. She can, too, Tex. She can."
"I don't think I want to go home after this," Tex said, crying. "I want to stay here . . . get some help, have some real friends."
"We'll work together with Sally and Dana to make it happen for you, Tex," Lightning assured. "Even as of right now . . . you, Tex, are taken care of . . . all taken care of, okay? I'm even gonna make a quick phone call from outside here to get things rolling for you, alright?" Lightning added. "You can go inside if you want, but allow them to work."
Lightning speed-dialed his mobile phone, as Tex followed the others into the clinic.
"Hi, Stickers," Sally replied on the phone. "Okay, fill me in."
"We're here at Doc's now, Sally . . . just arrived," Lightning reported. "Tex doesn't want to go home, or back to Dinoco right now, so I think you'd better be ready to provide some serious legal and other assistance to him. Plus, I'm wondering if we can somehow clear some cones at the Cozy Cone for Tex and his sons tonight. We might even need one for us . . . or let's have Mack's trailers on stand-by."
"We can also put some cars up at the Maters' farm, in the tent we gave them," Sally added.
"Talk with Dana about that, would you?" Lightning asked.
"Did you connect with her about getting Tex's phone?" Sally responded.
"Sorry, Sal," Lightning apologized. "We were zooming past their farm in both directions. I didn't think to stop, and really couldn't."
"That's fine, sweetheart," Sally assured. "I'll call her into town here, and we'll get to work on a comprehensive project right away for Tex and the Devlin family's interests. I know he's going to already have a lot of P.R. and legal folks that we either need to bring into the loop here, or take over for them. As you can, find out what his preferences on these things may be. You've had somewhat similar issues, so you can relate to him on that."
"Gotcha, Sal," Lightning confirmed. "I'd better go inside now and join Tex. I'm putting my phone on silent alert, so call me if you have to."
"Understood," Sally acknowledged. "I love you, bye."
"Love you too, Sal, bye." Lightning said as he ended the call.
Lightning quietly entered the clinic and came to a stop beside Tex.
"Electrical probes!" Doc called for, holding out a tire.
"Electrical probes!" Ramone confirmed as he handed Doc the requested instruments.
"Dora, how you doing over there?" Doc asked.
"No signs of electrical shorts, burns or fluid leakage over here," Dora reported. "Ramone, turn on the Oscilloscope and hand me the probes for that, would you?"
"Lightning, a couple of coolants for Doc, Ramone, and I from Flo's please? This is going to take a while," Dora added.
"Tex," Lightning said. "Would you like to come with me, and reassure your boys? As Dora said here, this is going to take a while. You need something in your tank, too. Come with me for now. We'll be back, and they're doing everything here that can be done. They worked miracles on me. Give them a chance to do the same for Mandy, okay?"
Tex nodded silently to Lightning, and turned to leave the clinic with him.
— — — — —
Soon Tex was arriving with Lightning at the café. Sally and Lightning shared silent glances as he parked next to Tex in the next bay over from her.
"You don't have to be the other side of the pumps here from your wife, Lightnin," Tex suggested.
"Don't you think having company is good on days like this though?" Lightning gently suggested in reply.
"Thanks Lightnin'," Tex simply replied with a slight, appreciative smile.
"Dad!" Aro said, greeting Tex.
"Mister Devlin, Lightning . . . what can I get you?" Tia offered, knowing that Aro would want to spend a few minutes with his father.
"Three coolants to go for Doc, Dora, and Ramone at the clinic please, Tia," Lightning said. "I'll decide for myself later."
"Dad . . . anything?" Aro asked his adoptive father, with some concern.
"A hot oil and a couple grease pancakes please," Tex sighed, looking at Lightning, " . . . and I'd better take a fill-up of Supreme while I'm at it. I'm just running low here."
"I'll get it," Tia assured as she hit the pump pedal for Tex while looking at Aro. "I'll get your brother, too."
"Tia," Aro said, stopping her as she was leaving.
He now came around in front of her.
"Thank you, Tia," he said gratefully. "You're pretty special, you know that? And you're becoming more special to me . . . by the minute."
He surprised her with a soft, but deliberate and warm kiss on the lips . . . their first.
Tia thought she might just float off the café lot. But she found herself remaining surprisingly grounded . . . for him. "You're special to me, too," she said softly with a gentle smile, "and don't you forget it."
"I'm not," Aro assured.
"Go back to your dad," Tia encouraged. "I'll bring everything, including your brother, right to you."
"Okay," Aro accepted as he began to motor back to his father, still looking towards her.
Tia found Mia comforting Cam in the kitchen. He was gently crying, nudging against her.
"Cam," Tia interrupted gently. "Your father's here at the café now. There seems to be no news yet, but you should see him."
"Thanks, Tia," Cam replied sadly. "Mia, I'll be back soon . . . thank you."
"You're welcome, Cam," Mia said.
She just silently stopped him before he left though, took a breath, and gave him their first shared kiss.
Tia tried to give them some privacy by loading a tray with the coolants Lightning had requested, and silently writing up Tex's order for Mia to cook.
Mia and Cam gently ended their kiss.
"Something to help you feel better," Mia warmly explained to Cam as she gave him one more nudge.
"It does," Cam gratefully responded. "Thanks, Mia . . . you're good."
Mia gratefully smiled as she and Cam shared a final glance before he followed Tia out to the café's islands.
"Dad, how're you doing?" Cam said as he rolled up to him past Tia.
Tex found he couldn't talk . . . at least about himself.
"Looks like you two found the twins you were looking for, did 'ya?" Tex said, trying to change the subject but practically crying.
"You know, dad . . . I think we just might've," Aro concurred now as he looked at Tia while she brought Lightning the coolants. "I just want mom to see it though."
"So do I, son," Tex sighed sadly, " . . . so do I."
"Tex," Sally said gently from the next bay over, "Dana and I will be setting up a project office for you in our team headquarters. You'll have your own phone line and office shortly here. I just need to know whom you want notified of this situation, and whether you want to activate P.R. staff and attorneys elsewhere to represent you, or have us do it here. You just tell us what you want done, and we'll do it."
"Sally," Tex said taking a breath. "Remember how I said I would hire you and Dana to be my trusted assistants if I could? Thing is, right now, I trust you two more than anyone else I know, or who works for me. If for the moment, you could be my General Agent or Power of Attorney, and Dana could be my Chief Public Relations Coordinator . . . that's what would help me the most right now. You two handled Lightning's crisis perfectly between you."
"You rest easy Tex," Sally assured, "because we have it from here. I'll have a few legal documents to go over with you and sign shortly. Dana still has your mobile phone, and I'll instruct her soon as well. And Aro, if they can spare you from the café at the moment, I need your expertise and abilities over at our offices. If you and your father wouldn't mind, I'd like you working in your 'family office' with us for now."
"I've got things out front here at the café, Aro," Tia assured as she came up next to him. "I'll even bring you all lunch."
"What do I owe you for all this, Tia?" Aro asked in wonder.
"Let's just talk about it later," Tia suggested with a smile as she gave him a kiss on his fender.
"Everyone," Sally encouraged, "we are, from right now, all one, smoothly functioning championship-caliber team. We are all, I repeat, all of us working together . . . whether we're at the clinic, here at the café, or over at our offices. Most importantly, we need to pace ourselves. I'll be arranging rest quarters for all of us someplace around here shortly. For now, if anyone has an urgent or vital need, call me. Otherwise call our main office line, and leave a message if necessary. Flo, you might want to rest your overnight folks right now, so they'll be more ready for the lunch and dinner traffic later. Fortunately, we don't have any special events here today or tonight, so things should slow down somewhat. I'll spare Aro if I can, but I need staff in that office. Does anyone have any questions before I head over there?"
"Where do we sleep if we can rest now?" Cam asked.
"I'll check if there's space at the Cozy Cone Motel," Sally answered. "Otherwise we'll set up Lightning's trailers for sleeping, and we've got some empty storefronts on one side of the main street that we can put mats and quilts down in, and make into dorms, if not private rooms. If you're looking for a place to rest your hood, let me know, and we'll set you up.
"Everyone set?" Sally asked one more time. "Okay, let's go. Can someone wheel me over to the office though?"
"I gotcha," Lightning offered. "Tia, I think you should deliver these coolants that Dora asked for. Just deliver them quietly to Ramone or Dora and leave. Don't interrupt them, okay?"
"Sorry Aro," Lightning continued, "but I think Tia's best for this job at the moment, alright? Besides, Sally needs you now, so come with us."
"Tia would handle it better than me right now," Aro concurred, looking at Tia with a tear in his eye.
"Okay, Stickers, take me over," Sally allowed. "But then you should stay with Tex, okay?"
"Cam and his friends will take care of me for the moment here," Tex assured. "But Sally . . . now I know I got the right cars looking out for me and my family. Thanks! Thank you more than I can ever say."
— — — — —
A little later, Lightning returned to Tex and Cam at the café.
"Hate to tell you folks," Lightning reported, "but we're still sold out solid at the Cozy Cone Motel. We've got Mack setting up his trailers set up under some shade trees behind Luigi's tire shop, with room for two in back, and several more up front. Whoever wants it can have it. We've also got Guido setting up mats and car covers in some nice darkened empty storefronts up the street for anyone who really wants some peace and quiet."
"Cam," Mia said as she now came up beside him, "Flo's relieved me for now in the kitchen, so since you and I will probably have to alternate later, why don't we go grab a nap in one of those darkened store fronts. And anyone who wants to check on us and keep us honest, can!"
"You're grown cars now, you do what you like," Tex said. "But thank you, Mia, for taking care of my son. I just know I'm going to enjoy getting to know you and your sister . . . as friends of our family at the least."
"Well put, Dad," Cam smiled.
"Let's go see which storefront is ours, okay Chef?" Mia invited Cam.
"You'll be okay, dad?" Cam asked, hesitant to leave.
"Son, I don't know when I will be that again right now," Tex sighed sadly. "But you got a girl there who wants to keep you company through this. I don't want to be in the way of that right now. I'll see 'ya around. Go ahead, Mia . . . take him for some rest, would you?"
"It's okay, Cam," Mia gently suggested. "Let's go."
"You know Lightnin'," Tex said as Cam left with Mia, "I wish my family and I had come here sooner. Most all of us, except me this mornin', are finding so much happiness here."
"Tex," Lightning assured, "you'll find happiness here, too . . . you will. I promise. And if you ask Sally how sacred she and I take the promises we make, she'll tell you that we do absolutely everything we can to make them happen."
"Lightnin'," Tex replied, "I believe you, I do. Thank you, I feel better because of that."
"Hey Tia," Lightning said as she passed by. "Have you had a real rest lately?"
"No," Tia admitted, "and with Aro gone over to the offices, my lack of sleep is catching up with me now."
"How about I take over for you for a while, and you go get a rest, too?" Lightning offered. "Mia and Cam are headed over to a dorm in one of the storefronts."
"Thanks," Tia replied. "I'll check on Aro first though. Maybe I can invite him for a nap the way Mia is with Cam. Besides, he's likely so concerned about all this, that he might need some talk and simple nudging to relax him anyway."
"Lightnin'," Tex interjected, "it's been a while at the clinic though . . . and I can't lie that I've been concerned. Could we go over there first, and see what's going on?"
"Sure Tex," Lightning agreed. "We'll be back shortly, Tia. Hang on."
"I can," Tia assured.
— — — — —
Soon Lightning and Tex were entering the clinic.
"Vital signs fading," Ramone reported.
Dora quickly looked over at the scopes to double-check.
A steady tone sounded.
"We have arrest!" Dora said.
"Jumper cables!" Doc said. "Now!"
Doc rushed to attach the cables to Mandy. "Clear!" he yelled.
Dora and Ramone stopped what they were doing on Mandy and pulled back as Doc hit a switch pad on the floor next to him. Mandy's body convulsed once. Irregular beeping followed.
"Vitals intermittent!" Dora reported, looking at the scopes as she resumed her own work on Mandy.
A steady tone returned.
"Arrest!" Dora stated, looking at the scopes again.
"I am not losing this patient!" Doc swore. "Cables again! . . . CLEAR!"
Mandy's body convulsed again. The irregular beeping returned. Doc glanced over and saw Tex and Lightning.
"Get out! Now!" Doc commanded. "No . . . I'm sorry," he then said, swiftly changing his tone. "Tex, we're trying to save your wife's life here. We need to work. Please be outside. We'll do everything we can."
"Vitals still intermittent," Dora repeated, glancing again at the scopes as she worked.
"Ramone, check the patient's fuse panel," Doc ordered. "I shouldn't have to be stabilizing the vitals over and over again like this."
"Checking," Ramone responded.
"Tex," Lightning said. "I know how I'd feel in your position. But we have to allow them to work . . . to do everything they can, okay? Please, come with me."
"A couple burned out fuses here," Ramone reported. "I'm replacing one 10-amp and one 20-amp."
The steady tone returned.
"Arrest!" Dora repeated calmly, checking the scopes again.
"Ramone, get those fuses in there and get clear!" Doc ordered.
"I understand, Lightnin'," Tex now said with surprising calm as he turned around to exit the clinic.
Lightning followed Tex through the double doors.
"Fuses in . . . I'm clear!" Ramone confirmed.
"Clear!" Doc ordered, as the clinic doors shut.
— — — — —
"Lightnin'," Tex asked somberly as they slowly motored between the clinic and the café, " . . . is my wife dead? Tell me straight, as best as you can know and feel."
"Having basically been there myself, Tex," Lightning replied, "she's in between . . . in between life and what we call death. She's likely not in her body right now. I wasn't. Hopefully she might be getting at least a look at what we call heaven. I had the opportunity to . . . but I couldn't take my focus off of Sally, whether she was beside my body or not."
"So from what you're saying," Tex continued, "if Mandy accepts death . . . does she prefer heaven over me?"
"It's not that simple, Tex," Lightning responded. "Choice and will are part of it, but I felt other things, too. I just fought them to get back. Sally helped though."
"Do I need to be next to Mandy to help her, now?" Tex asked.
"No," Lightning assured, as they pulled back into the cafe. "She can see you now . . . even feel you, wherever you are."
"What can I do?" Tex asked as they parked now in a bay. "What's the best thing?"
"Close your eyes and focus on her," Lightning said, as he closed his eyes as well. "Reach out to her now, in your mind. Offer her your tire. Talk to her in your mind. Tell her how much you love her, but offer her a loving choice between continued life with you, where you will really try to be the husband and partner she wants, or to let her go and experience heaven. It has to be her choice though, and if you love her, tell her you'll accept the choice she makes . . . whatever it is. That Sally couldn't offer me that choice helped me know that I had to come back for her, no matter what. If you can though Tex, that will give Mandy peace as she decides. But talk to her in your mind . . . let her know your own soul and heart. She can see it all now, very clearly.
"I've said all I need to for you to do the best thing," Lightning concluded. "I'll go relieve Tia now, but you have a conversation with Mandy here. Whatever is best for everyone will happen very soon now. Talk to her, Tex . . . and just love her."
"Where does the Manufacturer fit into all this?" Tex asked. "I haven't been terribly religious lately, but at a time like this . . ."
"Oh what we think of as the Manufacturer is definitely a part of all this," Lightning assured. "You can talk to the Manufacturer, too . . . but the conversation you really need to have right now is with Mandy. The Manufacturer will be, and is already participating, more than you know. But strangely enough, I got this clear feeling while I was there that I didn't need to talk too much about all that here on Earth — that my life here was racing, and doing good through that — not really becoming part of a religious movement. I've just come to know inwardly that the cars I'm here to help aren't religious, and aren't really reached that way. I haven't even gotten around to really telling Sally about this yet."
"'Ya know," Tex replied, "I can actually understand that. Thanks Lightnin'. I'm gonna have a good talk with Mandy here, and offer her the choice . . . and the pledge . . . that I should have, long ago."
Tex silently closed his eyes, as Lightning quietly relieved Tia, and sent her on her way. Tia circled back to the kitchen though to take several lunches for everyone working at the offices nearby. Lightning kept an eye on Tex, but worked among the islands serving other customers.
"What's Tex doing?" Flo asked Lightning from the kitchen as he dropped an order off. "Is his wife . . . dead?"
"Tex is talking it over with Amanda right now," Lightning explained as he kept watch on him. "He's doing the only thing he can — offering her the choice between hopefully a changed life with him, or heaven. He's offering to help her come back, as Sally did with me, but he's preparing himself to lovingly accept whatever choice she makes . . . whether it's him, or heaven."
"You've been there, haven't you?" Flo asked.
"I got partway there, Flo," Lightning admitted. "But as I explained to Tex, my focus was on Sally. I never really looked at heaven, just at her. So I couldn't tell him, or you, a thing about it."
"How's Ramone holding up in there?" Flo now asked. "In the clinic?"
"He's working, smoothly and professionally," Lightning assured. "He's totally focused on what he's doing, and is the best assistant Doc and Dora could have. Both of you should get a vacation though when this is over. You and Ramone deserve it, and Sally and I will see to it. I'd better get to the next round of orders here though."
— — — — —
"Hey Aro," Tia said as she found the office he was in. "I brought everyone a tray of lunches here."
She saw that both Sally and Dana were busy on phone calls.
"Thanks Tia," Aro said gratefully but quietly, coming around from the desk he was at to help her set down the tray of lunches. "Everyone's busy here, so let's just distribute the lunches around and we'll eat and fuel as we can between calls."
"But thanks, Tia . . . I mean that," Aro said as he moved closer to share a kiss with her in gratitude.
It was all Tia could do not to rev in joy as Aro really kissed her this time. She did allow herself to let out an ever so quiet squeal of delight though. "Wow . . ." she whispered appreciatively to Aro as she nuzzled him with her bumper.
Aro smiled as he gave her a warm nudge.
"Tia," Aro quietly hesitated, "I want to tell you something . . . but this really isn't the place right now. Know that it's a good thing, but would you remind me when I'm out of here later to tell you?"
"You're not ready to leave now?" Tia asked, now somewhat disappointed and concerned. "I'm off for a few hours here, and was going to invite you to take a nap with me. You need one."
"I know, Tia," Aro sighed. "But Sally and Dana need me here right now. We need several more cars actually, but we don't have them."
"Well, you can have one more here . . . me," Tia volunteered. "What can I do to help?"
"You're tired though," Aro said with concern.
"So are you," she responded. "But we're needed. If you're not leaving, I'm not either. What can I do here?"
"Tia," Aro sighed, looking at her with an admiring smile now, "you're better than good . . . and I'm . . . well, I'm falling for you."
"Guess what," Tia replied whispering as she continued to nuzzle him.
"What?" Aro asked, also in a whisper.
"I've already fallen for you," she whispered as she now gave him her own kiss.
"Aro, sorry to interrupt," Dana gently interjected. "But do you have that press memo done and ready to fax to Dinoco? I kinda need it . . . right now."
"S-Sorry," Aro apologized, " . . . I'm almost done with it."
"It's okay, Aro," Dana assured with a smile as she looked at both him and Tia. "Just get it to me here as quick as you can . . . and congratulations, you two."
Aro looked down, embarrassed, before looking back at Tia.
"It's nothing to be nervous about, Aro," Tia assured with a growing smile. "We're an 'item' together now. The whole town will be congratulating us within an hour. I'll get these lunches served out, and then help Sally for a bit. I've done an office job or two in my past. Then, when they can spare us, I'm claiming you for a nap together."
"Well!" Aro quietly exclaimed with a mixture of surprise, amazement, and hesitation.
Tia just kissed him as she assured, "Let's get to work here. Don't worry, I'll be close by!"
"Tia . . . I'm sorry I misjudged you earlier when I first met you," Aro added. "I feel I owe you an apology . . ."
"For thinking I was just an 'airhood'?" Tia picked up. "Don't worry, that's happened to me a lot in the past. In part, I've deserved it. I have acted without thinking at times, even played 'dumb' when I thought cars would like me more that way. Thank you though, Aro . . . for giving me a chance to prove that I'm more than that, for looking past my pretty hood."
"Tia . . . wow," Aro now stammered. "I . . . I . . ."
"Just save it for later," Tia smiled as she kissed him one more time. "Share it with me during 'nap time'."
Tia now turned and picked up lunches to pass out to Dana and Sally, leaving Aro now with his own jaw dropped on the floor. Even though they were each on phone calls, both Sally and Dana looked at Tia with smiles of approval . . . with Sally even giving Tia a 'tire's up' from her desk in the rear of the office.
"I got him!" Tia whispered with almost a tear of joy in her eye, as she gave Sally her lunch.
Sally gave her a congratulatory nudge in return while she listened to the Dinoco executive she was dealing with on the phone.
— — — — —
Cam and Mia were awakened a few hours later by two other cars parking for a rest near them in the empty storefront they were sharing.
"Ohh . . . Tia, Aro," Mia said, recognizing them as she stretched against Cam.
"Sorry to disturb you, Sis," Tia apologized as she backed in and settled beside Aro on some mats laid out for them nearby, while Aro started sharing a car cover with her.
"No problem," Mia assured. "What time is it?"
"Oh about four-thirty in the afternoon," Tia replied with a yawn of fatigue herself now.
"Four-thirty!" Mia exclaimed now fully awake. "Cam, we've been sleeping for hours here. Who's watching the café, Tia?"
"I dunno," Tia responded. "I left Lightning working with Flo there mid-morning, and wound up working beside Aro in Sally's office for the last few hours because he wouldn't leave otherwise."
"Cam, we'd better go check on the café. You up for that?" Mia asked.
"Sure . . ." he yawned sleepily. "Just help me find some hot oil, and I'll be good."
"We gotta get you to where the hot oil is though," Mia said with a smile. "So here . . ." She then moved around in front of Cam and gave him a passionate kiss. Now Cam was awake.
"Thought that would do the trick," Mia noted with satisfaction, observing her effect on him.
"Your twin like this, too?" Cam queried Aro with a wide-eyed expression.
"Yep," Aro confirmed with a slight smile as he looked over at Tia.
"Come on, Cam . . . we're needed," Mia said, refocusing his attention. "You two can compare notes on Tia and I later!"
"Starting to date twins is weirder than I thought it would be," Cam observed to Aro as he began to leave with Mia.
Hearing that, Mia stopped and turned around in front of him.
"Well, it's not like Tia and I have done this before either!" she responded somewhat sharply.
"Mia," Tia urged, " . . . amp down, alright? Please?"
"I'm sorry . . . I . . . understand," Mia assured, now softening and apologizing to both Cam and her sister. "Are you okay with it though, Cam? 'Cause I really hope you are. I haven't wanted to choose between a date . . . or a relationship, however it works out . . . and my sister. And for the first time here, I feel like I don't have to."
"Mia, I'm sorry for that loose remark," Cam apologized, taking responsibility. "I didn't mean it like that. It's alright . . . forgive me?"
"I'm sorry, I forgive you," Mia apologized again, moving to nudge against Cam. "Look, let's just be honest among the four of us, okay? I'll admit I'm on edge because I think we all want this to work. Tia and I both know that what we each do, or don't do, could either help, or screw things up here, for our twin. That's both the heaven, and the hell, of dating among twins — let's just admit that. But if we all four get it right here . . . this could really get good . . . be like we all want it to be. I'm just as nervous and uncertain and wanting this to work, like the rest of you here. I'd feel bad enough for myself if it didn't work for me. But I'd feel worse if I wrecked things for Tia. I don't want to do that . . . I'd hate to do that."
"I'm in, Mia," Cam assured. "I want this to work . . . for all of us."
"Me, too," Aro confirmed, as he looked at Tia, "for all of us. Even talking like this feels good . . . and is something only we twins can do. I like it."
"It's okay, Mia," Cam assured with understanding as he nudged against her. "I would like you and Tia to come to trust Aro and I as much as you do each other. Saying what you have is good here, it is."
"Tia and I don't want to rush things," Mia admitted hesitantly. "But we'd just like to know . . . 'ya know? We just want to be happy . . . together . . . with our guys. Ohh, I shouldn't have said that!"
"Mia, it's fine," Cam assured, nudging her. "It's even wonderful. Relax, you're among twins now. We get it . . . and we get you, okay?"
Mia laughed at that as she tearfully nudged against Cam.
"Is it okay if I let out that I can be a nervous, romantic mess around you?" Mia asked him.
"I couldn't ask for anything better or more terrific, Mia," Cam assured. "You're the best . . . you are."
With that, he moved and gave her a kiss. Mia allowed herself to cry, as Tia began tearing up as well while she looked on and leaned against Aro.
"This isn't the way dating's supposed to be though," Mia admitted with some tearful frustration after the kiss she had shared with Cam.
"Two things, Mia," Cam responded. "First we're twins, and dating among twins who are close will be different than what others consider 'normal'. Anyone else just doesn't have this 'other half' of themselves that they have to worry about finding happiness, too . . . preferably at the same time!"
"And second," Cam continued, "my family's in a crisis right now, Mia. You and Tia are giving Aro and I really important support right now. I realize that kind of blurs or accelerates the normal 'dating' thing. I know though that I wouldn't be doing as well — anywhere near as well — if you weren't beside me. And, Mia . . . I'm glad, very glad, you're beside me."
"Okay," Mia allowed as she looked into Cam's eyes and nudged against him. "I accept this weird but wonderful 'whatever-it-is' we're starting to share together."
"Just please don't ever switch on us or trick us, okay?" Aro asked both Tia and Mia.
"Funny," Tia responded with a smile. "I was about to ask you two the same thing . . . not to take advantage of us either, in just that way. Mia and I used to drive others crazy with stunts like that."
"It's one of the perks of being twins," Cam noted. "But we promise, right Aro?"
"Yes," Aro confirmed.
"And we promise, too, right Tia?" Mia pledged.
"You got it, Sis . . . and boyfriends!" Tia affirmed.
"Boyfriends . . ." Cam marveled at hearing the title bestowed on them.
"Think you can get used to that . . . my boyfriend?" Mia asked him warmly.
"Yeah, I think I can . . . my girlfriend," Cam assured. "Let's pace ourselves here. But I like being honest, too . . . like this."
"Yeah," Mia agreed. "You ready to go check on the café, and allow our twins to get some rest?"
"Sure," Cam said, turning to leave with Mia.
"Oh, and bro," Aro added, "if you're looking for dad, he's asleep in the office Sally set up for him. He came over a while ago very quiet, and just went to sleep there almost as soon as he arrived, after meeting and signing some stuff with Sally. I didn't get much of a chance to talk to him."
"Thanks, Aro," Cam replied somewhat somberly. "Sleep's probably what he really needs right now. I won't disturb him."
Not wanting to leave things on a down note though, Cam now added, "Have fun you two!"
"We're not quite ready for that . . . yet!" Tia brazenly admitted.
"Tia!" Aro objected, now deeply embarrassed.
"Hey they're our twins," Tia noted with a smile to Aro. "We tell them everything, right?"
"You girl twins may!" Aro said.
"Oh, don't tell me you guys don't brag and spill to each other, too!" Tia replied dismissively.
"We may brag," Aro noted, " . . . but we rarely spill."
"Get some sleep you two," Mia said with a smile as she and Cam left the storefront.
— — — — —
"Great way there to end things on," Mia complimented Cam outside as they motored towards the café. "You doing okay?"
"I'd better not go there right now, Mia," Cam admitted. "She's my adopted mother, but she's the only one I can remember."
Cam closed his eyes as he strove to keep from crying.
"Shhhhhhhh," Mia comforted Cam as she nudged against him. "Hey, I'm sorry I upset you. You tell me how you want me to help you here, okay?"
Cam just stopped in the street. He could no longer control his tears.
"Come on, sweetheart . . . let's duck around the corner onto the side street for a minute, okay?" Mia suggested. "You can just let it all out with me there, and then we'll go over to the café. How about that?"
"Sweetheart?" Cam asked amid his tears as he started to move with her off the main street and out of traffic.
"I knew that would get your attention," Mia smiled.
"You are so good for me, Mia," Cam admired through his tears, "like no one else ever has been. I . . . I want to say something to you — but I'm not sure if it's time yet."
"Say it," Mia invited knowingly. "Just say it."
"Mia," Cam confessed, " . . . I love you."
"Cam, I've loved you, too," Mia admitted with a warm smile and direct but soft gaze at him, "ever since you came back for me out behind the kitchen last night."
"But I gave up and left for a moment," Cam noted.
"You had to," Mia assured. "Forcing me to see that I could lose a chance with you was the only way to get myself unstuck . . . unfrozen around you, and at least crying. And seeing me cry got you unstuck, too. For what we have now, it was worth it. It's not every boyfriend and girlfriend who can let themselves cry around each other! That you're trusting me with your sadness here . . . with your true heart and feelings . . . that means the world to me. How could I help but love you now?"
Cam just closed his eyes as he tightly nudged against Mia now.
"You're welcome, Cam . . . my love," Mia replied knowingly.
"You . . ." Cam sighed as he looked at her, "it's scary how well you're reading me."
Mia smiled and looked down with a mixture of both pride at his compliment, and self-consciousness. Once again, she couldn't say anything.
"Don't freeze up on me again now, my lovely Mia," Cam said. "I need you to keep reading me . . . and keep helping me here."
Now it was Mia's turn to cry against him . . . with joy.
"We're a mess together, aren't we," Mia sniffed against him.
"The most wonderful mess I could ever ask to be a part of," Cam sniffed as well. "Just so you know though, I'm normally more 'together' than this. It's just my mom . . . right now . . ."
"That you can cry, Cam . . . even for your mom, especially for your mom . . . is one reason why I love you," Mia admired.
"Lightning, look . . ." Flo said with a smile, directing his attention from the café's kitchen, across the intersection towards where Cam and Mia were.
"Well, 'ya know Flo," Lightning observed, "I think they'll all be staying now."
"Works for me," Flo sighed, " . . . and it works for them even better."
— — — — —
"Flo, Lightning," Cam said, approaching the café's kitchen with Mia a few moments later, "we'll relieve you two for now here. It looks like the café traffic is moderate enough for just two of us. Aro and Tia are finally resting now in the storefront where we were. And thanks for sending my dad over to rest as well. Aro says he fell asleep in the office Sally set aside for him soon after he got there. Any word on my mom?"
"I thought it best to just let Doc, Dora, and Ramone work," Lightning replied. "I'm sure they will come over here to let us know what happened."
"Go see Sally for a bit, Lightning," Mia encouraged. "She's probably been working very hard, along with Dana, all day."
"You're right, I should," Lightning agreed. "And Flo, you should take a rest at your home across the street there. Without a cruise tonight, this day will be shorter than yesterday, but I have a feeling it's not over yet. Ramone may need your support later."
"You're right, Lightning," Flo admitted. "Hey, look over there, here comes Doc from the clinic. Mia, get him a hot oil, and let's see if he needs any food or fuel."
"No, scratch that," Flo reconsidered. "Mia, stay with Cam here. I'll get the oil for Doc."
"Doc," Lightning said, greeting an obviously very exhausted surgeon. "We've got a hot oil on the way here for you. Just relax . . . you can tell us whatever news you have when you're ready to, okay?"
"She's alive," Doc sighed, getting right to the point, as Flo brought a hot oil to him. "But her mind's damaged."
Cam cringed, closing his eyes, as Mia nudged him tightly.
"Cam, we managed to briefly revive her between two rounds of surgeries today," Doc continued. "Her speech was slurred . . . I can't fix it though. The problem is too deep, too widespread. It looks like a massive stroke. She's resting now, and Dora's watching her. We'll spell each other in shifts, with Ramone taking a shift, too. He volunteered for overnight here. He'll be here in a moment as soon as Dora feels things are stable enough with Amanda. Dora sent me for dinner here, and then I go right to bed . . . 'or else' she says. I don't wanna find out what 'or else' is," he added with a slight smile.
"But Cam," Doc consoled, "your mother is alive, and has a decent chance at recovery. We just don't know what that'll be yet. I'm sorry, but we did the best we could. This took everything I had," he concluded. "I feel we won half the battle today . . . but only half."
"Why don't you rest for a moment here, Doc, and refuel," Lightning offered, "When you're ready, I'll take you over to tell Tex, okay?"
"Cam," Mia said to him as she nudged against him, "you and your family won't be facing this alone . . . I promise."
"You don't think it's a little soon to be making promises?" Cam asked through his tears.
"It's a choice I'm making, a gift I'm offering," Mia calmly and deliberately responded. "I know what I'm doing here . . . and this is independent of what Tia and Aro decide. What they do is their choice. This, Cam, is mine — and I don't regret offering it, not one bit. I'm just saying I'm ready to help see you through this. We can still decide what we want to do later, if you want."
"Mia, thank you," Cam replied. "Yours is a beautiful gift . . . one I couldn't have dared hoped or asked for yet. I don't want to come between you and Tia if things don't work out for her and Aro . . ."
"We're the older, more responsible twins . . . by a few minutes anyway!" Mia assured with a slight smile. "Don't worry, we can help 'em out."
"Then, Mia, I accept your promise of help . . . and love," Cam agreed. "But this isn't how relationships are supposed to happen!" he then blurted out.
Everyone around them laughed.
"Cam, two things," Mia asserted, using his own tactic on him. "First, your family of guys is going to need a gal, at least one gal if not two, to help care for your mom when she can go home. And second . . . I've waited a good while for someone like you. Do you think a better pair of twins is really going to come along for Tia and I? Sorry, but I just don't think so! You and your family need this . . . and need me. I'm ready to help both you, and your family . . . I just am."
"Cam," Lightning counseled, "things tend to happen for a reason. Cars can show up in our lives at just the right time, for everyone. What has your mom been hoping for you?"
"That we would find nice girls and settle . . . wait, how did you know that? Did she tell you yesterday?" Cam asked in wonder.
"I've been where your mom has been today," Lightning replied. "Trust, Cam . . . just trust."
"I just want it all to work," Cam replied uncertainly.
"So do I," Mia agreed. "What better way could there be for me to get to know you and your family than by helping to care for you all? You get past all the fake stuff and find out what's real and what's important pretty quick this way. It'll save us all time — and heartache — really."
"You know, Mia . . . you're right!" Cam realized. "I agree with you on this, and I love you."
"Now that's a smart choice, my Chef!" Mia replied. "I love you, too."
"Hey, speaking of chefs . . . Doc, you must be hungry. What's your favorite dish?" Flo asked, as she hit a floor pedal and life-giving fuel began coursing into Doc's tank.
"Flo," Doc replied, "I can think of nothing better than your grease soufflé."
"Well Doc," Flo said, "you're in luck today, because we have us right here a master chef, who's specialty is grease soufflés!"
"Cam!" Flo said, turning to him. "Doc here would like your best grease soufflé!"
"Coming right up!" Cam replied. "It'll take a bit though. Mia . . . your help please. Plus, you are going to learn about some five-star cooking here!"
"Oooo, let's go!" Mia eagerly agreed.
"But wait, shouldn't we tell Aro . . . and Tia about all this?" Cam asked.
"Let 'em sleep for a while," Mia advised. "They might not be able to sleep after we tell them! Trust me, Tia may even briefly freak about what you and I have decided here. For now though, let's cook!"
Dora now rolled up and leaned against her husband.
"Ramone battled me for the first shift tonight in the clinic," Dora said with exhaustion. "It came down to a coin flip . . . and I lost. So here I am."
"You, my Dora," Doc said admiringly and out loud, "are the best physician, surgeon, and emergency medic I have ever worked with. Incredible doesn't begin to describe you. I know I don't exactly say it often enough, but today of all days, I just have to . . . I want to. It is my deepest privilege, Dora, to call you my wife, and to say I love you."
"Thank you, my dearest," Dora replied as she nudged him gratefully. "Thank you so much. I love you as well. You saved Amanda today, though. I've never seen a doctor so heroically battle to save a patient. To say you did your absolute best is an understatement."
"Wanna share the grease soufflé I'm getting here?" Doc weakly smiled as he looked at her.
"Yeah," Dora sighed, as she continued to lean against him while Flo started to fill her up as well, "and then it's sweet rest for both of us . . . for a few hours anyway."
"Cam, Mia, hurry up with that soufflé!" Flo called as she now went to the kitchen. "We got two very tired doctors out here!"
"Mandy must really love Tex though," Lightning mused.
"Why do you say that?" Doc wondered.
"Because, Doc," Lightning explained, "today, she chose a possibly disabled life with him . . . over heaven."