Chapter 4 - "The Verdict"

Sally was talking with Mater who missed everything. She just finished telling him that she and Lightning were having a baby.

"So then, he asks me to marry him!" said Sally.

"What'd you say!?" asked Mater.

"Well..I said no."

"What?!"

"I don't know..I.."

"Well you told me about what he was sayin' to himself. Sounds like he's under lots-o-pressure!"

"Yeah.."

"You gonna give 'em another shot?"

"Mater, I didn't leave him..I just told him..maybe not yet.

Mater blinked, "Hey, wait a minute."

"What?" asked Sally.

"You told me that Lightning said he may not be ready for a tiny car. You said to him that he was gonna be great! He just needs to give it a try. So you should give 'em a try!"

"Mater, I love him, but last night that wasn't him. Something was wrong. I think it's more than the baby."

"Ask him to talk about that then."

Sally thought about it, "You're right, Mater."

"Where is he?", asked Mater.

"He's in our cone still..he's thinking about everything from last night."

"Say yes to 'em!"

Sally laughed, "Alright..later, Mater."

"See ya soon, Mrs. Sally!"

Mater saying 'Mrs. Sally' instead of 'Miss. Sally' made her a bit happy.

"Maybe I am ready..," she thought.

Sally arrived at their cone and she went inside. Lightning was laying on the mattress with his rear tires spread out and his front tires clutching a pillow which he had his face buried in.

"Lightning..I'm sorry," said Sally, softly.

"The pillow smells like you," Lightning replied.

"Lightning, you know I love you. I just thought that I wasn't ready...to be married."

"Maybe me and you can figure it out together then? I can..get used to being a father and you can get used to being married..to me."

Sally smiled and drove closer to him.

"That's a great idea, baby," she kissed his side.

Hours later, it was dinner time.

"Come on everybody!" called out Flo. Everyone in town parked at Flo's.

Lightning couldn't take his eyes off of Sally. There was chatter all over the place. Doc and Sheriff were talking about his weight, Ramone was talking to Fillmore, Sarge was commenting on Ramone and Fillmore's conversation, Guido and Luigi were speaking Italian, Bubba kept pushing Mater every time he tried to take a sip of oil, Lizzie was asleep, Red was giggling, and Lightning and Sally were whispering, giggling, and cuddling.

Flo came out with oil, steaks, and baked potatoes for everyone, except Fillmore. Flo gave Lightning and Sally only one can of oil.

"Flo there's only one-" Sally mentioned.

"But two straws," Flo winked. Lightning lightly nudged Sally and she smiled and nudged him back.

"Alright everyone! Dig in!" said Flo.

"Wait! Excuse me.." Lightning called out. Everyone looked at him. Lightning drove to the middle of the cafe.

"As you all by now, Sally and I are having a baby," said Lightning, "I just want to say..," he looked at Sally, "Sweetheart, come here."

Sally's eyes widened and she smiled big. She approached Lightning, "Yes?"

"Feel my lucky sticker," said Lightning. Ramone and Mater started laughing. Flo glared at them and they stopped. Sally ran her tire over his sticker lightly. There was a bump.

"Go ahead..," said Lightning. Sally pulled at it with her tire and it came off. Besides a flat scar that couldn't have possibly made that bumpy feeling, there was a diamond Porsche emblem stuck to the bottom of the sticker.

Sally squealed, "It's beautiful!"

"Not even close to you," said Lightning. Sally smiled with tears in her eyes.

"That sticker has been my lucky sticker in the past..because it covered a scar..but now I can say it's lucky because it joined me with you."

"GIT-R-DONE!" Mater yelled to Lightning.

"Sally Carerra..," Lightning said. He took the emblem in his wheel, "Will you marry me?"

The town was quiet and all eyes were on Sally.

Her smile didn't fade in the slightest bit.

"I...", Sally looked at Mater, who nodded. She looked back at Lightning and took a deep breath in, "Yes!"

The town cheered as Lighting placed the emblem over her old one and its reflection glistened in her eyes.