Doc sat down with Minty across from him. "Glad you agreed to come." Minty exclaimed. Doc shrugged saying "It seems harmless. Plus, I'm sure you wouldn't mind in getting to know how well your son is doing." "OH, I know he is. I watch him on the tv and I have watched him grow so much over the years." Doc smiled at Minty. She seemed nice and it was rather easy to see that Lightning was influenced by his Mother a lot.
Tia walked over, giving Minty and Doc a glass of water each, then asking if they wanted to place their orders. Minty looked at Doc and asked "I'm.. Not quite ready. What about you?" Doc waved Tia move along. Minty smiled speaking "It's really a wonderful thing you've done for My Monty. Thank you." "Thank you, but it's Lightning who should be thanking me, not you." Doc said with a slight snicker. "That maybe true, but I wanted to thank you anyway. And no one deserves to have such a good mentor like you more than Monty." Minty giggled.
Doc curious, asked "How so?" Minty sighed answering "Well Monty had a hard time getting into the sport. I don't mean it was difficult for him to race. He's really good at it and I mean REALLY. Just.. He was always out street racing and then he had a hard time with making friends after what happened during racing school. I didn't make it any easier on him really.. Did you go to school Doc?" The woman asked. Doc nodded. "For a short time. I knew what I was doin though out on the tracks. You say he was street racing?" He asked. Minty nodded.
Doc snickered. That explained a lot. Tia came back around, and the two ordered dinner as they continued to chat. "So you're the doctor here?" Minty asked. Doc nodded. "And the judge." He added. Minty giggled "Well you sure work hard as a horse. So you call Monty, Lightning to?" Doc nodded then asked "Why did he start calling himself Lightning anyway?" Minty shrugged. "I think it was school or somethin. Maybe some publicity stunt. Never really knew for sure. Monty never really visit after um.. After his friends from the racing school sort of hurt him. Betrayed him. That's a better word for it. Then the one time he did, found out the girl he liked at the time moved on. Sally convinced him to come by finally. She seems so nice." Doc smiled agreeing "She is. Sally's a good kid. One to keep Lightning on a leash."
Minty raised a brow. "And you think he needs that?" "He needs stability, structure. That kid is a loose canon." Minty snickered with a smile. "That maybe true to." She agreed. Doc took a few bites of his fries and watched Minty for a moment. "You really raised him well. Adopted? Right?" Doc asked. Minty nodded. "Yeah, most of my kids were adopted. Monty was one of the harder ones to raise to. Him, Barb and Chad."
Doc nodded, just listening. "I think it was all you that got all four of my boys into racing." "Four?" Doc questioned. "You really must be a patient woman." he joked. Minty nodded with a smile, answering "My late husband and three of my sons. Robert, Chad, and then Monty of course. My husband played around with an old coupe. Took it out for a good fast test run time to time at the local tracks. Then Robert raced before Monty." "So you have two sons into racing?" "Uh, I did. Robert crashed." Minty admitted with a sigh. Doc frowned a bit. "I'm sorry. It does happen in racing. I crashed and it ended my career. Did it end Robert's?" Doc asked.
Minty was hurt, but sometimes it felt good to talk about it. "It did, he died.. Because of that crash he had." Doc's eyes widened slightly. "Oh.. I'm sorry." He apologized. Minty shrugged. "It gets easier every year.." Not really. "Monty loved watching his brother race. I think.. Part of me thinks that Robert's crash inspired him to continue for him. A bit heart warming, but I thought it was selfish. I didn't want Monty racing for the longest time because of Robert's death. I think that may have made him want to race more." She laughed.
Doc chuckled. "Yeah, kids will do that." He said. Minty took a bite of food. "So... You know Sally? I don't mean to seem nosy, but she is dating my son. Guess those two will be married before long." She exclaimed. Doc raised a brow. "Think so?" Minty nodded answering. "Oh yea. I mean Monty giving her that promise ring, I reckon those two are pretty sure about each other." "Promise ring?" Asked Doc. Minty nodded then eyes widened. "Oh.. Right.. They hadn't said nothin to much anyone. Might wanna keep it on the hush hush." She suggested. Doc agreed.
"So how long you know Miss Sally?" Minty asked. Doc sighed thinking "A few years. About two year maybe before Lightning came to town. She really is a kind woman. She'll be good to Lightning." Minty smiled warmly. "Yeah.. I hope so."...
Sally walked over to cone number one after Lightning wouldn't answer his phone. She knocked on the door, but saw his car wasn't around either. "Hmm.. I wonder where he is?" She asked herself. She was thinking of asking him to come have dinner with her as they usually did, but was having a hard time finding him at the moment. So next she walked across to the diner. His car wasn't there, but maybe someone inside knew where he could be.
Sally walked in and did see Doc and Minty together. She thought that was a bit odd, but ignored it for now as she was in search of Lightning. Sally walked up to the table near the register to Flo and called over, "Hey Flo." Flo's eyes widened. "Hey honey! You are JUST the person I need right now!" "I am?" "YES! I'm busy with customers at the moment. Do you mind taking these meals over to the boys?" "The boys?" Sally questioned. Flo nodded and grabbed two bags of food and placed it in front of Sally. "Ramone and Lightning. There over at that old blue home off main street. I was going to have Mia take it over, but"-"No, I got it Flo!" Sally said quick and grabbed the bags and headed to her car to drive over. What were Ramone and Lightning doing at that old house though? She wondered.
Sally parked the Porsche, and walked up the short couple steps to the front door of the dark blue, single story home. It was an older house and one of the few that were still in pretty good condition. Sally walked inside and was immediately overwhelmed by the smell of fresh paint. To the left of the entrance, was the master bedroom with the only bathroom next to it, the right was the fairly large kitchen with open dining, which had two doors there. One door was a screen and went to a back porch that was in severe need of a remodel. And the other door went to the attached single car garage. If you walked forward, and to the left, there was the living room which was medium small. It had an old fireplace and then on the back wall, a door, leading to the second bedroom of the house.
"Lightning, Ramone!" Called Sally. "In here!" Called Lightning. Sally walked into the living room to find the guys finishing up painting the room a sort of rustic brown grey and one wall was a light, smoky like, black. "What's going on?" Sally asked curiously. Ramone smiled answering "We fixing this place up right. Got a leather couch in my garage we'll be putting in tomorrow morning and a nice dining table Flo and I have just sitting in there to." "Oh? Okay... But?" Sally started. Lightning walked over to her and explained "This was the only place that was in decent condition and in my kind of price range now." Sally's eyes widened as she stepped back. "You.. You bought a house? But why? I didn't think you were serious!?" She yelped.
Lightning only gave her a confused sort of look. "Well, yeah. I mean.. I've been wanting my own place and the motel is..Sort of small and not exactly enough room there for a Christmas dinner to fit our parents without feeling stuffed." "But, but... But this is a HOUSE. Lightning, I've seen your budget before! YOU CAN'T AFFORD THIS." She barked. Lightning's brows lowered. "I can. I've done the numbers. You need to relax, why aren't you happier about this. I thought you'd be excited." He admitted.
Sally frowned replying "I'm sorry, but I'm not. Why do you need a place? We were fine, you were right across the street from me." "Well now I'm just down town." Lightning chuckled. Still unsure why Sally was so upset by this. Sally sighed and shook her head. "Things didn't need to change. Besides, you will barely be here to take care of the place. What are you even going to do with it?" She asked. Lightning shrugged answering "Live in it. Look, why are you upset about this?" "I'm not upset!" "Yeah, okay babe." "Don't okay babe me!" Sally growled. Lightning's brows lowered. He had enough of her crazy attitude. He glanced at Ramone then took Sally aside to another room to continue this silly argument. If that's what it was. It sort of felt like it.
Lightning shut the garage door and once they were inside flipped on the light. "What is your problem?" He asked quick. Sally crossed her arms answering "I don't have a problem." "Yes you do. Talk to me, please. I want to make you happy and I thought maybe after earlier this made sense. At least it did to me." "What made sense?" Asked Sally. Lightning sighed with a slight shrug. "I don't know.. We.. We seem to be moving forward.. Out of the routine we fell into and I thought maybe this was the best for us." "Buying a house?" "Well... Your Dad wanted me to plan Christmas dinner and I've been thinking of buying my own place. Something bigger and more permanent. So yeah, it made sense to me. Because I thought that maybe you'd want to make this our home." Lightning said firmly. Sally just stared at him in shock. So her Dad comes to town and suddenly Lightning is all up for a promise ring and a house and now making this their home.
"Lightning.. I admire your.. enthusiasm.. But.." "But? Seriously?" Lightning snapped. Sally frowned as she watched Lightning become pretty aggravated and upset with her now. She tried explaining "Lightning I am not ready for this step. The.. The promise ring is great and it really does mean a lot to me... But moving into a home together is something that.. It's a huge step." Lightning shook his head. "Why are you so afraid to take risks? I mean, you said it yourself. I'll barely be here so it would be you here all the time." "So you expect me to hold the fort down and keep this place tidy and cleaned up for us?" "Yes. NO. No, that's not.. Wow. You twisty little bitch." Lightning muttered. Sally's jaw dropped!
"Excuse me!?" She shouted! Lightning only got in her face saying "You heard me." "HOW DARE YOU! You want to push me into moving in with you and now call me names!?" "First off, I'm not pushing anything! Second, it's not name calling if you are one!" "OH MY GOD! You can't be serious right now!?" "OH I AM! I do this huge thing for us and take another step forward FOR US, and you rather be stuck in the same old routine, never changing, never growing! Why is it so bad to move in with me? What do you think is honestly going to happen?!" "I"-"What are you afraid of?" Lightning interrupted.
Sally bit her lips, thinking. She was afraid for a lot of reasons. "You come off as this strong, independent, high end, lady who has it all together, but maybe deep down you are just a scared, little, fragile, barbie doll who needs her stupid lists and schedules to even take a shit and Daddy to tell her what to do!" It got so quiet as the two just stared at each other.
Both a little hurt, both pretty angry, both done. Sally took a deep breath before opening her mouth to speak. "I think I should go." "YES. Leave, please. But I'll be here! Preparing OUR future and actually taking a dam risk!" "Yeah, that's so easy for you, isn't it!? You are always taking risk and putting US in danger!" "WHAT DOES THAT MEAN!?" Lightning yelled back! Sally only growled in frustration, throwing her hands dramatically. "It means I'm not ready BEN!" Sally snapped in his face! Lightning's expression changed drastically. "Wait.. Ben?" Lightning muttered. Sally took a second to realize what she just shouted and stared up at Lightning. Worried that now, Lightning would begin a whole new argument.
But actually, Lightning dropped the fight completely. He wasn't mad at her for yelling Ben's name at him. Actually, he was glad she snapped and opened up a little more. And maybe Lightning realized he was pushing her now as something must of happened to Sally being pushed by Ben maybe? He wasn't sure, but her snapping the wrong name was a hint into the past. "Sally.." He cooed and reached for her hand. Sally stepped away and shook her head. As if she was dazed. "No, I.. I have work.." She muttered, shutting down. Sally walked around Lightning, through the door and shutting it softly.
Lightning stood there for a second before heading back into the house with Ramone. He was worried. Not that he would lose Sally, although, he wondered if he was actually accidentally pushing her maybe. He was more worried about why she was afraid and thinking that something. It must be something that happened with Ben, would happen again...
Minty laughed! "Okay, okay! Enough about my kids!" She contained herself. "What about you? You have any kids of your own?" She asked. Doc shook his head answering "No. Nasty little things." He snarled. Minty snickered. "They aren't so bad. Come on, seriously? You never wanted the white picket fence or the little wife to come home to?" Doc shook his head. Truly, he loved one woman that much. But.. Things didn't work out. "Nah.. I never found someone like that." He said.
Minty sighed. "Well.. Better to have loved than never loved at all. I was married twice. Wouldn't mind a third, but.. Think my boys wouldn't like the idea of their mother dating very much." She joked. Doc snickered with a smile. "See, I don't ever want that. Get married and divorce or have to deal with all the drama. I'm not one for that sort of thing." Minty laughed hard! "OH PLEASE! You're a racer! You boys are all into drama. It's.. Part of the sport." Doc shrugged. "Sure, I guess." He admitted.
Minty sipped what was left of her drink, then gathered her things. "This has been a nice dinner Doc. And it's nice to my boy is taken care of and has someone lookin out for him when I can't." Doc smiled and nodded. "Anytime. I favor the kid, I'll admit. This was nice Minty. Should do this once more before you leave." "OH FOR SURE! But next time, you are payin." She added as she stood up. "Think I'm gonna stay and grab a drink before headed back to my room." She added, once more. Doc stood up and stretched. "Alright. Be safe. A lot of the travelers that come through at night can be a little rough." HE warned. Minty laughed! "Oh please. I can handle any man. And if not, my secret weapon can." She said, patting the purse with her gun. Doc snickered and shook his head. "Night." He said as he left.
Doc walked out and glanced at his watch, seeing the time. Getting late. He walked over to that old car of his and got in, shutting the door behind him, putting the keys into the ignition. He sat there for a second and stretched again. Watching a man walk in that looked to be a passer through, a wanderer. Someone that was more rough than he liked to be passing through his town. He hesitated leaving as he worried about Minty. Though, Minty seemed able to handle herself really. She was a character. And she was.. Yes, attractive for her age group. Doc waited a moment, but didn't feel easy with it. He got back out and walked back into the diner. Sure enough, the man was already over and talking to Minty.
Doc sighed and watched the man whisper into Minty's ear. Minty only laughed at the man and gently, pushed him away saying something that Doc couldn't exactly hear. Doc watched. He watched the man try taking her hand and pushing a shot of something towards Minty. Minty blushed and shook her head, refused his offer, good. That was the smart choice here. Doc watched the man drink the shot and seem to ease up the pressure. But then he grabbed Minty's hand, Minty yanked her hand back and snapped something. She began to get defensive. Doc didn't like that. The man reached for Minty's hand, grabbing it firmly.
He leaned into her ear whispering "Why you gonna act like that darlin?" Minty's brows lowered. She only looked into the man's eyes and snarled "Thanks for the offer DARLIN, But I'm afraid you ain't my type!" Then Doc appeared, wrapping his arm around Minty's waist. "Everything okay honey?" He asked. Kissing her cheek. Minty looked at Doc then back at the stranger answering "It is now. Where were you? I was waiting forever." She whined.
The man quickly let go of Minty's hand. Doc sighed answering "I'm sorry Min.. I had to work late. Being Mayor has me stayin late a lot of times." Glaring at the man, Doc asked "This man bothering you?" Before Minty could answer, the man lowered his head and left. Minty snickered with a smile. "Shouldn't stay so late at work HONEY." She joked and sipped her drink. Doc snickered and watched the man. He sighed then asked "Why don't I walk you out. Make sure you are okay. Pretty sure Lightning would hold it against me if I let anything happen to you." Minty giggled. "Maybe..." Minty and Doc linked arms and walked outside. Walking up to the hornet race car.
"So this is that legendary race car huh?" Minty asked as she stared at it. Doc nodded. Car was old, like him. Had some scrapes and bruises. Painful memories. Seeing it even reminded Minty of Robert's car back home. She sighed and looked at Doc, "Thanks.. Honey" She teased. Leaning in and kissing his cheek before walking off to the motel for the night. Doc watched her go and sighed. Looking at Sheriff who was sitting at one of the tables outside. "What?" Doc asked rudely. Sheriff's eyes widened as he answered. "Oh nothing. She seems nice." He said. Doc only rolled his eyes and got into the race car, heading home...
Lightning locked up the house for the night and started headed back to the motel. He parked the car at his, but got out and walked over to Sally's. He took a moment before knocking. She opened the door and he couldn't help smiling as he looked at her adorable she was in her lounge wear. Her hair down and messy, fluffy kind of. SHe was wearing a thin black tank top, tight, black yoga like pants, fluffy white slippers, and a white, long, thickly warm cardigan. "You look amazing." He complimented. Sally snickered and shook her head. "Come on, come in." She said. Stepping back so Lightning was able to come inside, shutting the door.
"So.." She mumbled. "Guess you want an explanation about earlier huh?.." Sally asked. Lightning shook his head slowly. "No. Not of you don't want to talk about it. Look, I wasn't trying to push you into anything. I really wanted my own place and I do want you to think of that place as..." He stopped and frowned and realized how pathetic he probably was to her. Ben probably gave her so much more.
Lightning stared at the ground as he continued. "I'm sorry I can't give you as much as.. Other guys could. I realize now that.. That house might be a little small for your taste. I thought maybe it could.. Be ours, but.. I sort of jumped a gun here huh?" He asked looking up to her. Sally sighed and stepped closer to her boyfriend. "You give me more than anyone else has Stickers.. I'm sorry I freaked out on you. It really is the sweetest thing you've done and the place is perfect size. I mean, come on, I've been living in one of my motel rooms for the past couple years and I've not taken a hot bath in forever. And baths use to be one of my most favorite pas times." Lightning chuckled a bit hearing that.
He took her hands in his and softly assured. "Sally, I am here for you. For anything you need, I'm here. Day or night, across the street or across the states. I want you to know you can come to me and I will not judge you for your past. Never again. I know I have before, but I want you to feel safe with me. I want you to want to move forward with me... One day.. I hope." Sally nodded and gazed upon his ocean eyes. "I love you Stickers.." She cooed as she hugged him tight. Lightning returned her affection, wrapping his arms around her to and saying "I love you to Sally." Such a good, heart warming moment between the two.
They sat down on the couch together where Lightning asked "Did you eat after you left?" Sally nodded then asked "Did you?" Lightning nodded. They cuddled up together on the couch and Sally asked "So.. You want me to move in?" Lightning sighed and thought for a moment before answering her. "Yeah. I'd absolutely love that. I know I'd be gone all the time, and I don't expect you to just clean and take care of the house all the time. I just want to take another step with you. I'm just.. Not ready for the marriage thing, and besides, I think couples should move in together before they ever get married We might find out we really aren't compatible." He warned.
Sally snickered and nodded. "That.. Could be true. But what then? We brake up?" She asked. Lightning shook his head. "It won't happen. I love you and you love me. That's enough right?" HE asked. Sally giggled. "Okay Barney." She teased, joked. Lightning shook his head. They turned on the tv and watched something on some channel. Cuddling and making the most of the short time they had left together. Sally looked up at Lightning asking "Could I think about it?" "About what?" "About.. Moving in together.. I mean.. It would change a lot of things and.. Then there would be rules and... Chores." "Ugh.." Lightning whined.
"Yeah, but.. Come on, we don't need rules. Do we?" He asked. Sally nodded. "I've seen your room when you get lazy.. I'm not going to keep cleaning up after you." Lightning snickered and agreed to that at the least. "Yeah, okay. I understand. Sure, you think about it all you want Sal. I'm not in any hurry, I'm gonna be around for a long time." "I should hope so!" Sally exclaimed! Lightning snickered happily then took her hand and looked at the ring. "You're wearing it now." He stated. Sally nodded with an "MMhmm. I'm not ashamed of you. Though, it might cause a little confusion once the press realize I'm wearing it." "Maybe. Who cares because I'll tell them the truth." "And what's that?" Sally asked. Lightning smiled warmly before answering "That one day, you will be my wife. Just.. one day." Sally loved this man, but her heart was hurt badly with Ben and the baby and how that marriage went. She was so afraid of things just repeating themselves again...