Strip centric on this one, dealing with his wife-to-be's family in part. This chapter also officially makes this my biggest story I've ever posted, and we're just beginning.
Strip Weathers was nervous, or was intimidated a better word for the pit of dread forming in his stomach.
It had been a couple of weeks since his road trip with Lynda. It had gone better than he could have hoped, especially with learning that Lyn's uncle was thee Fabulous Hudson Hornet. He had asked Jesse Hudson, the man who Lyn saw as her father figure, for her hand in marriage and he said yes with his blessing.
Even better was the fact that the two of them got along well and it was obvious that, that particularly pleased Lynda that he and her uncle did get along. Whereas her father, he tended to avoid as much as physically possible.
Today though, he had to talk with Alexander Piston. He had a very special date planned for Lyn, and while nothing hinged on this meeting with Mr. Piston, it did need to happen to day.
That was why he was striding with purpose down the office building halls on his way to his girlfriend's father's office. He was in luck, he guessed, he arrived at the office just as Alexander Piston was leaving it. He took a deep breath, it was just like going into a race, he had to keep a calm head.
"Mr. Piston, would you have a moment to talk to me?" He asked.
Alex stopped and airily replied, "sure Weathers, what do you want?"
"Could we go somewhere more private it's more of a personal question?" He asked gesturing around to all the people in the reception area.
"Make it quick." The older man replied waving him into the office he had just vacated. Once the door was closed, he asked his question without beating around the bush.
"I would like to ask you for your blessing to marry your daughter."
"No, absolutely not. My daughter is not marrying a racer like you." The answer was quick and had gained volume as he went on. He was sad that this was was his immediate response but not surprised from what he knew about the man.
Calmly and politely he reiterated. "Mr. Piston, I'm telling you I want to marry your daughter. It's her choice whether she wants to marry me or not. I am not asking your permission, just for your blessing." He inwardly cringed at the volume that was returned at what he had just said.
"You're not getting my blessing, and sure as hell, not my permission. I forbid it. You will not ask her, you will leave my daughter alone!"
His own voice took on a steely tone, he didn't raise his voice and remained calm, talking at the same pace as before. "Well, I got the blessing that matters the most, and what you say doesn't really matter anyhow. She's a legal adult who can make her own decisions. Her Uncle Aaron gave me his blessing and that's the one that counts. Yours doesn't, I'm asking out of courtesy and it's what done. You're the only one throwing up a fuss. Both him and her aunt are very accepting and so is her mother. She'll be heartbroken but her real father gave me his blessing, which was more than I could hope for. Good day Mr. Piston."
He left the man stuttering and was out the office with the door closed again before he could say anything else.
His heart was pounding from that, he wouldn't look anyone in the reception in the eye. He had played with fire at the end there, but it had needed to be said. Hopefully it wouldn't end up burning him.
He felt shaken from the experience and hadn't noticed that Joe Moore had led him into a different office; one with a couch in it, and got him to sit down on it. The next thing he noticed was a low conversation just outside the door as he calmed down.
"Just was talking with Alex, think it had something to do with Lynda not racing."
"Thank you Joe, I'll speak with the lad." The door opened and Edward Piston entered, with a bottle of water. "Here son, figured you could use this." As he handed him the bottle as he sat across from him.
"Thank you sir." He replied, opening the bottle and taking a sip.
"Would you like to tell me what that hullabaloo was back there that my son was creating now?" The elder man was serious, but not accusing.
"Yes sir. I was asking for his blessing to marry your granddaughter, sir. I have already spoken with her mother, and perhaps in Lynda's eyes more importantly her Aunt Emily and Uncle Aaron. Except for her father, everyone has been most supportive. I plan on asking her tomorrow."
"You know lad, you can call him by his name when it's just us."
He shook his head in disagreement,"no sir, I promised Lyn I would only refer to him as Aaron outside of her car and Radiator Springs. I intend to keep that promise."
"Well, you can count one more in your well wishers. You're a good lad, you'll do well by her."
"Thank you sir." He followed Mr. Piston's own movement of getting up.
"Now I'm sure you want to be away from here, so off you go. Don't worry about her father, I'll keep him away from her until you get your chance to propose to her."
"Thank you sir." He shook his hand before he left. He may not have gotten her father's blessing, but he practically got her grandfather's, which felt like an equal trade. He respected the elder Piston more anyway.