Page 112 of Cinderella and the Daddy
I nod toward the far bay, where a car sits beneath a pristine cover. It’s a surprise. One that took me a while to secure. "Your first official restoration project."
Her eyes widen with curiosity and excitement as she walks toward the covered vehicle. Leo bounces beside her, asking a dozen questions I don't answer because I want to see her face when she pulls off that cover.
She grabs the edge of the tarp and looks back at me. "Ready?"
"Do it."
The cover slides away to reveal a 1970 Plymouth Hemi 'Cuda in Plum Crazy Purple. The original paint is faded but still showing hints of its former glory. The body needs work, the interior is torn, and I suspect the engine will need to be completely rebuilt. It's exactly the kind of challenge that makes Cindy's eyes light up like Christmas morning.
And sure enough, her reaction doesn't disappoint. She gasps, her hands flying to her mouth before reaching out to reverently touch the hood.
"Luka," she breathes. "This is... where did you find her?"
"Estate auction in upstate New York. The previous owner kept her in a barn for thirty years." I move to stand beside her. "I thought maybe we could work on it together. As a family."
The look she gives me could power the entire city. "Are you serious? You want to help restore her?"
"I want to learn," I correct. "You're the expert. I'm just the guy who's good at taking things apart."
Leo has been examining the car with the intensity of a seasoned mechanic, running his small hands along the fender. "What kind of car is this? It looks like the ones inFast and Furious!"
Cindy laughs, the sound filling the garage with warmth. "That's because it is, buddy. This is a Plymouth 'Cuda, just like Dom's favorite car in the movies. This was the king of muscle cars back in the day."
"Really?" Leo's eyes go wide with hero worship. "Dom drove one of these?"
"He sure did. And now we get to fix this one up and make her beautiful again."
Much to my anguish, Cindy has introduced Leo to theFast and Furious franchise. Those two have watched every movie at least twice. Anytime a sex scene comes on, she covers his eyes. She’s making our little boy into a car guy. He’s already asked me if he can be a race car driver when he grows up.
She looks at me over Leo's head, love and gratitude shining in her green eyes. "Want to help us, Leo? It'll be a big project. Lots of work."
"Yes!" He practically vibrates with excitement. "Can I help with the engine? Can I paint something? Can I?—"
"Slow down there, Speed Racer," I interrupt with a chuckle. "One thing at a time."
Cindy has moved to the driver's side, peering through the dirty window at the interior. "The seats need to be completely reupholstered, but the frame looks solid. And this color..." She shakes her head in amazement. "They don't make colors like this anymore."
"Plum Crazy Purple," I supply. "Original factory color."
"How did you know I'd love it?"
The question catches me off guard because the answer is so simple and so complicated at the same time. How do I explain that I've memorized every expression that crosses her face and catalogued every comment she's made about cars over the past months?
"Because I know you," I say instead. "You see potential where other people see problems. You love things that are beautiful and powerful and a little bit dangerous."
The smile she gives me suggests she understands exactly what I'm really saying.
Sofia chooses that moment to wake up, making the small mewling sounds that mean she's hungry. Cindy immediately reaches for her. I carefully transfer our daughter from the carrier to her mother's arms.
"What do you think, sweet girl?" Cindy coos to Sofia while settling into the chair I had installed in the corner specifically for nursing breaks. "Should Mommy and Papa fix up this pretty car?"
Sofia's response is to root around looking for food, which makes all three of us laugh.
"I think that's a yes," Leo declares with authority.
As Cindy gets settled to feed Sofia, I find myself looking around the garage with satisfaction. This place that once represented betrayal and loss has been transformed into something new. A place where my wife can pursue her passion. Leo will get to learn about engines and hard work. Our family can build something together with our hands.
No blood—just hard work.
