CHAPTER 33 34 35 36 Epilogue
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Two vehicles drove through the gate. Sam pulled along side Matt’ s car.“ Follow us,” she said, and drove down the private road. When she pulled onto the manicured lawn, before coming to the garage, she saw Matt hesitate.“ Come on,” she yelled, and waved. Brian, Stephanie ' s boyfriend, drove the second vehicle with Justin and Shelby in the back seat. They stopped near the canopies. Four couples climbed from the parked cars. Sam approached Nicole with a big smile gracing her face. Nicole could not help but notice, and ran to hug Sam.“ I can’ t believe you did this,” Nicole whispered into Sam’ s ear. Sam winked, and shrugged.“ Do we eat or race first?” Sam queried. Nicole introduced everyone to her Aunt Samantha, and suggested they could do both.“ I need to borrow Nicole and Justin for a couple of minutes. Please make yourselves comfortable, and of course help yourselves,” Sam said, with open arms.“ Drive,” she said to Justin, and sat on the back of the golf cart with Nicole. Justin, happily, chauffeured the three ladies to the garage.“ Drive the cart back, and be a good host for a few minutes. We will be there shortly,” Sam instructed. Justin nodded, and headed back to the group. He wanted to see their faces as the polished cars made their entrance.
In a single file, with Nicole in the lead, they made a quick lap, and parked the cars in front of the stunned group.“ I really get to drive one of those?” Jackie asked Ryan. He nodded and received a kiss. Sam explained the first and second place finishers of the first race would race against the top two of the second heat.“ Matt, Brian and Stephie, grab your helmets and follow me,” Nicole said plucking a helmet from the stand. Eddie and Tanya made sure everyone was strapped in properly while Sam set the digital display. Holding the flags, Eddie gave race instructions.“ Two laps to warm the tires and then you get the green flag. White flag means you are on the final lap,” Eddie announced and positioned the cars the way he wanted them at the start. Receiving nods from all the drivers, he made the final directive of“ Safe, careful and courteous.”
With the girls in the front row Nicole had taken the red car at Justin’ s suggestion. Stephie had the pole position and the yellow car. Nicole showed the boys the pace would be fast as she pulled out quickly as her father said“ Go!” She had the advantage of having driven the tough little cars.“ They are really going to race!” Shelby said.“ We are really going to race,” Justin smiled as she took his hand. Standing at the side of the track, Eddie waved the green flag. Stephie was faster on the throttle this time and took the lead into the first turn. Nicole passed her with Matt and Brian following the line she ran. Justin could feel Shelby’ s excitement every time the cars flew past. Eddie waved the checkered flag as Matt won with Nicole taking second.
The cars were parked and four smiling drivers emerged.“ Our turn,” Justin said leading his group to the track and the idling cars.“ What have you driven?” Eddie asked the girls.“ I have my learners permit,” Shelby answered.“ Go carts... once,” Jackie said.“ I’ m going to let Jackie have the track to herself while Justin leads the way through the garage and back here,” Eddie said.“ That’ s fair,” they agreed and took off. Jackie managed to get in three laps and hit sixty miles an hour as her group returned to the track. Eddie lined them up.“ Two laps and then you get the green flag. Safety first,” he said to nods from all. Jackie got lapped early and finally got the feel for the car and the speed. Justin and Ryan took first and second. Four smiling faces returned to the shade of the canopies and a round of applause. Justin and Ryan both received kisses as soon as their helmets were removed. Matt and Brian looked at their dates for their rewards.“ Sorry,” Nicole and Stephie said kissing the guys.“ Last race!” Eddie yelled.“ I’ ll be right back... unless you want to drive for me,” Justin said to Shelby.“ Could I?” Shelby asked excitedly.“ Sure,” he said, handing her her helmet.“ Would you like to drive again?” Ryan asked Jackie.