Chapter 19
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
CHAPTER NINETEEN
The morning welcomed a very nervous Nicole. She pulled her mom aside, after checking the house half a dozen times. Eddie thought,“ Just like her mom.” Motioning for her Mom to join her, Nicole whispered,“ What if Dad doesn’ t like Rich?”“ Do you like him?” Tanya asked, and received the look she expected and continued.“ The only thing your father wants is for you to be happy and safe. Nothing would hurt him more than seeing any of us in pain, whether emotional or physical it would tear him apart.”“ I want Daddy to like Rich.”
Tanya asked her daughter to calm down and be herself and explained the games were her father’ s way of getting to know someone. She also informed Nicole they would not be hanging out with the kids all day. The chime on Nicole’ s phone sounded.“ Hi..... Okay. See you soon,” she said, closing her phone.“ He is on his way. Fifteen minutes,” she said, to her mother. Tanya motioned for her to calm down. Nicole nodded and ran to the garage. She waited for the volley between Eddie and Justin to end before informing them Rich was on his way.
Eddie opened the garage door to see in what type of vehicle Rich would arrive. A mid- seventies blue Chevy Nova pulled into the driveway. Nicole greeted him and led him into the garage to meet Dad.“ Mr. Dodge it’ s nice to meet you,” he said, extending his hand. Shaking hands with the blond haired, blue eyed young man that wanted to bed his daughter was difficult for Eddie. The inevitable had arrived and it came by way of a kid Eddie had a hard time disliking.“ What year is the Nova?” Eddie asked.“ Seventy-four. It was my dad’ s car. It sat in the garage for fifteen years as a project, waiting for him to finish the list mom had for him.”“ Looks like he got through with that list,” Eddie said, walking around the vehicle.“ Not really. He helped me with the mechanics, but I had to buy the parts, including a new engine. It took me a year to rebuild the thing. Dad said he would pay to have it painted if I filled and sanded the dents and dings.”“ How rough was it?”“ Three months of filling and sanding. It sat outside through a hailstorm,” Rich said, and Eddie understood the firm handshake.“ What’ s under the hood?” The emblem on the car said it was the“ SS” version that came with a V-8 crammed inside the engine compartment.“ The V six. Dad said I could replace it with the original engine type when I turned twenty-one or moved out, which ever came first,” he said, raising the hood. While Eddie examined the new engine, Nicole introduce Rich to Justin who had been tagging along. Rich closed the hood and Eddie winked at Nicole. Her heart skipped a beat.“ Do you play any sports?” Eddie asked.“ Tennis. I didn’ t enjoy football. Track was boring and our baseball team sucks... I mean they’ re pretty bad. Sorry sir.” Rich said respectfully.“ No Rich. I’ ve been following their progress. Your first assessment was accurate,” Eddie stated as Tanya stepped through the garage door, wondering where everyone went.“ Hi Mrs. Dodge,” Rich said.“ Hi Rich,” she said, and turned toward Eddie.“ We met the other day.” she offered and walked back to the garage with Eddie while Justin admired the car. Rich opened the driver side door and let him sit behind the wheel.
They stepped into the kitchen where they asked each other simultaneously,“ What do you think?”“ She chose someone she thought you would approve,” Tanya said.“ No piercing. No tattoos and he is not likely to wreck the car. The underside of the hood showed dozens of dimples you can’ t see on the top side,” Eddie said, and waited at the table to finish the game he started with Justin. Nicole calmed, slightly, after her father’ s wink. Daddy gave his seal of approval, so far. She was able to enjoy having her first boyfriend hang out with her family. Rich accepted winning as graciously as his defeats in the games they played all afternoon. He called home to let his parents know he had been invited for dinner. Tanya was a little surprised when he handed her the phone.