His daughter gave him something better.
A framed photograph of Walter and Elaine standing beside the Camaro during the first year of restoration.
Both were filthy.
Elaine held a socket wrench.
Walter’s shirt had grease across the chest.
Neither looked dignified.
Walter stared at the picture for a long time.
“Where did you find this?”
“Mom’s old laptop.”
He swallowed.
“Thought it was gone.”
“Nothing is ever gone if Mom organized it.”
That sounded exactly right.
Walter hung the photograph inside the garage.
After retirement, he began entering the Camaro in more shows.
Not because he wanted trophies.
Because he liked standing beside old cars talking to people who cared about details nobody else understood.
At one veterans’ charity show, Tyler arrived wearing a work shirt from the restoration shop.
He brought a teenage apprentice.
“Mr. Hayes.”
Walter looked over.
“This is Jamal.”
The kid nodded nervously.
“Sir.”
Walter shook his hand.
“Don’t call me sir unless you’re asking to borrow money.”
Jamal laughed.
Tyler pointed toward the Camaro.
“This is the one.”
The teenager’s eyes widened.
“The HOA car?”
Walter groaned.
“No.”
Tyler laughed.
“Yes.”
“I hate that name.”
Jamal walked slowly around it.
“So somebody really forged paperwork to steal this?”
Walter nodded.
“And cops saluted you?”
“Yes.”
Jamal smiled.
“That’s crazy.”
Walter looked toward Tyler.
“Tell him the important part.”
Tyler’s expression changed.
He knew.
“The important part is the cops shouldn’t have needed to salute him.”
Jamal frowned slightly.
Tyler continued.
“It was his car before they knew who he was.”
Walter said nothing.
That was good enough.
Eventually Tyler opened his own restoration shop.
He named it Second Gear Classics.
Walter asked why.
“Because you kept telling me to use third gear that first time.”
“That would suggest Third Gear.”
“Second sounds better.”
“You paid for branding?”
“Yes.”
“Terrible investment.”
Tyler ignored him.
The shop became successful.
Not huge.
Honest.
Walter liked that more.
Eight years after the forged bill of sale, Tyler asked whether Walter would display the Camaro at the shop’s grand reopening after an expansion.
Walter agreed.
At the event, someone asked whether the car was finally for sale.
Tyler answered before Walter could.
“No.”
Walter smiled.
“Learning.”
Tyler laughed.
“You told me first conversation.”
“I did.”
“So hypothetically?”
“No.”
“Worth trying.”
Walter looked at him.
“If I ever sell, you’ll know.”