The Ride of a Lifetime
Emma tugged his sleeve. “Grandpa, can we ride it?”
Walter laughed through tears. “Yeah, pumpkin. We can.”
He lifted her up, fitting the pink helmet under her chin. When the engine roared to life, the street erupted in cheers.
Mason raised his hand — 200 riders followed.
Walter turned to Emma. “Ready?”
She grinned. “Ready!”
They rolled down the driveway, the riders thundering behind them — a river of chrome and heart.
As they passed the diner and the old back roads, the wind whipped around them, warm and familiar. For a moment, Walter swore he felt Elaine there — laughing in the wind, just ahead of him on the road.
He leaned closer to Emma.
“That’s the sound of freedom, pumpkin.”
